New motherboard with no SPDIF, FML

Equipment / Electronics / Gear / Accessories DACs
1

Silly me just assumed any new mobo in 2019 would have optical out and didn’t check before purchase. I guess most new receivers are HDMI based now, my Marantz is just a tad too old.

So I’m heading down a rabbit hole here. My receiver can take the 7.1 analogue straight from my motherboard so I’m not without sound but using the receivers DAC would be preferred.

I am trying to decide if I should just get an HDMI to toslink/HDMI extractor box or perhaps a soundcard with optical out. Alternatively a DAC/headphone amp (not really required for my collection of middle of the range Sennies) if the price is right.

Bear in mind that I have two minimum requirements.
1- it must pass through 5.1/7.1 DTS (+HD), AC3 etc via SPDIF or coax
2- it must use USB or PCI-e and NOT require digital input via toslink or coax

Budget at this time of year would be about $100 i guess.

Any thoughts?

2

Only thing that pops to mind is micca origin g2. Dunno if it passes 5.1 tho.

3

You might want to consider getting a sound card. I have a Asus Xonar DX. I use it to connect to my 5.1 stereo. I like it fine, however they do not seem to make it anymore. They do make this one.

I do not know if this is the best sound card or not. You should do some reaearch on which sound card is the best.

1 Like
4

I second @Ultrium here, just get a PCIe soundcard with optical out, done.

A few options:

Brand SKU MSRP ($) Note
Creative Audigy Rx 70
Creative Soundblaster Z 110
Creative SoundblasterX AE-5 170 Has RGB nonesense
Asus Xonar AE 70
EVGA Nu Audio Card 170
HT Omega Fenix 130 (?) Toslink & RCA SPDIF
5

Cheers guys. Have ordered an HDMI extractor to test, but China shipping at this time of year is going to be a crapshoot at best.