Soundcard W/5.1 analog output DD/DTS

tech9_79 · 9th May 2011, 03:48 PM

Im looking for some advice/help on choosing a soundcard for my HTPC setup.

Basically what im wanting to do is eliminate the need for my receiver, with the use of a soundcard w/5.1 or 7.1 analog outs that will decode both DD and Dts into the analog outs. Then connect that to a few of the Sure 4x100 amps.

I have my eye on the ASUS Xonar D1 but from what ive read it does not decode DTS into the analog outs?? is this right??
Now it seems that ASUS Xonar D2 will, but its almost twice the price.. and i have a feeling there's gonna be an update in the next year or 2...

and what about TrueHD and DTS-MA??
Xonar HDAV1.3 Deluxe Seems to handle all that but is no longer available from newegg??

If anyone has any thoughts or suggestions.. im really tired of this cheap yamaha..!

wwenze · 9th May 2011, 04:01 PM

For files/discs played on the computer, the media player software handles the decoding of DD and DTS.

tech9_79 · 9th May 2011, 04:35 PM

are you sure thats not just for the digital output? Why does the D2 specify DD/DTS hardware decoders and the D1 DD only?

OllBoll · 9th May 2011, 07:37 PM

DD/Dts is only used with digital output, it isn't used at all in the analogue output.

And if analogue output is used, as wwenze said it's decoded in software.

They've made it really confusing but the magic with DD/Dts capable sound cards is that they can encode DD/DTS, so that even if source material isn't this format you can still output to your receiver, or if the source material is a format your receiver cannot handle.

Keep in mind though that while internal sound cards aren't all bad, they are far from comparable to most external receivers. A few years ago I compared the analogue outputs of a Xonar D2X with an external all-in-one receiver from sony, don't remember name but can lookup if you want to know. The receiver was far better, it isn't chance that made me plan to buy an external receiver/DAC myself after that test

tech9_79 · 9th May 2011, 10:34 PM

yeah all the what i call "emulation modes" use the analog outs.. but im sure some of these cards have to output DD/DTS over analog.. right? i mean ive seen people on here build 5 channel amps for surround sound.

OllBoll · 9th May 2011, 10:42 PM

Doesn't exist =)

Unless it's the DSPs you are talking about, but DD/DTS is simply protocols to work around the problem of multichannel through S/PDIF which has only has 2 channels but through DD/DTS can handle more.

If you already have analogue output then DD/DTS in that way doesn't serve a purpose, the important thing is to get the sound from the source material and output to the correct channel, which the codec does in software.

In other words, to output multichannel to an analogue sound card from a DD/DTS source file you only need software codecs, DD/DTS in hardware is unnecessary.

phofman · 10th May 2011, 06:44 PM

I wonder if there is any sound card performing the DD/DTS decoding/encoding in hardware. It requires quite powerful DSP. Vast majority of the cards implement these features as part of the driver/supporting software running on CPU.

OllBoll · 10th May 2011, 08:15 PM

In the past they did, same with channel mixing and resampling.

Nowadays they don't. Sure it requires lots of DSP to encode DD/DTS but modern CPUs are ridicilously powerful so they don't bother anymore. The CPU can handle it and much more with minimal CPU usage so why create expensive hardware?

digits · 10th May 2011, 08:16 PM

Creative Labs Creative DDTS-100 Decoder: Amazon.co.uk: Computers & Accessories

Shame they dont make the creative DTS 100 anymore.

tech9_79 · 10th May 2011, 10:45 PM

thats what was stumping me.. in the descriptions the D1 says
Hardware decode= Dolby Digital

the D2 states,
Hardware decode= Dolby Digital, DTS

the D2 says it supports complete Dolby/DTS sound technologies.

so with either of these cards and the correct codecs i will get output into the analog outs for my poweramps? even the BD-HD streams?

My front end is J.river and i think they just figured out the HD splitters.

9th May 2011, 03:48 PM	#1
tech9_79 diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2008	Soundcard W/5.1 analog output DD/DTS Im looking for some advice/help on choosing a soundcard for my HTPC setup. Basically what im wanting to do is eliminate the need for my receiver, with the use of a soundcard w/5.1 or 7.1 analog outs that will decode both DD and Dts into the analog outs. Then connect that to a few of the Sure 4x100 amps. I have my eye on the ASUS Xonar D1 but from what ive read it does not decode DTS into the analog outs?? is this right?? Now it seems that ASUS Xonar D2 will, but its almost twice the price.. and i have a feeling there's gonna be an update in the next year or 2... and what about TrueHD and DTS-MA?? Xonar HDAV1.3 Deluxe Seems to handle all that but is no longer available from newegg?? If anyone has any thoughts or suggestions.. im really tired of this cheap yamaha..!

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9th May 2011, 04:01 PM	#2
wwenze diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2008	For files/discs played on the computer, the media player software handles the decoding of DD and DTS.

9th May 2011, 04:35 PM	#3
tech9_79 diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2008	are you sure thats not just for the digital output? Why does the D2 specify DD/DTS hardware decoders and the D1 DD only?

9th May 2011, 07:37 PM	#4
OllBoll diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2010	DD/Dts is only used with digital output, it isn't used at all in the analogue output. And if analogue output is used, as wwenze said it's decoded in software. They've made it really confusing but the magic with DD/Dts capable sound cards is that they can encode DD/DTS, so that even if source material isn't this format you can still output to your receiver, or if the source material is a format your receiver cannot handle. Keep in mind though that while internal sound cards aren't all bad, they are far from comparable to most external receivers. A few years ago I compared the analogue outputs of a Xonar D2X with an external all-in-one receiver from sony, don't remember name but can lookup if you want to know. The receiver was far better, it isn't chance that made me plan to buy an external receiver/DAC myself after that test

9th May 2011, 10:34 PM	#5
tech9_79 diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2008	yeah all the what i call "emulation modes" use the analog outs.. but im sure some of these cards have to output DD/DTS over analog.. right? i mean ive seen people on here build 5 channel amps for surround sound.

9th May 2011, 10:42 PM	#6
OllBoll diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2010	Doesn't exist =) Unless it's the DSPs you are talking about, but DD/DTS is simply protocols to work around the problem of multichannel through S/PDIF which has only has 2 channels but through DD/DTS can handle more. If you already have analogue output then DD/DTS in that way doesn't serve a purpose, the important thing is to get the sound from the source material and output to the correct channel, which the codec does in software. In other words, to output multichannel to an analogue sound card from a DD/DTS source file you only need software codecs, DD/DTS in hardware is unnecessary.

10th May 2011, 06:44 PM	#7
phofman diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pilsen	I wonder if there is any sound card performing the DD/DTS decoding/encoding in hardware. It requires quite powerful DSP. Vast majority of the cards implement these features as part of the driver/supporting software running on CPU.

10th May 2011, 08:15 PM	#8
OllBoll diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2010	In the past they did, same with channel mixing and resampling. Nowadays they don't. Sure it requires lots of DSP to encode DD/DTS but modern CPUs are ridicilously powerful so they don't bother anymore. The CPU can handle it and much more with minimal CPU usage so why create expensive hardware?

10th May 2011, 08:16 PM	#9
digits diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2011	Creative Labs Creative DDTS-100 Decoder: Amazon.co.uk: Computers & Accessories Shame they dont make the creative DTS 100 anymore.

10th May 2011, 10:45 PM	#10
tech9_79 diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2008	thats what was stumping me.. in the descriptions the D1 says Hardware decode= Dolby Digital the D2 states, Hardware decode= Dolby Digital, DTS the D2 says it supports complete Dolby/DTS sound technologies. so with either of these cards and the correct codecs i will get output into the analog outs for my poweramps? even the BD-HD streams? My front end is J.river and i think they just figured out the HD splitters.

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