Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS with Logitech Z680 Speakers. HELP

Question

Okay, I recently purchased the Logitech Z680 5. set w/ the Audigy 2 ZS sound card (not platinum pro version). Im really happy with it, but doing some research on other forums has given me a LOT of questions and confusion. Here is what I need to know:
To begin with, this section under "support" located at the logitech page (link below)
http://logitech-en-amr.custhelp.com/...fAaVouh&p_lva=& p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX 3Jvd9jbnQ9MjYmcF9wcm9kX2x2bDE9JnBfcHJvZF9sdmwyPSZw X3BhZ2U9MSZwX3NlYXJjaF90ZXh0PVotNjgw&p_li=
says that to get TRUE 5. sound with my soundcard and speakers I need to have a digital audio cable that goes from the back of my DVD ROM into the soundcard (like the old ones you put in the back of your CD rom to your mother board to get cd audio). NONE of the local computer stores in the area carry this cable and ALL say I shouldnt need it. WHY do I need it, and where can I find it assuming I do?
Secondly, it says I need a digital connection to get TRUE 5. sound, not analog. So if I connect a coax from my speakers to the soundcard (using an RCA adapter since it wont fit into the back of the sound card) im getting better 5. for gaming and movies than I will with analog?
I really just want to take FULL advantage of these two products to give me awesome 5. sound in gaming. This is all I know so far in doing so, PLEASE critique any errors:
- I had to disable the digital decoder of the Audigy 2 to allow my speakers to decode. I also had to disable decoders built into media software
- I had to configure both windows and my sound card (and my games/dvd software) to play 5. sound.
-I had to hookup a digital audio connector from my DVD Rom to my soundcard
- I had to connect a digital coax from my 680z's to my sound card (along with a mini jack for the coax to fit into the soundcard).
- I had to select "Digital Output Only" and "Synchronize with control panel" under the speaker settings.
Assuming ALL this is done, is this everything I can do to take full advantage of the 5. sound this setup can give me, and will digital REALLY give me the 5. sound over the analog, and is there ANYTHING else I need to consider.
Thank you for your help:-John

Answer 1

Boltboy
I've just posted a similar question today. I spent hours trawling the web looking at AC3 and everything associated with it yesterday - still not 00% on it though. I'm with you entirely in the game department except my external decoder only has a digital coax input (the optical is for my Xbox) - I don't have the choice of digi vs analogue as you seem to have.
The only thing I'm not sure if you're aware of is that the set-up you describe doesn't give you Dolby Digital as there is no on-board DD (AC3) encoder. You'll only get DD 5. from AC3 encoded sources like DVDs - you can either set the digital output to passthrough and decode externally or you can decode internally on the Audigy and use the analogues. Not sure which of your decoders is highest quality. I think the 5. you're hearing for games is generated by the Creative hard/software and you'll never get "true" 5. if "true" means Dolby Digital. Having said that, who cares whether it's DD or not if the gunshots sound like they are coming from behind you and you're getting a decent experience ?!
Maybe you can help me in that respect - f you have set up your system as below (Aud 2 ZS to mini-jack/coax and in to your digi coax input on your external decoder), how did it sound? Did you get all 6 channels during the tests? If you think it sounded good for games then I'm off out to get an Audigy 2 ZS and get going because unless I can find a sound card with AC3 encoder (which I can't), then that's my only option. PLEASE let me know if it sounded good to you.
Cheers
Robbo