I want to play DVD-Audio on my computer and Reciver.

Well, the subject says it all.

So I’m thinking about getting a new soundcard for my computer. I want to test some of the potential of the DVD-A format, and I’m not keen on buying a new DVD player and amplifier just yet.

As far as I know, there is only one soundcard out there, that can play DVD-A, the Audigy 2. (I sense that Creative isn’t to popular in these circles at the moment )

This is where I’m lost.

1.I know that you only can playback through your analogue output.

2.I know Windvd can play DVD-A, without the audigy 2 card.


So what is so special about the Creative card being able to playback DVD-A? Further more, what is this resampling back to 48 khz issue. Creative says their card is 192 khz, so it cant resample everything to 48 khz? Or can they

I was thinking of buying a, TerraTec SoundSystem Aureon 7.1 Space, or an Audigy card. What should I go for? I play games and listen to music, playback only.

And lastly, is all digital output out of the question when it comes to DVD-A? I could live with a 2ch 96/24 PCM output signal.

Can anyone help me out?

Thx

 

I have a Prodigy 7.1 (Wolfson Codecs)and am very happy so far(music only) and movies from my computer to TV. I am slowly gathering everything to build a HTPC and I don't like buying new consumer equiptment everytime a new technology comes out. The PC can handle everything.

WinDVD with DVD-Audio Pack will let you experiment with DVD-A at 16/48 unless you have the Audigy2. I don't know if Audigy will unlock WinDVD past 24/96 as I think that is the maximum output of WinDVD(I could be wrong). I think however the Creative Software DVD-A player will allow full 24/192 playback. When playing a DVD-A in any hardware or software player,I think the digital out is turned off or outputs at a maximum of 16/48. What we need is a skilled software engineer to figure out how to output the signal digitally in full resolution at the SPDIF. I would assume that all 24/192 cards will eventually be offered with an add-on DVD-A player for a small fee to cover licencing issues as long as they adhere to the digital playback restrictions.

Hope that is some help. My guess is that 2004 is the year dvd-a gets some serious notice.

 

Basically, you cannot get 6 channes of 24/96 down a digital line. It just isn't possible. This is why on DVD-A players, you need to hook up to a 6 channe analogue input on the AV amp, and you use the DAC in the player to do the conversions.

 

Make sure the amp has 24/96 available, many do not - more modern ones do...

 

A very good point!
Better still, check for 192KHz as a lot of DVDA is at 24/192 stereo.

 

Commissar:

I have the external sound card, audigy 2 nx, which can play dvd-audio's. WinDVD 5 and 6 can play dvd-audio's. I am using WinDVD 6 platinum. The optical output can put out stereo dvd-audio up to 24/96. That is how i have it set up for now. I purchased some wires made for sound cards that seperates the 3 stereo outputs into their respective lefts and rights so I can plug it into the external decoder of my receiver. Basically they are spliters, splitting 3 wires that each carry 2 channels in them to 6 wires that carry their 1 channel. This and USB 2.0 will allow for 5.1 24/96 playback on a receiver from the pc.

I think the audigy 2 nx is an awesome sound card. It comes with a somewhat useless remote unless you use the media-center software that comes with the card. there is nothing wrong with 24/96, dolby digital, dts, 102 snr, thx certified creative sound cards, even if they are not popular on "these circles". I picked mine up at compusa for 60 bucks luckily but i think you can find em for about 80 still.

Hope this helps