AC-3 Questions

[Banti]

Here is the deal. I was planning on getting a SB Live Platnm, which has a SPDIF for AC-3. I
am also planning on buying the Cambridge 5.1 Theater which also supports AC-3 signals. The
problem is in my choice of DVD drives I want to get a pioneer scsi dvd, but it only has a
analog audio out. Any suggestions? Other DVD drives that have digital out? I would rather not get a decoder card. I have a ATI All in Wonder Pro that takes care of the software DVD decompression.


[This message has been edited by Banti (edited 06-05-2000).]

[LittleKing]

I could be wrong, but I think you can still use it with AC-3. Just hook up the AC-3 decoder to the digital out of the SBlive card.

LK

[Pantion]

Well I bought Encore 6x and the DVD drive supports AC-3. And if I get a SB Live! then the software gives me the option to use SB Live! audio features instead of the decoder.

All DVD drives should be able to do AC-3... or you can buy the one like the one included on the Encore it is also sold separately.

[seti]

If you want ac-3 on your dtt2500 you need to get a hardware dvd decoder card. The SBLive has digital out...but that's not the same as ac-3. I have an SBLive and the dtt2500's. No dvd solution yet though....but I've read the **** that came with it.

opps....missed the "platnium" part. I'd recomend just getting the plane jane SBLive Digital and invest in a hard decoder. (pci slots allowing) You'll get better play back. Unless, of course, you need to spend twice as much for the music editing features the platinum provides.



[This message has been edited by seti (edited 12-09-1999).]

[Banti]

Thanks for the info, I think I will go ahead and setup my system to do the software decode now and wait on the AC-3 thing. If my playback is too choppy I will get a decoder card.

What do you think of the Creative DXR3??
Any other cards that support AC-3 out there that I should look at?

I would get a bundle like Pantion suggested, but Pioneer is coming out with a 10x/40x Ultra SCSI DVD, and my IDE bus is full right now.

Thanks Again

[This message has been edited by Banti (edited 12-13-1999).]

[This message has been edited by Banti (edited 12-13-1999).]

[Pantion]

The DXR3 is a cool decoder card and I can put the movie on the primary monitor and check my mail, browse, etc. on the second and never get a single frame dropped.

Just one disadvantage... well not disadvantage, but more like dissapointing thing. When you watch a movie on the monitor it looks pretty good at high resolutions, but the image quality is far better on the TV, due to the pass-through cable. If it wasn't for that it would be a perfect world http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[Banti]

What do you mean primary and secondary? Does the decoder card allow you to use multiple monitors??

[Pantion]

Nope I have 2 video cards installed and the DXR3 will only work on the primary.

Besides why would I want to see the movies on a crappy old video card based on the GD-CL5446 video chipset at 8-bit color depth? http://www.sysopt.com/forum/biggrin.gif

[IlLogiK]

The DXR-3 is a Sigma Hollywood Plus decoder card - which is the best... So you can either get the Sigma Hollywood or the DXR-3...

NoTE: The Pioneer 10X (SLOT) DVD drive I have has digital out... while some have said that that does not constitute AC-3 I think that its definetely better than analog... so when you get the SCSI version of the 10x make sure that you get the one with digital out (they might both have it by then)...

IlLogiK strikes again!

BTW: If anybody has a DXR-3 or Hollywood plus they want to get rid of LMK through email!!!

[GVolosky]

Wow - I just read through this and man am I out of the loop on current video technology - you guys are the obvious experts when it comes to state-of-the-art video and graphics systems ... I'll be sure to seek out your advice when I'm ready to upgrade my 2M card and buy a DVD player....

P.S. I found an old ATI all-in-wonder card in a pile of video cards I have. Who might be willing to help me test it????? Bunch of weird looking cables too....