Last update 2008-01-25
Connecting SBLive Value to a Dolby Digital(AC3) Receiver
I wrote this document to help others to connect their SBLive Value
to a Dolby Digital Receiver (in my case Marantz SR6200). My exact card is a
SB0100 but this will work also for the CT4830.
Preample
Things get very confusing if you look on the web for clues
how to connect the SBLive to a DD receiver. People claim
the yellow connector carries the AC3 signal which is NOT true
I found. Creative made this yellow connector a proprietary
format 3.5" jack with four connections. SPDIF front, SPDIF rear
SPDIF LFE and SPDIF Center. If you connect a 3.5" mono jack to
a standard cinch connector and hook up your card like this you
will NOT get AC3 sound but only the front signal. I was lucky
that my receiver showed me this info.
How to do it then?
On the web I found multiple interesting stories which indicated
to use the aud_ext connector on the SBLive. Pins 17 and 18 carry
the full SPDIF signal if the card is configured properly. So
first connect this to the digital in of the receiver. Pin 17 is the
signal (center of the cinch) and Pin 18 is the ground.
Launch the AudioHQ/Speaker Setup and set the speaker setup to Live!Surround.
Also unset (using advanced) the AC3 decode. This is essential for pass-thru.
That is it! my SR6200 indicates DolbyDigital nicely know!
Have fun
Thanks
to yaysoft.com for their excelent article.