Sound Blaster Zxr disappointed ... or not ? help

Hi, oh wait.... what time is it ? ^^

im no audiophile but i have some concerns about using this soundcard. i hope some of you can clarify some stuff out for me.

 

So my setup is...

Soundblaster Zxr connected with toslink to my Teufel Decoderstation (Just for decoding to my 5.1 Soundsystem)

I could connect the Speaker system derectly to the card via analog calbles but i use the decoderstation for tv and ps4 too. so everything is connected to the decoder so i can have 5.1 from pc and ps4 as well.

So here are my concerns ( if i use this word correctly ) ^^ (im german^^)

1. When i start playing music its quiet for a second. then audio kicks in... due to no signal on the decoder to 5.1 signal. so its kinda anoying. but when it plays it stays on ^^

2. i cant control volume in windows (master volume) because its digital. have to control via remote for the decoderstation. 

3. Sound Blaster Z does not have cms3d stereo surround anymore. i could play stereo music with my auzentech home theater hd and set it up to cmss 3d stereo surround so stereo signal comes out though all 5 speakers the same way... i have to use the decoder station for that now... thank god this has a stereo 5.1 funktion. 

4. It feels like my mp3s are jumping when it comes to volume or loudness. When its just singing the volume stays the same... when more is going on like bass and wild stuff the voice seems way more silent...  when the terror ^^ stops and just singing again the voice seems to get loud or louder again... its like too heavy dynamic or something.

5. When i play Far Cry 4 for example. Audio comes out as stereo when i recall correctly. I have to set the sound blaster to dolby encoding. like when you want to watch a blueray or something with dolby encoding. then i got real surround in far cry. explosions from behind etc. on my 5.1 system. i wonder if its woking for other games to which using other decoders for surround sound ?

 

So.... i dont know if my setup pleases me the way i wanted to ... or maybe some of you got some tips to figure stuff out ... or buy new stuff like a better reciever or something.... maybe the volume jumping comes from the decoder station ? i dont know....

 

i hope we could figure stuff out here.... 

my little rant 30 ^^

 

i found the culprit for the sound dynamic issue... seems that when the blaster is set to 5.1 its capped to 96 khz

when i set it to stereo direct and let the decoder station do its stereo surround work sound is good then... 

 

To be honest sound cards aren't good at surround sound.  

Passing through audio via HDMI to an AV receiver would work better.

Just place the sound mode of the Receiver to DTS NEO 6/X that are way more advance  than anything dolby provides.

thanks for the commend man.... i just tried that... played metro on dts ... working good... and i think it sounds a bit better than dolby. 

does every game nowadays support surround through HDMI or Toslink ?

i set it to dolby or dts and both far cry 4 and metro are working correctly. 

I mean ... will i have problems with some games when i dont connect my speakers through analog cable?

 

 

another thing... i enabled DTS in soundblaster menu... when i played metro the decoder says DTS... if i switch the sound blaster to Dolby.... decoder says dolby. i dont understand^^.

i thought games use one standard to decode surround... not two? or does the game provide simply 5.1 channels and the sound card is processing it with dolby or dts if i set it up like that ?

Since you are Using a Decoder The protocol between Dolby and DTS is different and it will recognize that.

Only James with native surround support will output surround (Just Cause 2) If the game doesn't have it it is being up mixed.

I would set the settings in game to stereo or headphone since that is what Dolby and DTS are looking to up mix. Up Mixing isn't bad since most games have positional audio and it is easy to convert it to true surround.

I would go Digital as much as possible and let your Decoder do the work. Money says it is better than your sound card. But yeah almost all modern games have no issue with digital souf (Toslink, Coaxial, or HDMI)

ok... thanks. 

then i think i need help finding a better decoder cause i want the best compination of both worlds now...^^

I want to connect my soundcard via analog cable via 3.5 jacks for 5.1 analog sound. 

i want to connect my soundcard via toslink to the decoder. 

I want to connect my other toslink devices to the decoder. so i need one with two or three toslink in connectors. or can i Y cable that ? dunno 

And the decoder should be able... as my decoder does it now... to make surround out of stereo. i dont meen upmix it with pro logic... i mean the function which is called stereo surround on x-fi cards. or the stereo surround function on my decoder where its simply called stereo surround. it simply plays stereo on side speakers ... mirrors it to the rear speakers an center as well. 

Is there a solution for me ? when i search the web after such decoders i cant find anything. Is this functionality called differently on decoders ?

Appreciate your help ... 

how is my english btw ? for a german kraut ^^

 

Thanks

Your English is fine.

An AV receiver would give you all of that.

Denon, Pioneer, Yamaha and Onkyo all make good receivers at various price points.

I would't worry too much about the x-fi stuff though. It is marketing fluff like "surround headphones".

ok thanks for your help..

i think i mad a decision. 

denon reciever. with KEF speakers... and a sub. can you recommend a sub for me?

do you think the combination is good? or are there better speakers you can recommend?

here is the center from kef for example... 

http://www.d-living.de/product.php?&product_sku=0415783843

but i will go to a hifi store the day after tomorrow to chack the sound patterns of the speakers if i like it or not ...

 

 

Denon's stuff is pretty neutral so it goes with most speakers.

KEF is a nice brand I have got to audition some of their speakers. But you are in Germany where speakers are as plentiful as sausage. So I am sure you can find something you like.

I like PSB the most right now when it comes to sub's. Definitive Tech, HSU, and SVS are all great brands. 

I do recommend going to an audio store in person and auditioning (listening to it) the equipment.  Make sure you bring your favorite movie and music to test on it. Sound is subjective makes sure you like before you buy.

Shipping to return speakers is pricey.

Your English is great, don't worry about it.

thanks man... thats what i ll do... going to a store to sort things out... 

but what do you mean danon / basic stuff ? what can others do what danon cant?

i mean ... i dont want wifi connection or apps or stuff like that ^^

 

Denon is good about not coloring sound so it pairs well with many speakers. Denon does normally packs in pretty good room correction as well at lower price points.

ah i see... ok then ... i think danon is a good choice...

 

thanks for your help buddy