Is sound card neccesary to decode ac3/dts ?

[plomon]

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 additional 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.

[charleski]

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 ?No. You have nothing to worry about, software decoders will hook the outputs up for you.

[plomon]

thank u for that clear cut clarification about the necessity of in-built sound card decoders.

Now, I'm quite satisfied that software decoders are sufficient to give the multichannel outputs to the sound card which can be used to connect to the analog speakers.

However, I still have a question bugging me all the time:

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..

[charleski]

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..
Not that I know of.

The extra horsepower of the Audigy could be used to add spatial effects such as the DSP effects modes on some amps, but those are pretty-much worthless anyway.

[Rockaria]

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..Unless equipped with the DICE (h/w dd live encoding) feature of the SoundStorm, corresponding feature of Mystique-X or DSPs from s/w dd-encoding-spdif passthrough, the pure spdif passthrough bypasses all the DSPs from players and system mixer in addition to the DAC.

As a result, the receiver is the only place to use it's DSPs for the surrounds but most receivers only allow the volume controls like my ONKYO maybe?