W3J S/PDIF output not working

I've had my W3J for just over a year now and so far it has been superb. However I seem to have stumbled across the first big problem with it.

I'm trying to connect my W3J to an external DAC using the S/PDIF output from the headphone jack. After much searching and head scratching, I still can't seem to get it working.

I've searched all over the web, and it seems that this is a common problem with the SoundMax chips. I'm running XP and will be using iTunes for the audio playback.

Is there anyone who can help me? It really would be greatly appreciated. I've already wasted hours trying to sort it out.

James

 

Anyone? PLEASE!!!

 

I tried on an ASUS motherboard of mine I bought a year ago, and I was never able to make use of the S/PDIF outputs (optical in this case)... I had the same question posed on another forum and nobody ever answered. Ended up getting a new sound card that I knew had it. It was also a SoundMax chipset.

 

Hmmm, interesting. That pretty much goes along with evrything I've read.

The only person I know of who was using the SPDIF was Mastha212 on this forum. I've PM'd him to see if he can help.

I can't believe this is such a common problem though. The jack is clearly marked S/PDIF and so should be able to output that. If not then ASUS are clearly in the wrong.

 

Contacted Asus support UK this morning about this. First technician told me to do a system restore!

I'm not f**king stupid and knew that would solve sod all since as far as I'm aware, there has never been an option to enable S/PDIF on the W3J. I'm certain this is a software issue, the soundcard works fine with the integral speakers and external ones I have used.

I then phoned Asuslaptop.co.uk, the seller I purchased it from to see what they had to say. The guy there said I needed to speak to the manager of technical support and gave me his 'so-called' number. So I tried the number and sure enough got through to a different person who said Patrick was in a meeting. She told me to e-mail her with details of the problem and that I would receive ananswer by the end of the day. I emailed her around 1 o'clock and still haven't received any reply!!!!!!!

I'm getting pretty pissed off with this as I NEED the S/PDIF output this week, first impressions of ASUS support UK are fairly dreadful. They do not seem particularly competent at all.

As I said previously the only person I am aware of who has used the S/PDIF output is Mastha212.

PLEASE HELP ME MASTHA!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Did anyone ever sort this out? I know my s/pdif was working a while back, but I recently noticed the red light is gone...

I reinstalled the soundMAX driver with no effect...

~ Brett

 

rest assurred i have had the exact same problem as you. You can't "enable" the spdif function on the W3J. The jack is auto sensing, meaning that once an optical cable is plugged in it will then begin sending out the signal. Now heres the problem, i tried many cables before i found one to work, i was using the mini optical ---> standard optical cable. The ones with the plastic type ends (mini spddif side) will not work. My only idea is that since the jack is a sensing type this side needs to be metal in order to let the laptop know a cable is plugged in. Once i used a metal style cable i had no problems. You'll just have to find the correct cable. Feel free to pm me if you have anymore questions.

 

Hmm, I was using a metal-tipped wire... oh well...

odd...


~ Brett

 

The metal tipped wire isn't going to be enough, you'll need to get one with the metal most of the way up the plug

 

The bizarre thing is... I had it working with my current wire earlier. It eventually stopped working on its own. Do you have a link to a model of wire you think would work?

~ Brett