7811FX audio/surround sound

Looking for a little help concerning the audio on my 7811. What I am looking to get is a pair of these http://www.trittontechnologies.com/products/TRIGA600.htm

From what I could find by browsing the web and the forums here I can use something like this http://www.amazon.com/Toslink-To-Op...7?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1231638784&sr=8-7to give me an optical out from the laptop. But I can't really find out anything about the integrated audio on the board. From the little I could dig up it looked like it was only 2 channel, could someone confirm this?

I have looked at some external sound cards but it seems from what I have read that people either complain about the card slowing their computer or audio lag, and that coupled with the fact that they can be quite expensive. If someone has some suggestions it would be extremely helpful as I have to go with headphones due to my living arrangements.

 

Looks like you've done your homework.

The optical-output devices I have used all woked best in 2-channel mode. The decoding to 5.1/7.1 was handled by the surround-sound amplifiers. Your headphone box may do the same.

 

You can only get 2 channel sound out of the optical S/PDIF if your soundcard is doing the decoding. However if you are playing a movie for example which is encoded in 5.1 or 7.1 and output directly to S/PDIF you will get full 5.1/7.1 at your receiving equipment.

Now some headphone kits come with 5/7 channel decoders and run via USB. One such unit is this:

http://www2.razerzone.com/Megalodon/

http://www.razerzone.com/p-133-the-razer-megalodon-71-surround-sound-gaming-headset.aspx

You can demo the engine on the first link with normal headphones. Pretty awesome HRTF technology - better than any other implementation I've heard (Yamaha Silent Cinema, Dolby Headphone, Creative CMSS-3D).