Getting 5.1 from PS3?
 

What is the best way to get 5.1 out of a PS3 without using a receiver? My current setup is:

PS3 <HDMI> Asus monitor <3.5mm connector> PC line in <> PC output to speakers. This only gives me 2.0 output though, which sucks.

My computer has onboard 7.1, my speakers are a Logitech X540 set. I want to use able to use the digital audio out (from what I understand it's an optical connection?) from the PS3 and feed the sound to my speakers. I've found an audio card that has optical in but from what I understand those can have a lot of lag? I don't really need a whole new card, just optical in.

On the other end of things, I'm looking at the newer Logitech Z506 online, and it looks like it has an optical input? The specs don't mention it though. I don't like the look of the Z506 speakers as much but I guess I should he able to use the 540 speakers and just the Z506 sub, correct?

When i used to hook up my ps3 to my computer system, I used hdmi to my monitor and optical cable to my logitech z5500. worked like a charm. 5.1 sound to my speakers.

I was looking into this last year for a similar setup. The lower end logitech ie z506 does not have optical input. Only logitech one that has that is the z5500's which will cost you $$$. NCIX still sells those for $400.

What I did was get a logitech 5.1 game console adapter. You can find those on amazon or google. Its not true surround but will get sound to all your speakers. I think I also have additional splitters/cable connected so that my ps3 and pc is can use the speakers without having to replug cables from ps3/pc everytime. I think that's what I did last year, havn't looked in the back of my pc/ps3 in a while lol.

Ps, NCIX has the edifier s330d 2.1 speakers that have optical input for 100ish, but its only 2.1 but should be much better than the x540 anyway
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i just got a new setup for the living room(yamaha and energy), my logitech z5500 are now officially retired. if you are interested in buying it, pm me.

i agree on the z5500 working pretty well for the price. i bought a set on RS used for 200 bucks. it's a good budget 5.1 route. if you want ghetto 7.1 have your ps3 output from both the hdmi source and optical source. if you're not an audiophile or audio nazi, the z5500s should be decent.

I can confirm Optical-in -> Sound card (Creative X-FI Platinum) = out of sync.
It was only like half a second out of sync, but it's enough to notice and it was annoying.

I'm now back to good old stereo.

best way to get true 5.1 sound without amplifier is buying speakers that has optical connection.

/thread

most likely Home theatre in a box, or computer speakers

The connection interface means nothing, 5.1 signals can be transmitted over Coax RCA cable as well. In the beginning TOSLINK (the name for the optical interface we use today) was only designed to stream stereo PCM from CD players.

You need to look at the speaker/amp specs and look for "Decodes Dolby Digital/DTS digital" which is pretty much all home theaters in a box systems these days.

Have you considered soundbars? The Sony HTCT150 has hdmi in and out. From reviews online, the virtual surround sound is pretty good.

yes that is true. I just said optical only because OP mentioned it was for his PS3. there is no coax connection on a ps3.

^ I found converters for $8 or so online, not sure how good they are though.

I may be PMing you soon, I'd prefer to keep as much of my current setup as possible (to keep costs down) but that's looking unlikely. The only decoders and such I've found always have too many features, and are amplified. It's bullshit that a heap HDMI/digital audio stripper/optical in doesn't exist that's any good.

edit: My monitor (ASUS VH242H) Apparently has an SPDIF out? it looks like an orange RCA jack.

I don't like sound bars, if I can't purchase what I want then I'm gonna replace my current setup with another proper 5.1 setup.

edit2: apparently the PS3 supports multi-audio out now? Damn, if I could only get my screen to decode and output the rear audio from the HDMI, I'd be golden :( Either that or have the PS3 let me choose to output the rear audio over the RCA's, instead of the front.

Converters are fine, they're cheap because there's not much to them, all they're doing is changing light pulses (optical) to voltage pulses (coax).

That would be coax. It's likely a passthrough from the HDMI signal into the monitor.

Yeah I checked and it's only 2 channels out of it, so still useless. I'm mildly pissed that Sony finally allowed multiple audio outputs, only to make it so that the secondary ones are forced 2.0. It's looking like my best bet is to get the z5500 or go with a full blown receiver setup. Or a headset I guess. Either way, it'll cost a lot more than I wanted to spend.

You got PM!

May have a solution for you. I have a Creative Decoder DDTS-100 sitting at home not in use. Ran a similar 5.1 setup as you did and required the Creative Decoder DDTS-100 to work with HDMI and optic connections

seeing this thread reminded me of sony's ps3 5.1 stereo system i saw on sale a couple weeks back

http://blog.us.playstation.com/2010/...ble-next-week/

this is what i use only because the rca outputs are located on my tv and on certain monitors and sound cards

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...500_AA280_.jpg

i use that to connect my old logitech 5.1 speakers to my TV. good enough for me, but i had a heck of a time finding one.

^ I've found tonnes of those online. It doesn't give proper 5.1 though, so it's useless to me.

Update: According to HT|Omega support, their Striker card only has 10-50ms latency, which would be fine. The only catch is that apparently no sound card can decode DD/DTS due to legal crap. What about AAC? From what I understand it can support 5.1 output.