W3V audio question

I noticed on the Asus Global website said that the w3v supports the new azalia audio driver with built in s/pdif. Anyone know where the s/pdif is on this machine? I know in the sound properties you can select up to 7.1 speakers etc.

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by BeanCounter

 

I think the s/pdif out is combined with the headphone out.

 

S/pdif probably is built in somehow. Tobais could be right...it could be built in to the headphones out somehow. I can't see why they would still advertise it as having built in s/pdif if it didn't. This is what it says on the asus global website.

Cinematic Audio Deliverance
High quality 7.1 channel stereo sound and built-in SP/DIF connection deliver realistic audio performance that completes the total gaming experience. In addition, the W3V offers the unique Audio DJ feature that enables instant music playing. Now there is no need to wait for the notebook to boot or enter the OS for music enjoyment.

Just want to make sure it's useable since i might get a 5.1-7.1 speaker system for my room for music and movie purposes. I want to make sure this lappy can run it.

 

If you're serious about notebook sound qaulity, i would consider purchasing the creative soundblaster audigy notebook sound card.

http://www.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=1&subcategory=204&product=10769

 

After adding this soud card, does it mean the audio quality will improve on the existing speaker? I think this W3v is almost perfect, beside the sound quality is not that fantastic compare to my previous Toshiba Notebook.

 

I have not used the W3V yet (it's waiting for me at home!) but my desktop soundcard (santa cruz) supports spdif through a shared 1/8" plug. The function of the plug is changed in the sound control panel - mic in vs digital out. I suspect this is the case with the W3V - analog out vs digital out. You then need a 1/8" to RCA type adapter which can be pluged into your digital in on your receiver or whatever. I'll have to double check, but I think the adapter that came with the santa cruz was a little strange. It was a Y adapter with a 1/8" plug on one end and two RCA on the other, but only one worked for the digital out. I don't think anything like this is supplied with the W3V and I'm not sure where to get one of these. I'll look into it and post back.

 

Thanks everyone for the reply. Confinoj is correct about the digital out but it comes out from the headphone out. Messing with the realtek properties, there is a s/pdif tab with a choice between no output and digital output choices at 44.1, 48, and 98khz. On the speaker config tab, you can choose between headphone setting and speaker setting. If you choose headphone, than it's a normal headphone out but if you choose speaker, it changes to line out on the headphone out so i'm assuming that the headphone out doubles as the s/pdif but you will need a rca 1/8" Y adapter like confinoj said. I fortunately have one of those. Probably gonna need to find someone with a home theater speaker system to test out if this is true.

 

BeanCounter,
I'm not positive the y adapter will work, but it's obviously easy to try. The santa cruz may have been unique as in my limited search I found people discussing this with the SB live which seemed to use some non-standard setup. Although, if anything I would think it would be more standardized these days. Let us know what works and I'll keep looking when I get time.

 

I was always very curious about that soundcard Raging_Bull mentioned ever since it came out...the Audigy 2 ZS Notebook one...how would that work, is it compatible with the W3V? I mean where would that card be placed and what benefits would it offer over the factory setup.

I'm going to be buying the Logitech Z-5500 Digital 5.1 500W THX®-certified Speaker System w/ Dolby® Digital & DTS for my desktop/office setup and would like to be able to hook the laptop I buy up to it from time to time.

Anyone with some knowledge to help me on this would be much appreciated, thanks in advance [8D]

 

CC - buy Klipsh.... You'll never hear tighter bass on full levels than you will on these below. I have them and I'd bet my reputation on the setup. I'm using these below on my desktop and the asus board on my desktop has a dolby digital decoder on board so I don't need an external box to get 5.1 channels.....


http://www.klipsch.com/product/product.aspx?cid=712



Or the GMX's if you don't think you need the ones above. The GMX's are best for our laptops because you need an external decoder even though they put out a digital signal... The sound on these is still awesome and even these will trounce those Logitechs.

http://www.klipsch.com/product/product.aspx?cid=525

Thanks,
Justin
PROPortable
www.proportable.com
[email protected]

 

Thanks Justin, I'll look into those...If I can find a decent reseller in the area, they'd be too much of a pain to have shipped. You think they're that much better than the Z-5500? I've heard amazing things about them...

Also, what about the sound card above? You didn't say anything about it? Would it be compatible with the W3V? [8D]

 

If we sold our desktops online we'd be selling Klipsh speakers without a doubt....... without selling those online though it's hard to keep up with the $10 million in sales they want a dealer to do a year......

The GMX's can actually be had cheap on their site and they should work with the W3 without a problem. Like I said I've got the Ultra 5.1's and those would need a decoder on a laptop...... the GMX's are still very nice and still put out better sound than the Logitech's. I got my brother a set of the GMX's for his W1 and they work beautifully. The bass is still tight and thumpin'..... my Ultra 5.1's though will rattle your brain...... and still be super tight. If you can apprecitate nice tight hard hitting bass, you'll love them.

As far as sound cards... the external soundblaster audigy2 is really nice. If you get that, I'd suggest getting the Ultra 5.1's.... because that'll serve as the decoder. But really... the W3's sound card can do more than push those speakers.

Thanks,
Justin
PROPortable
www.proportable.com
[email protected]

 

Where would that Soundcard go on the W3V? Is it a simple empty slot somewhere...or would something have to be removed in order to install it? I guess this will be answered when you tell me where it will go on the W3V, but will it stick out at all or be visible...or will something cover it completely? Thanks.

You sound pretty taken with those Klipsch speakers...I guess I'll have to seriously consider them. It's the worst because I've already done my research and was absolutely set on those logitechs, but I trust you, and I want the best...so I'll look back into things.

That's so weird, I'm not happy with them, but Canada Computers carries the ProMedia Ultra 5.1's, I've looked through their site a million times, and they've never had that system on there...maybe It's fate. But they're pretty steep at $549 (CAN)...and I thought the Z-5500's were expensive at $360!!! Anyways, hopefully they'll have a demo setup in store that I can listen too.

Would you say they're also good enough to be hooked up to my entertainment system and double as surround sound speakers for TV, Movies, Music and gaming? [8D]

 

the creative soundblaster audigy card, will fit into the PCMCIA slot on the right hand side of the w3v.

 

Thanks Raging_Bull. So the slot is active then...what other things or options could you use the PCMCIA slot for at this point in time? What's available?

Justin, do you think that the better Klipsch system is good enough to double as speakers for my entertainment system as well...like I asked you above? [8D]

 

Yes..... I have my desktop hooked up to my home entertainment system.... It was great when I was in a little apartment..... but now wish I could buy a dedicated home audio solution from them.....

All I can say is that I've had the promedia ultra 5.1's for ..... oh, a little over 3 years now and those speakers are just tight, I mean, I was never a huge audiophile, but after getting those speakers, I could truly understand the difference between good and great sound.

Like I said..... the promedia GMX 5.1's are cheaper and more the price of the Logitechs you're looking at..... they were made to compete with them.. they are cheaper and have a decorder built in like the logitechs...... but are still better than them.

The promedia ultra 5.1's are just on a totally different level.. They are crazy expensive, and if you don't have a decoder, like you won't on the laptop, you either need theirs (another $100) or something like the audigy..... about the same price.

It's simple..... you can hook this up to a 42" plasma and watch movies with friends in a huge room and you're not going to find better sound... music is great too...... the bass response is seriously by far the BEST you can get for a computer system....... but if you're looking to spend what you are, get the GMX's..... I'm serious when I say they are really really good and better than what you're looking at.......... But man, I haven't had one person listen to my speakers who haven't been truly amazed or truly pissed off. [ ]

Thanks,
Justin
PROPortable
www.proportable.com
[email protected]

 

True, yeah...I didn't think of that...I have a receiver that everything is setup through...so I'd have to figure out the best way to set everything up If I went that route.

Right now It sounds promising. Then again I might feel sick after spending 3 grand on a laptop and a set of speakers when I already have a decent setup to begin with. Maybe I'll go slow, hopefully by the end of the summer I'll have a nice setup going.

I'm off to bed, thanks for sharing all that with me though.
[8D]

 

It seems like we're talking to eachother on messenger or something...everytime I finish posting something, you've responded and vice-versa...

The reason I asked you that Is I live in the basement now, and I've been thinking of upgrading my home entertainment speakers as well...so If they're that good, then It's worth it to me to invest in the more expensive set...but If you said they wouldn't cut it for home entertainment too, I don't think I could justify spending that much money on dedicated laptop speakers alone.

Thanks for taking the time to respond [8D]

 

Well here's the thing..... When I have these hooked to my desktop, I've got to have my audio source come from my computer....... so a computer hd tv tuner..... dvd player..... games..... music..... I can output that out to my tv and so forth, but they can't be directly hooked up to my external sources the way I have it set up.

Now, if you have an external decoder like the audigy, I think that may have inputs on it that'll make it easier to use.

The GMX's have a fiber optic in which make it awesome to use with an xbox or playstation as well..... but consider all of this.

Basically these all have a built in amp which is built into the sub and that's how these are different from a home theater system where you'd have a seperate amp which you'd hook all of your stuff in to.

Thanks,
Justin
PROPortable
www.proportable.com
[email protected]

 

Well... you know...... there is another option....

If you're looking for home theater speakers... and your notebook is going to be used close by........ you can do this..... Buy Klipsch home theater speakers.... Get a miniTOS (optical mini rca cable) which converts to a regular fiber optic connection on the other end..... then if you have a fiber optic input on your home reciever, you've got it made.

Personally, if I had to do it again....... if I already had all the home theater stuff (which I didn't)..... then I would certainly go that route.

Talk to me if you need help with it.

Thanks,
Justin
PROPortable
www.proportable.com
[email protected]

 

I tried hooking up my w3v to the coax digital in on my receiver and have been unsuccessful so far. I tried the 1/8" Y-adapter I had previously mentioned. I tried each cable and messed around with the realtek controls but no luck. Anyone get this working? Maybe it needs a 1/8" to toslink adapter?

 

Try in your sound properties to make sure the spdif isn't on mute. Hope that helps somewhat.

 

Already checked that. Did you get it working beancounter?

 

Nope....i haven't tired it yet cause i'm having a difficult time finding someone with a digital system. Maybe someone in this forum can try...i know cal is looking to get a digital setup soon so hopefully he can let us know....try using the mic instead to see if the signal is going out from there.

 

Yeah, I'll let everyone know, but I don't know exactly when I'll be getting that system...because the Laptop is priority and I have tons of other stuff I need too.

Nobody answered me when I asked about the PCMCIA slot. Aside from the Creative Soundblaster Audigy notebook card, what other things or options could you use the PCMCIA slot for at this point in time? What's available?

And thanks Justin, I'll let you know If I need any help getting things setup/going. [8D]

 

The majority of pcmcia products out there now isn't that much useful for everyday users. For instance, pcmcia firewire interface, flash card, hard drive, wireless cards, etc. In most cases, there are better alternatives to these products than the pcmcia like built in wireless or usb flashdrive. Here is a site with some pcmcia products to give you an idea.
http://www.synchrotech.com/products/

If you google pcmcia tv tuner, there are products that would be useful if you wish to watch tv on your laptop but it still requires a signal source in but you can also use it to record video in for those old vcr movies using the rca inputs. Everything else these days use firewire or usb2 to transfer video.

 

When you turn on S/PDIF on the laptops, you usually can see a red light emitting from the headphone jack....... I haven't tried it on my w3 but it worked that way on my M6, W1, V6.... so I'm guessing it's the same... but you have to turn that on in the sound properties. The ONLY way you can get the digital signal out is over fiberoptic line... so you need a mini toslink to the notebook and you need probably a regular fiber optic connection on the reciever.

Thanks,
Justin
PROPortable
www.proportable.com
[email protected]

 

Thanks Justin. I'll have to get a toslink cable to test it out. However, I have the sound card and audio properties of my DVD decoder setup properly and I don't have a red light emitting from the headphone jack. Do you think something is wrong with it?

 

Got it working! I picked up a mini toslink plug and regular toslink cable at radio shack. It even outputs all other audio besides AC-3.

 

good to hear.... pretty neat, right?

Thanks,
Justin
PROPortable
www.proportable.com
[email protected]