Maynard Posted July 5, 2001 Share Posted July 5, 2001 Ok, I have gone through quit a bit of the board and want to make sure of something. I am getting a new computer and the ProMedia 5.1's whent hey come out. I want Dolby Digital surround sound. I am going to get a Soundblaster Live! XGamer 5.1 sound card. Would I still need to get WinDVD 3.0 in order to get Dobly Digital? Would I need anything else? On a completely different note, has anyone here used a video out to use your TV to watch DVD's played from your computer? How is the quality? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ninjit Posted July 6, 2001 Share Posted July 6, 2001 No, you don't need anything else WinDVD can decode the dolby digital and dts formats and output them via the 5.1 analogs on the live x-gamer. In my experience the s-video outputs from vid cards to TVs don't look very good, simply cause s-video aint that great, and it looks terrible after looking at the image on a high-res monitor. Though, you should try it out anyhow, to see for yourself, since you don't need to do anything else but the s-vid cable, and if you have really big tv, it might better anyhow. Once HDTV outputs become available on video cards, it'll be more worthwhile to hook your comptuer up to your TV, but then many of the HDTV sets out there now support simple SVGA inputs anyhow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ninjit Posted July 6, 2001 Share Posted July 6, 2001 oh wow, that last post of mine was terrible, I missed articles and verbs and lots of other stuff too. I've been pampered by MS word for too long. Please excuse my grammar, or lack of it rather. -Jit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corey415 Posted July 7, 2001 Share Posted July 7, 2001 Hi, As for DVD viewing, I think you should just buy a regular DVD player, but the Audio Tornado Decoder, and you will get 5.1 from your Pros. I think regular DVD players create a better image also. ok bye Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike2021 Posted July 8, 2001 Share Posted July 8, 2001 good point..but if u dont want to spend money on dvd player with 5.1s it will be just as good... Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twm1010 Posted July 8, 2001 Share Posted July 8, 2001 I set powerDVD to SPDIF output and the SB Live 5.1 does the decoding to my 4.1's, although i notice that the sblive is designed for cambridge speakers because the seperate subwoofer out is active, but if you turn off redirection it works fine boy i bet that was confusing, get the game theater xp tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike2021 Posted July 8, 2001 Share Posted July 8, 2001 yeah...the game theater xp is perfect for the pros5.1... Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oogins Posted July 9, 2001 Share Posted July 9, 2001 Any of the SB 5.1 cards would be perfect to use with the ProMedia 5.1's. The card decodes DD itself, but the media that you're listening to must be encoded in DD in order to get the 5.1 sound. WinDVD will output the DD (and if the version supports it, DTS as well) through the 5.1 analog outputs of the card. For watching DVD on TV, you would need a card that is specifically designed for that. Just a normal video card with a composite or s-vid output won't look that great. You would need an actual DVD decoder card, ie. dxr3, to get a good picture on your tv. However, if you use a decoder card, you would need to use a separate digital audio decoder such as the Audio Tornado in order to get the 5.1 sound. This is because the dvd cards only have a digital audio out. Paul This message has been edited by oogins on 07-10-2001 at 05:52 PM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tabbycatt Posted July 10, 2001 Share Posted July 10, 2001 yeah...the game theater xp is perfect for the pros5.1... Mike Ok Mike, Please explain this one to me. The Game Theater XP has no AC3 or DTS decoder onboard. The PM5.1's have no AC3 or DTS decoder onboard. How is the XP even a usable solution considering most people buying a 5.1 speaker system will actually want 5.1 discrete sound? Please tell me if I am missing something here. I was very much looking forward to picking up an XP myself and it now seems that I will be stuck with another SB card if I want DD. Please tell me I am mistaken, I still have a few days to return my SB5.1. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan F Posted July 10, 2001 Share Posted July 10, 2001 Tabby; The GameTheater XP does have Dolby Digital. Either the XP or the SB 5.1 will work with the PM5.1 (and complete the Dolby Digital equation). ------------------ Klipsch ProMedia Customer Service # is 1-888-554-5665 This message has been edited by Dan F on 07-10-2001 at 07:37 AM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tabbycatt Posted July 10, 2001 Share Posted July 10, 2001 Gee Dan, I certainly hate to disagree with you here, seeing as you seem to know more than most when it comes to this kinna stuff. But, I just spoke with the fine people at Hercules the other day and they assured me that the Game Theater XP did NOT have a Dolby Digital Decoder built it. 6 channel audio is avialable through the Power DVD software that comes with it however (if that is what you are refering to) but the card itself has no DD Decoder, thus limiting your 5.1 channel playback to movies only. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan F Posted July 10, 2001 Share Posted July 10, 2001 Thanks for the clarification, Tabby. The XP's decoder is built into the PowerDVD software, instead of on the hardware; which may make a difference for the gamer- user. ------------------ Klipsch ProMedia Customer Service # is 1-888-554-5665 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tabbycatt Posted July 10, 2001 Share Posted July 10, 2001 Well now I'm really going to screw things up and say that I am going to order a Game Theater XP Today and return my SB Live 5.1. I just got off the phone with my GUILLEMOT rep. and he informs me that the XP will soon be supporting DTS-ES, Dolby Digital-EX, and Prologic 2 by utilizing the headphone output as a dual rear center. As I own a small fortune in DVD's and can't remember how long its been since my last frag, I think I'd rather give up the 5 channel gaming and get the extra 2 discrete channels for DVD. Guess I'm going to have to get a set of 2.1's now too. What do ya think Dan, Should that do the trick? _____________________________________________________ It must be December 18 1976, cause I haven't been this impatient since I was 6 years old waiting for Christmas day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike2021 Posted July 10, 2001 Share Posted July 10, 2001 where do you buy the windvd3.0 at? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oogins Posted July 14, 2001 Share Posted July 14, 2001 quote: Originally posted by Mike2021: where do you buy the windvd3.0 at? I got my windvd on ebay for about $10. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan F Posted July 14, 2001 Share Posted July 14, 2001 quote: Originally posted by Tabbycatt: What do ya think Dan, Should that do the trick? Heh. That sounds like a plan. Did the G-man say whether the upgrade was going to cost extra? It seems to me that the Dolby and DTS folks would want a bigger bag of money... It does sound like a very cool feature, and a good way to provide it. btw; I haven't fragged much of anything since the original Wolfenstein <g>. -djf ------------------ Klipsch ProMedia Customer Service # is 1-888-554-5665 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tabbycatt Posted July 14, 2001 Share Posted July 14, 2001 Nope, It won't cost any extra. It simply upgrades the Power DVD software to a DTS-ES and DD EX version. and when a DTS-ES source is input such as Gladiator on DVD it takes the headphone and microphone channels and converts them into the rear centers. Neat huh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan F Posted July 14, 2001 Share Posted July 14, 2001 It sounds like a great deal. I may jump on that myself... ------------------ Klipsch ProMedia Customer Service # is 1-888-554-5665 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Windstorm Posted July 15, 2001 Share Posted July 15, 2001 Sweet, that pretty much settles my AE vs Santa Cruz vs GTXP dilemma... thanks guys for the info. mmm... eight channel surround..... So when is Klipsch coming out with a 7.1 system?? ------------------ Caring is the first step toward disappointment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tabbycatt Posted July 15, 2001 Share Posted July 15, 2001 I'm thinking I might get a set of 5.1's and 2.1's to complete the 7.1. Bt thats down the road. I've got a sneeking suspicion that the 5.1 will sound great for now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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