Question about mixamp and soundcard

[x6CerberuS]

I've been thinking about getting the astro gaming mixamp I currently have a creative soundblaster xfi platinum soundcard I have audio technicas/akg/sennheiser studio quality headphones and I was curious when I get the mixamp if it's recommended to upgrade my soundcard to maybe an asus xonar or ht omega.

[AllTimeMitch]

Hey,

There shouldn't be a reason to upgrade as your sound card should use Dolby Digital Live.

The only thing I recommend picking up with your purchase is the 3.5 to 3.5mm Audio Cable (http://www.astrogaming.com/products/detail/73/35mm-to-35mm-Audio-Cable/). The only reason I recommend this is some people have problems using the USB on the MixAmp for voice communication and then have to come back and purchase this cable to output directly to the Microphone port on the sound card.

- AllTimeMitch

[Draklawl]

If what I am seeing on newegg is correct (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102190&cm_re=X-fi_Platinum-_-29-102-190-_-Product)

the platinum neither has an optical out, nor supports DDL, so in order to take advantage of DDL, and hence the full potential of the mixamp, you would need to get a new sound card. A Omega Striker or X-Fi titanium

[x6CerberuS]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102190 yea that's my soundcard.

[AcIdC0R3]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102190 yea that's my soundcard.

If you want Dolby Digital 5.1 on your mixamp from your PC it will need to have an Optical or Coaxial out and the sound card will need to have Dolby Digital Live.

Cheers...

[x6CerberuS]

**** I may just get the http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100008658%2050011613&IsNodeId=1&name=HT%20Omega instead and hopefully still be able to afford the mixamp cause it will be helpful for lans and everything.


If what I am seeing on newegg is correct (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102190&cm_re=X-fi_Platinum-_-29-102-190-_-Product)

the platinum neither has an optical out, nor supports DDL, so in order to take advantage of DDL, and hence the full potential of the mixamp, you would need to get a new sound card. A Omega Striker or X-Fi titanium

[AcIdC0R3]

**** I may just get the http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100008658%2050011613&IsNodeId=1&name=HT%20Omega instead and hopefully still be able to afford the mixamp cause it will be helpful for lans and everything.

I can vouch for the Striker as I have one and it's a really nice sound card. Never again will I buy Creative as they have a bunch of bloatware when you go to install the drivers.

Cheers...

[x6CerberuS]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ImageGallery.aspx?CurImage=29-102-190-22.jpg&Image=29-102-190-22.jpg,29-102-190-15.jpg,29-102-190-16.jpg,29-102-190-17.jpg,29-102-190-18.jpg,29-102-190-19.jpg,29-102-190-04.jpg,29-102-190-20.jpg,29-102-190-21.jpg&S7ImageFlag=0&WaterMark=1&Item=N82E16829102190&Depa=0&Description=Creative%20SOUND%20BLASTER%20X-Fi%20Platinum%207.1%20Channels%20PCI%20Interface%2 0Sound%20Card

Doesn't that have optical and coaxial in the front bay?

[AcIdC0R3]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ImageGallery.aspx?CurImage=29-102-190-22.jpg&Image=29-102-190-22.jpg,29-102-190-15.jpg,29-102-190-16.jpg,29-102-190-17.jpg,29-102-190-18.jpg,29-102-190-19.jpg,29-102-190-04.jpg,29-102-190-20.jpg,29-102-190-21.jpg&S7ImageFlag=0&WaterMark=1&Item=N82E16829102190&Depa=0&Description=Creative%20SOUND%20BLASTER%20X-Fi%20Platinum%207.1%20Channels%20PCI%20Interface%2 0Sound%20Card

Doesn't that have optical and coaxial in the front bay?

Oh yeah, that card has the front bay extension. If your specs say it supports DDL then you're set. They make two versions of that card. One with and one without the front bay.

[SocksWthSandals]

i dont read anywhere where you sound card supports dolby digital live... maybe im missing it?

[x6CerberuS]

I was told on buy.creative or some**** u can buy the ddl package and my soundcard could support it. please try to clarify I have a finals match for mw2 so I'll just talk about this later tonight.

[AcIdC0R3]

Yep, interesting, it appears you can. Use this link HERE (http://buy.soundblaster.com/_creativelabsstore/cgi-bin/pd.cgi?page=product_detail&category=Software&pid=F2222DDN6Z2H2ADDEZD). You can get DDL for less than $5. :eek: It appears there are compatibility issues with some other hardware. I would read it real carefully to make sure you don't have any of the incompatible hardware they are talking about as I believe the update is a firmware update and it probably can't be undone without a lot of trouble.

[ASTRO Warblade]

I used to have the prior version of this card and front expansion bay (the SoundBlaster Platinum). It was a great card for back in the day. Think it was one of the first ones with the EAX3 chip (though I HATE EAX processing, haha).

That front expansion bay is soooo useful too. I typically plugged my headphones right into that and played Counter-Strike like that. I also dabbled with recording music through the 1/4" input and my mixer. Fun times.

-ASTRO Warblade

[x6CerberuS]

So sadly I'm still not sure if I what is going to be best for my audio technica ath a900s, if I should get the new ht omega soundcard and get a mixamp later or try the mixamp and get a new soundcard if I think is necessary. As it has been confirmed I will be able to use DDL with my current soundcard.