Question Connecting AV sound system to non optical new computer

[SauceCakes]

Hi everyone,

I just bought a new computer and realized there is no optical (but why?) in the motherboard and I am losing my mind trying to figure out how to plug in my AV system to my PC. My motherboard is an Asus z790-P and I've reviewed ASUS's forum staff telling people to get a sound card or a USB DAC .

Issue is there is no sound card that supports 5.1 just from the Optical plug in, only seems to do stereo. The USB DAC option reviews say there is a delay and Microsoft volume up/down doesnt work. For a gaming motherboard I obviously dont want sound delay.

HDMI option is also out of the question given I have multiple monitors running high refresh rate

Are there any other options? Not sure why this seems to be so difficult in 2024, you'd think many people would be running AVs to their computer for better sound quality but it seems like we went backwards.

 

[stonecarver]

https://dlcdnets.asus.com/pub/ASUS/...26_PRIME_Z790-P_UM_WEB.pdf?model=PRIME Z790-P

Chapter 2 starting on 2-17 does show 5.1 and 7.1 audio out from the motherboard Analog.

As far as the HDMI and your three monitors could it be a solution to get one of those break out little boxes that split the HDMI so monitor gets the signal like normal but the digital audio from the HDMI can than be sent to your receiver?

 

[SauceCakes]

I run gauge wires to my AV receiver right now, that looks like its for a basic 3.5mm AUX plug in. Also as far as I know, we cant just take HDMI and use it for audio only. My current monitors use displayport.

 

[stonecarver]

Okay just brain storming here.

This could get the HDMI digital audio out of the GPU. It would not effect your displayport to monitors but the box would act as a fantom monitor with the added part from amazon.


https://tripplite.eaton.com/uhd-4k-2k-hdmi-audio-de-embedder-extractor~P130000AUDIO


https://www.amazon.com/Headless-Display-Emulator-Headless-1920x1080-Generation/dp/B06XT1Z9TF?th=1

 

[howardb8r]

Hi everyone,

I just bought a new computer and realized there is no optical (but why?) in the motherboard and I am losing my mind trying to figure out how to plug in my AV system to my PC. My motherboard is an Asus z790-P and I've reviewed ASUS's forum staff telling people to get a sound card or a USB DAC .

Issue is there is no sound card that supports 5.1 just from the Optical plug in, only seems to do stereo. The USB DAC option reviews say there is a delay and Microsoft volume up/down doesnt work. For a gaming motherboard I obviously dont want sound delay.

HDMI option is also out of the question given I have multiple monitors running high refresh rate

Are there any other options? Not sure why this seems to be so difficult in 2024, you'd think many people would be running AVs to their computer for better sound quality but it seems like we went backwards.

I am assuming you want to output sound from your PC to receiver using a TOSLINK cable but lack the physical connection.

The manual shows connection #16 on the motherboard diagram, detailed on page 1-18 as "The S/PDIF Out header allows you to connect the Sony/Philips Digital Interface (S/PDIF) Out module."

Could you just use a card slot SPDIF brackets? Example on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/WANSUPYIN-Anti-Reverse-Optical-Gigabyte-Motherboard/dp/B0CJ8YCXVK

I did this with my last PC upgrade and noticed no difference from the one that was integrated on the motherboard. I am using ASRock boards but assume ASUS is the same.

Note that SPDIF has limits on number of channels and bit rates.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S/PDIF