Audio Goodness

[Bail]

Hi Guys!

I'm in need of some advice, it's been a long while since I've fiddled with my audio setup but the time has come to update things. Firstly some background, my exsisting (although now stripped out) setup used 2 channel audio from source, into a nifty spirit folio mixer, out of that, into amp and return into source, into speakers in quad setup (2 left, 2 right)

My current setup (i want) is optical/spdif out of source into 5.1 amp. Simple huh.

The only problem at the moment is that my current audio card (original Creative Audigy) it appears can only handle 2 channel over optical, so it works but the amp is "faking" the surround which I'm not keen on.

Now a lot of Google-ing has told me that the card is doing as it should, and to be honest is in need to replacement which I'm happy to do, however all the online discussion I can find is around 06/07 and not as relevant now, is it that most new cards support 5.1 real time DST/Dolby 5.1 output or what?

Basically.. which sound card should I buy, I want something that will always output in 5.1 regardless of source and give the ability to upmix where needed.

[Nick Harvey]

Would it help if I loaned you a gramophone and a bit of wire?

[Bail]

Would it help if I loaned you a gramophone and a bit of wire?

As it happens one of the uses of the mixer was a preamp for a vinyl deck

[Nick Harvey]

My goodness, now you're taking me back. A long time since I've done the technical side of grams. An RIAA pre-amp, was it?