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

 

[SauceCakes]

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

Interesting, I think you just figured it out for me!!! I totally missed that SPDIF out. That being said, I should look at the difference between using it or a dedicated sound card on a PCI-E before I buy either

 

[Paperdoc]

First, forget about trying to do this from an HDMI output. The HDMI system does allow it to carry audio to the connected device, but only 2-channel stereo. Those signals come from the video card and NOT from a mobo audio chip.

What you say you want is 5.1 channel audio. The mobo can do that, and a common way is via the set of three analog audio output jacks on its rear panel. IF your AV system amp has those three inputs (3.5 mm jacks stereo cables) you can use that. You may not have those, OR you may prefer a cleaner single cable. That's where S/PDIF comes in. The system CAN send such an audio stream (OR only 2-channel audio) in digital format on a single cable. That cable can be either an optical one OR a single electrical coaxial cable with RCA connectors.

Your mobo has an S/PDIF electrical output header, but no socket for that on its back plate. However you can get a small plate that mounts in an unused rear panel place for a PCIe slot that will connect to that mobo header to expose a external socket. A simple one will just make the electrical coaxial cable type (same as the header) available if that suits the inputs you AV system has. Another type actually has a "translator" in the little panel to make BOTH electrical coax and TOSLINK optical sockets available. Example

https://www.amazon.com/SPDIF-Optical-Plate-Bracket-Gigabyte/dp/B07FJMD7BF/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3VL5A6RITDXFL&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.g3NywgMvZwtD317HP_ZWOtEYLubg3HmZSOV1biVKGdhydv341QfE4Lyp1zmlt4z2z3mgQGxDDYDxGnVUEXsyFkhKf-MVmszYqGTpHWb9hsmNCggcsGO5eZCivoYY62fWEbavAbc1EW3QPVC1EOiwAlx0XhQzmUFJzOyfrJOM53_qmE3XzgmRFsG3tqEoRKzV.G1fenZf75NQP3tduPzxUR6_CWl9zSoAT5Dy7GHP29sA&dib_tag=se&keywords=SPDIF+Optical+and+RCA+Out+Plate+Cable+Bracket+for+ASUS+Gigabyte+MSI&qid=1734110910&sprefix=spdif+optical+and+rca+out+plate+cable+bracket+for+asus+gigabyte+msi+,aps,80&sr=8-2