🚀 go-pugleaf

"Rob Ainscough" <robains@msn.com> writes:

>I have an older SBLive! Pro (it is the one that comes with a daughter
>Digital IO card with DIN and SPDIF and Midi jacks - in addition to the main
>card that has the line outs and line in, etc.).  I have a DENON AVR1601
>Dolby Digital DTS receiver that has support for Digital Input via Coaxial or
>Optical.  Should I connect the SDPIF output from my SBLive Digital IO card
>to the Coaxial input on the Denon?

Yes.  If you don't already have a cable to try to this purpose, RCA-ended
video cables (usually have yellow-coded connector hoods) are a better
impedence match than ordinary audio cables.

>Do I need to make any other connections (such as SBLive front line out
>into my Denon input i.e. CD)?

Using two stereo minijack to dual RCA cables, connect the SBLive front
line out to the front L/R external inputs, and the SBLive rear line out
to the surround L/R external inputs (you have to leave the center/sub
inputs empty).

>Also, I'm running WinME with the latest SBLive! drivers but they don't seem
>to have LiveWare available for WinME yet.

That's been out for awhile and isn't hidden or anything.  Point your
favorite browser at http://www.soundblaster.com/liveware and you should 
not have any trouble finding the download link.

>I do have options for speaker selection via Control Panel - Sound and
>Multimedia Properties.  What speaker settings should I use (currently
>set to 5.1 speaker out).

I don't think you should have that selection without a 5.1-model card and
software, but since the 5.1 models don't have anything downloadable yet
this is probably just an artifact I'm not aware of.  Anyway, you should
set LiveSurround or 4-speaker, depending.  The former goes with setting
the Denon to its internal decoder input; the latter goes with setting
it to it's external decoder inputs.  The former is best for everything
except perhaps 3D-audio games.  The difference is that with LiveSurround
the rear surround speakers have the same signal, and with the 4-speaker
setup they are distinct but your subwoofer is silent.  Judge with your
ears, though, and note that the former is set-and-forget, whereas the
latter involves switching acording to what you're doing.

-Dave
 dwh@cfcl.com