- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
Posted by: Sketch_
Im not trying to be rude, but if you are just using the regular RCA outputs its not true surround...its simulated, without optical out, or coxial audio out there is no way to decode the audio into 5 seperate channels, when you have red and white cables you only have a left and right audio channel (rca cables are the bottom of the food chain, not saying their bad qualty just saying they are the least technical audio option) but when you have a digital optical (second best) or coaxial audio(the best, but no connections for xbox will support it that i know of) It send the true audio form to an AC-3 decoder (either built into your reciever or a seperate component) and breaks the audio up into your center channel, FL, FR, RL, anf RR, and send the LFE (low frequency emissions) to the subwoofer. All and all what this does is it makes the sounds right in front of you only come out of the center channel, to the front and off to the right comes out of the FR, and so on... You can use the RCA cables and simulate the 5.1, but the sounds won't really be accurately represented by its output from the speakers, it will just be really damn loud (which isnt such a bad thing) from all angles, and you wont be able to distinguish directions
Yes, there is. My humble RCA conections are going through an RCA brand Dolby Digital Surround system box/machine thing. All it does is decode signals and send them to the right places. I don't know how my dad wired everything, but there are 8 pieces of equipment in my living room just for audio.
Oh, and I CAN distinguish directions quite clearly (even with my eyes closed- I've tried it).
[Edited on 7/17/2004 11:05:54 PM]