Is 'Sound Blaster Live' Card sufficient for ac3/dts playback

[claypillar]

I bought the Sound Blaster Live! 24-bit Sound Card. This sound card doesn't support Dolby Digital 5.1 playback, Dolby Digital EX 6.1 playback, & DTS-ES 6.1 playback.

The unavailability of the above three features(which are available in advanced products of Sound Blaster - like Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS) really worries me.

So, I've a basic question. Are these extra playback features built on the Sound Card(Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS), just to support ac3/dts decoding, or do they have any audio enhancement features?

Because, if these extra playback features are meant only for decoding ac3/dts-5.1/6.1, then I don't think I really need an in-built decoder on the Sound Card, rather, I could have some software filters(like InterVideo WinDVD, ffdshow filters, ac3filter etc..)to decode the ac3/dts tracks, and send the output to my Sound Card - Sound Blaster Live! 24-bit(this card doesn't support ac3/dts decoding).

In a way, I mean to ask - Do I need to change my current Sound Blaster Live! 24-bit Sound Card and buy new one's like Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS/Platinum, just for the purpose of ac3/dts playback ?

or

Will the installation of softwares supporting ac3/dts decoding serve the purpose of outputting the 5.1/6.1/7.1 channels to the analog speakers via the Sound Blaster Live! 24-bit Sound Card ?(the card supports upto 7.1 analog outputs)

I myself cannot check the above told stuff, coz, I don't have a 5.1 audio system. I've a 2.1 audio system. So, the surround channel, front/rear center channel outputs cannot be checked so easily. I need somebody who have already had the experience in CREATIVE's Sound Cards.

[waheed]

Software such as PowerDVD and WinDVD is sufficient for AC3 and DTS playback.

Some freeware options are AC3 Filter, Media Player Classic and VLC Media Player which have their own codecs for playback. All you need is a 5.1 sound card or 5.1 output. A decent sound card does improve the sound quality over onboard audio.

Your current sound card will be sufficient for your needs.

I myself own a Audigy 2 Platinum which does 5.1DD and 6.1 DD EX but not DTS. Switching between the hardware decoder on the sound card and the software decoder does not produce any noticable sound quality changes.

[claypillar]

thank u waheed for that clear cut clarification about the hardware decoder in-built on Sound Card and the Software Decoders like MPC, Power DVD, WinDVD etc...

Now, I'm quite satisfied & sure that the inavailability of DD5.1-6.1/dts5.1-6.1 hardware decoders on my sound card does not refrain me from multichannel experience in case I have my own set of software decoders.

However, I've a question to u waheed:

Is there any notable advantage of SB Audigy 2 Platinum over the Live! 24-bit sound card while watching DVDs/DVD rips containing multichannel tracks like ac3/dts/aac etc..

[waheed]

Is there any notable advantage of SB Audigy 2 Platinum over the Live! 24-bit sound card while watching DVDs/DVD rips containing multichannel tracks like ac3/dts/aac etc..

The SB Audigy 2 Platinum is my first sound card and I haven't ever used the Live sound card so I cant answer that question. All I can say is that there certainly is a difference over onboard sound integrated into the motherboard.

[claypillar]

i hope software decoders provide as much effects as the on-board h/w decoders.

[greymalkin]

the sb audigy 2 according to creative labs has a better DAC, therefore theoretically it should sound somewhat better. With a 2.1 setup, however, if you are happy with the way it sounds then that is all that really matters. If you ever want to hook it up to a surround sound system I would certainly recommend using the digital spdif passthrough, as analog outs will introduce noise.

The only time you would really notice a HUGE difference in sound quality is if you went from a cheapo integrated sound chip to a dedicated card ( like the sb live ). The load on the cpu will probably be a little more if it's having to decode ac3 in software, but once again..if you've got enough machine and it's working to your liking then thats really all that matters at the end of the day.