External Sound Card with Logitech Z-5500's

[Warmacblu]

Hi all,

I am going to be building a mini-ITX system in a few months and will be getting rid of my large ATX board. This means that I will not be able to use my old Creative Audigy 2 that has served me well over the years.

Right now I have the Z-5500's hooked up via Digital Coax (kind of reminds me of a 3.5 mm male connection) and 6-Channel Direct (orange, black, and green cables). I was wondering if I purchase the following external sound card, will I still be able to hook my Z-5500's up via Digital Coax and 6-Channel Direct?

http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Soundblaster-Surround-System-SB1095/dp/B0044DEDCA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325669420&sr=8-1

I am willing to look at any other external sound card options that will support the Z-5500's.

Thanks for any advice.

 

[Warmacblu]

Alternatively, I could plug the orange, black, and green jacks into the on-board sound on the motherboard but I am not sure where to plug in the orange and black jacks.

 

[Warmacblu]

No one can recommend anything? Or at least tell me how to plug the orange, black, and green jacks into a motherboard that doesn't have 5.1 audio?

 

[batuchka]

Just hit a mobo with coax out? When u send digital audio out the DAC lifting/duties are done externally (in this case by the Z5500)

 

[Warmacblu]

Thanks for the reply,

This is the motherboard I am going to purchase:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131840

I do not believe that this motherboard has a coax out.

 

[batuchka]

Use optical to Z5500?
http://forums.logitech.com/t5/Speakers/Z-5500-No-DTS-DD-on-optical-works-w-Coaxial/td-p/416134

 

[Warmacblu]

Thanks for the reply,

I'm going to try toslink optical from the motherboard to the speakers and will also try 5.1 channel analog to the green, blue, and pink plugs. I found this article that explains how to connect 5.1 speakers to an on-board audio chip that does not support native surround sound:

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/How-to-Connect-51-Speakers-to-Your-PC/268/4