Question

Realtek ALC888 5.1 sound and S/PDIF (SPDIF) to coaxial Digital SPDIF, input.

Asked by: Johnjces

Good day!

I have Googled and searched till I am Googled out and even contacting my mobo tech support has not given me much information.

I have a Jetway NF93 Mini ITX motherboard (mobo) with on board Realtek ALC888 5.1 sound.

The mobo has three 1/8" audio jacks of standard configuration.

The Top or Blue audio jack has an LED behind it that you can only see when looking at that jack which is normally lit green.

Top = Blue = Audio In/SPDIF Out
Middle = Green = Audio Out (Stereo Speakers)
Bottom = Red (pink) = Mic In

Using the Realtek Audio utility and setting Windows to use Realtek HD Audio, you can select 5.1 surround and the outputs change to:

Top = Rear Speakers
Middle = Front Speakers
Bottom = Sub Woofer.

Works just great!

Using the Realtek utility you can "enable" digital out (SPDIF) and when done the LED behind the Top (blue) jack turns Red.

I have used a 1/8" mono to RCA (audio type jack) to run a coaxial cable to my coaxial input on my amplifier and plugged it into the blue PC jack and of course the the other end into the orange RCA jack for coaxial digital on my Kenwood receiver.

I get no sound from the PC/Receiver using this setup. The LED is lit Red (Just reiterating it).

Why?

Is there something else I need to enable?

Do I need to have a Dolby digitally encoded source or DVD?

Do I keep is set for 5.1 Speakers?

These are some of the questions I have after all the Googling.

I am pretty confused.

Thanks for any help!

John

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Asked On
2009-10-13 at 21:17:25ID24810133
Tags

5.1

,

ALC888

,

SPDIF

,

S/PDIF

,

Windows XP

,

Audio

,

High def

Topics

Windows XP Operating System

,

Home Theater Systems

,

Computer Sound Cards

Participating Experts
2
Points
0
Comments
9

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Answers

 

by: xtreminatorPosted on 2009-10-14 at 02:18:03ID: 25568468

 

by: JohnjcesPosted on 2009-10-14 at 07:17:32ID: 25570733

xtreminator,

Wheww! I was worried that I missed something! I did read that one prior and still no joy. Tried and check all.

I am certain that it is something simple.

I will post some screen shot pics tonight that show up in the Realtek control panel applet that also seem to show that the S/PDIF is not set. It always tells me speakers or input on that upper jack.

John

 

by: ConsultPCPosted on 2009-10-14 at 07:56:42ID: 25571233

I'm with you on this! I found out that if I search too much for a solution with google and I cannot find it, this probably means that it is not there. Or that I am not looking for the right thing! Anyway, I had a look on your MB's manual and I found that S/PDIF is marked out with red. This only means that it should be an optional component. Further, if you really need this output, you should probably buy an adapter like this: http://www.consultpc.org/uploads/spdif_out.jpg, and connect it to your MB's connector. I hope I'm not so far away from the reality! Good luck!

 

by: JohnjcesPosted on 2009-10-14 at 08:08:31ID: 25571398

@ ConsultPC

Thanks for the reply!

S/PDIF it is there as I ran some tests using the DIVX codec software and it reports that it lives.

Remember too when you enable the SPDIF output the LED behind that plug turns red. Goes from green, when in normal mode, to red when set to S/PDIF.

There is no mobo S/PDIF connector since it shares the upper audio in jack so an adapter is moot... unless I missed something on the mobo!

I have always assumed if something deleted it would have a strike through it. So I have been assuming that the red denotes a point of attention and also that maybe the LED turns red when in use... ??

Thanks!

John

 

by: ConsultPCPosted on 2009-10-14 at 08:14:25ID: 25571481

Yes, this is my guess too. The LED turns red when that output goes off. The audio chipset has the ability to "feel" the input is using. The driver also signals when a jack is plugged in. Maybe this is it.

 

by: JohnjcesPosted on 2009-10-15 at 18:26:35ID: 25586361

FINALLY! I heard from Jetway tech support and they are telling me it is OPTICAL and need a mini-toslink optical adapter or cable! It is not coaxial. A lot of CD players and I guess Apple MACs use this mini-toslink optical cable for high def audio.

Well... no wonder why I could never get it working...

I will split points between the two guys who took the time to at least provide some thoughts!

Thanks guys!

John

 

by: JohnjcesPosted on 2009-10-20 at 06:21:08ID: 31640902

Thanks!

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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