Help Connecting Parasound C2 to Soundblaster Audigy Z2S PC soundcard?

[MIB]

Help Connecting Parasound C2 to Soundblaster Audigy Z2S PC soundcard?

Hello Rags and everyone else.

I have discovered the pleasures of PC gaming etc on my large Plasma screen.
I would now like to connect my soundcard to my Parasound C2.

Firstly, is this safe for the C2?

The manual for my soundcard is here.

http://files.americas.creative.com/manualdn/Manuals/7544/A2ZS.chm

I states that I can connect digitally. 5.1 channel digital speakers.
"Digital Out jack Connects to external digital devices or digital speaker systems (6-channel or compressed AC-3 SPDIF output). "

This terminates in a 'DIN' Plug, at this point im foxed.

Alternatively it states that I can connect by analogue, 5.1,6.1, 7.1, via 3 'line out jacks', I beleive these are all line level output.
E>G. "Line Out 1 jack (LIN_OUT1) Connects to Front Left and Front Right inputs on powered analog speakers or an external amplifier. Also supports headphones. "
Again Im not sure what to do here.

The distance from my PC to the C2 is approx 7 metres.

Can anyone give me any advice, including precautions to set this up?

Cheers and merry Christmas.

[Kingdaddy]

I have my C2 connected to the same card via spdif digital output to digital coax input 2 on the C2. The coax is aprox 35 feet long and works beautifully. What questions did you have?

[MIB]

I have my C2 connected to the same card via spdif digital output to digital coax input 2 on the C2. The coax is aprox 35 feet long and works beautifully. What questions did you have?

This is marvelous news!.
Is it safe?
do you get 5.1 sound?
where can I sort myself out with a cable? of what type?

[Kingdaddy]

Yea, I get full 5.1 surround, sounds wonderful. I made my own digital coax cable from some bulk 8mm audio cable form MTM and used Dayton audio RCA connectors, cost about $30 in parts, then use a mono mini jack to RCA adapter from radio shack. All the analog outputs on the card use stereo mini jacks so watch out, that one threw me. I have the analog outputs going to a different zone (garage) and the digital out gong to the C2 for the main system.

Great card IMO

PS.
I would go to parts express.com and buy the bulk audio cable and connectors.

[MIB]

From what you are saying it is the digital output of the soundblaster I should concentrate on.

Soundcard digital out socket.

Normal digital coax into the digital connector of the C2.

is the "mono mini jack to RCA adapter from radio shack" what you use to connect the two.

Sorry to appear dumb, but I dont want to mess this up!

[avpower]

I've been geting the plasma gaming bug too - damn xbox spoiled me with component output and 5.1 sound. Now that Half Life2 is here, I am motivated for getting my pc integrated into my HT system. My research has indicated the CreativeLabs Audigy 2ZS cards too. However, because of the connection limitations of the 2ZS, I am going to get either the Platinum (seperate internal connector box) or the Platinum Pro (external connector box). I like the internal idea but it uses up a rackmount for an internal hard drive. Thats the only tradeoff i can see on these two models. The advantage of going to the Platinum level is all the digital extra outputs/inputs that you get. Its "only" another $100 bucks for the Platinum. If you can't return it and upgrade then its $200 or so. Thats what i would recommend especially given the 7 meters you want to run. Then you can run digital all the way to your C2 and never have to worry about the performance of that little headphone jack. Watch out for those weak points in any design. I've wasted days trying to identify why my sound quality was changing, breaking up or cutting out occassionaly, just due to a bad connector... :cry:

i'm sure the 5.1 sound will be good enough either way. Its mostly about the big screen game experience!! :T

[nicholtl]

That's why you guys need a Mac. They come with digital outs. =)

[MIB]

I've been geting the plasma gaming bug too - damn xbox spoiled me with component output and 5.1 sound. Now that Half Life2 is here, I am motivated for getting my pc integrated into my HT system. My research has indicated the CreativeLabs Audigy 2ZS cards too. However, because of the connection limitations of the 2ZS, I am going to get either the Platinum (seperate internal connector box) or the Platinum Pro (external connector box). I like the internal idea but it uses up a rackmount for an internal hard drive. Thats the only tradeoff i can see on these two models. The advantage of going to the Platinum level is all the digital extra outputs/inputs that you get. Its "only" another $100 bucks for the Platinum. If you can't return it and upgrade then its $200 or so. Thats what i would recommend especially given the 7 meters you want to run. Then you can run digital all the way to your C2 and never have to worry about the performance of that little headphone jack. Watch out for those weak points in any design. I've wasted days trying to identify why my sound quality was changing, breaking up or cutting out occassionaly, just due to a bad connector... :cry:

i'm sure the 5.1 sound will be good enough either way. Its mostly about the big screen game experience!! :T

So with the Platinum version its just a normal 7M Digital coaxial cable with RCA type connectors both ends?

Can you get 5.1 or 7.1 sound from this card through the digital connection only? without having to use analogue for sub or rear speakers??

[MIB]

OK. So I have the option to either.

A.)Coaxial digital output from my soundcard to Digital RCA input on the C2.
Via a mono 3.5 to phono adaptor and 10m approx digital coaxial cable.
If I understand correctly this will not give me 5.1 surround in games? even if game is set to 5.1 output and soundcard is also?

B. 3 x 3.5 to twin rca cables 10M approx, running to analogue inputs on c2. Operating at line level.
I understand this will give me 5.1 sound in games. However I would need to check the centre/sub output is the right way around.

C as B but 7.1 analogue setup, not sure about the cabling for this exactly to enable the sides

Can anyone confirm my findings?

[Peter Nielsen]

A.)Coaxial digital output from my soundcard to Digital RCA input on the C2. Via a mono 3.5 to phono adaptor and 10m approx digital coaxial cable. If I understand correctly this will not give me 5.1 surround in games? even if game is set to 5.1 output and soundcard is also?

The digital output is the ONLY way to get all the possibilities. This is how you should connect the card to the C2. Any other way will be inferior.

Peter

[MIB]

The digital output is the ONLY way to get all the possibilities. This is how you should connect the card to the C2. Any other way will be inferior.

Peter

I am going to try both and discard what does not suit!

[MIB]

OK.

Happy new year!
Ok I have a digital RCA cable.
Plugged into a mono to RCa converter at sound card end plugged into spdif.

Then into Digital 3 on parasound.

Parasound OSD reports this as PCM.

Using test tones on sound card I only get stereo output using any selection of outputs, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1 etc. I only hear front left and front right.

Switching source on parasound only shows mono or stereo.

WHat am I missing to get the other test tones, centre rear sub etc??

Help!! Perhaps I needed to select 'direct' mode but mrs hogging TV now!

[Kingdaddy]

Don't worry about test tones they only work when using the analog 5 ch outs. The only way to properly check all 5 channels (digital out) is to have a disc or content with DD 5.1 or DTS playing from your computer. Normally with redbook CD's you won't have to worry about this anyway, you only need 2 channel output from the digital connection. I used a DTS audio disc to check the 5.1 out, but you may not have one of these so you can just use a DD 5.1 movie in the DVD ROM drive of the computer if you like. If your'e never going to play movies or DTS audio then don't worry about it, just play your music (MP3's) and then you will be able to select the music sound modes like Natural or Party from the Halo, these modes will simulate and send soound out to all 5 speakers.

[MIB]

Don't worry about test tones they only work when using the analog 5 ch outs. The only way to properly check all 5 channels (digital out) is to have a disc or content with DD 5.1 or DTS playing from your computer. Normally with redbook CD's you won't have to worry about this anyway, you only need 2 channel output from the digital connection. I used a DTS audio disc to check the 5.1 out, but you may not have one of these so you can just use a DD 5.1 movie in the DVD ROM drive of the computer if you like. If your'e never going to play movies or DTS audio then don't worry about it, just play your music (MP3's) and then you will be able to select the music sound modes like Natural or Party from the Halo, these modes will simulate and send soound out to all 5 speakers.

OK I have tried films and cds and I only have the option of Mono or stereo. None of the other suround modes are available?

Any idea why?

Update.
Playing MP3 files with 5.1 output selected in speaker settings would only let me have the mon or stereo.
Selecting 2/2.1 speakers has now let me have all modes!!!

But Power dvd still outputs mono or stereo only???

[MIB]

I think Im sorted.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?threadid=377573&perpage=20&highlight=audigy%20or%20plug&pagenumber=2