KVR Audio

Adambomb337 · Post by **Adambomb337** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 4:56 am

What's the best sound card for surround sound speakers if you have a laptop?

C00kie · Post by **C00kie** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 10:13 am

Anyone that has 6 outputs on three 1/8" stereo jacks and works on USB2 will be OK

An example: http://www.audiotrak.net/products/mayaex5ce/

GaryG · Post by **GaryG** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 1:43 pm

Not true, this one offers 7.1 surround from a single jack output:

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.8978

Adambomb337 · Post by **Adambomb337** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 1:38 am

Is there a sound card for surround sound that is both for Mac and PC?

C00kie · Post by **C00kie** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 2:38 pm

Consumer stuff like the SB Live USB seems not to work on Mac (if you believe the specs)

Not a traditional card, but it's FireWire for PC and Mac and could work: http://www.alesis.com/product.php?id=96

Nonplus · Post by **Nonplus** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 4:07 am

Presonus Firebox is pretty great.

But if one is not writing in surround, what is the point? Why not just use digital out to a receiver?

Adambomb337 · Post by **Adambomb337** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 5:25 am

The speakers I have (Logitech Z-5500 Digital) only provided 3 1/8" stereo inputs, digital coax and optical...

What's the best way to set this up?

C00kie · Post by **C00kie** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 9:19 am

S/PDIF (coax or optical) is easiest for connecting (one cable, no adapters) and you'll then use DA converters from the Logitech unit. Weather those are better or worse than of the soundcard is hard to say...

However, to get surroundsound into S/PDIF requires AC3 encoding to be done. And that's a hurdle that's hard to get over.

If you can drop the "works with Mac" requirement, it will be a lot easier to find something that suits you.

Surround sound: best laptop soundcard?