Question Case front 5 1/4" panel with 7.1 audio capabilities. Exists?

[Maebius]

Hello everyone!

I have a pretty old (but good) CoolerMaster HAF 932 case that only has 2 audio jacks infront (stereo+mic).

I'm in the process of picking parts for a new system and I "need" 7.1 sound from the motherboard due to a specialist sound system I'm using. (oldschool but veery high quality)
My current motherboard has the required 4 audio(front/rear/sub-center/surround) +1mic jacks in the back.

Many (even high-end) motherboards have just stereo+mic in the back while they also have front panel audio connector on the board, I assume to connect to a case provided panel.
There surely are motherboards with rear 7.1 sound jacks, but not many and I don't want to limit my options.

Since my case is quite old, I had a similar issue with getting USB3 in the front (it only had USB2 ports) and I just bought a 5.25 panel that worked perfectly (something like this - which provided just USB).

For the life of me, I can't find something similar that's not just stereo+mic.

Has anyone spotted anything to help an old chap out?

Thanks!

 

[Lutfij]

I "need" 7.1 sound from the motherboard due to a specialist sound system I'm using. (oldschool but veery high quality)
My current motherboard has the required 4 audio(front/rear/sub-center/surround) +1mic jacks in the back.
Make and model of your motherboard?. You could just fabricate a front panel module(with RCA female connectors, wire and stereo jacks)to house all audio outputs for your 7.1 channel audio but IMHO they are best being on the back, for cable management. Make and model of the audio equipment you're working with?

 

[Maebius]

...

My current motherboard is this, but that's a non-issue as it has me covered.... going to a new one is the problem.
The thing is that rear 7.1 RCA capabilities aren't available on all the new motherboards but most have the IO to connect to the front case.

For example this has the rear jacks, but this doesn't. Both can outpout the 7.1 channels to a front panel by connecting it to the motherboard though.

I could fabricate something, but then I got to house it in front of the case somewhere, so it will look kind of ugly.

So, for now I'm just looking to see if there are such 7.1 front panels available.
If not, then I just have fewer motherboard choices, no biggie.

As for my sound system, it's professional grade amp, subwoofer, speakers and so on. It being pretty old though, means that it only has RCA connections as you've figured. But that's besides the point really

 

[Lutfij]

Make and models of your audio equipment helps us two fold and removes us from guess work. The simplest answer is actually, that you fabricate the panel, with a sacrificial 5.25" bay cover Perhaps even fabricate one out of mesh/plastic.

 

[Maebius]

It's this one , which I bought for just 200ish euros 5 years ago because the optical+coaxial inputs where not working.
The subwoofer is this and the speakers are some big yamahas that I purchased from a bankrupt night club