SPDIF (R3) to Logitech Z-5500?

What is the best way to connect the R3 to a Logitech Z5500 system; preferably with one cable, in order to take advantage of 5.1?

Is there an adapter available to go from the SPDIF port to either the Optical or Coax ports on the Logitech controller?

(I've searched, but it's been difficult to find the answer).

Thanks all.

 

In order to use my 5.1 correctly I purchased a Creative 5.1 usb sound card and it works like a champ. Cost around 60 bucks or you can find them refurbished from Creative from time to time.

 

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/Alw_M17xR3/en/mm/mm_en.pdf

On page 24 it says:

"7 Audio-out/Headphone/S/PDIF connector — Connects to amplifiers, speakers, or TVs for digital audio output. Can also be used to connect to a pair of headphones, powered speakers, or sound system.
NOTE: Use the S/PDIF adapter that shipped with your computer, to connect a TOSLINK optical cable."

 

Rikjaamz- thanks for the input (no pun intended). I was trying to avoid another sound card (though I do recognize the value of external vs onboard).

Dimes - I think you hit it right on the head. I completely forgot about receiving that part (and just stuck it back in the box for storage). I'll grab that and use it with an Optical cable. Thanks!

 

So I found the adapter and tried plugging it into an optical (TOS) cable. The adapter doesn't seem to want to go down onto the cable as far as it looks like it is supposed to. There is a little cut out on the adapter, which looks like it should fit over the raised clips on the optical cable. I do know that there are grooves on the inside of the adapter which match raised parts on the outside of the optical plug, so I'm pretty certain that I have the orientation correct. Stranger things have happened, though.

A second issue, is that the adapter does not seem to want to go into the SPDIF port as far as a normal 3.5 jack would.

Are either of these cases normal?

I'm still getting reasonably good sound, but if I'm not even aware of what I might be missing, due to a bad connection, it might be able to be even better.

Another issue that I noticed is that I'm hearing a slight bit of hard drive noise/chatter from the speakers. And I can hear it clearly when I don't play any music but I move the mouse around a bit. I know that this is normal for most lower-end sound cards, but I wasn't quite expecting this from the R3 (another reason that I'm skeptical of the good connection between the adapter and the optical cable).

I will be upgrading to an SSD (when either the Vertex 3 gets good real-world reviews, or when Crucial releases their M4), so I wonder if that might perhaps alleviate the extra noise?

Thanks everyone.

 

use the other direct cable to compare the sound quality.