stonestatue

I am interested in buying the VIA motherboard, which has support for 5.1 audio.

When it says it has support for 5.1 audio, does that mean that it has it built in, or that it requires a seperate device?

Also, I know that people that don't use head units when intalling their carputers often use 5.1 audio to connect to their car speakers, often with an external amp.

I am going without a head unit myself, and I am confused on how to connect to my car speakers with the VIA board. Does 5.1 audio use five different channels, or do you have to use a splitter from the lime green jack on the back of the motherboard?

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Thelgord

I have spent a lot of time here just reading. (Just now registered) I suggest you do the same. I found a Sticky that shows how to set it up, so the info is here. You just need to search for it.

stonestatue

Setting it up isn't the problem. The confusion stems from the sound card. I only see three jacks, only one of which outputs sound.

I was wondering if an external device is necessary to utilize the 5.1 support the VIA board has.

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2k1Toaster

I think the mic port and the blue line-in port are both bidirectional controlled by software. Could be a jumper too, I don't remember.

But basically you switch them to all line out's and sacrifice any sound input. So no XM/Sirius, no Microphone for Phoco or anything, just sound out. Then the green and blue hold 2 channels out and the microphone is now sub out I think. It is 4.1 Channel sound.

I'll see if I can find documentation on it. I believe it is in the manual.

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Thelgord

To get 5.1 audio you must have:
1) Line out
2) SPDIF (Sub woofer)
3) Digital IO

You do NOT use the mic port. What some people do is install Y connectors and use volume control as a sort of balance control to fake it. Still sounds good, but your missing a lot when you do this as its basically just sterio on steriods. Some motherboards have the "Mic" port do double duty as a "Mic/Digitial IO" (My HP laptop does this) and then you can (at least with the HP laptop I have) bypass the amp on the head phone jack making it a line out, thus giing me my 5.1 audio. This is nice because I also have two built in mics near the top the screen for "Sterio mic Input" with out using the port anway. Without the the digital_IO port, you get 2.1 sterio with a subwoofer, and even for that you MUST have the SPDIF port.

Anything else may still sound good, even great, but it still wont be in 5.1 surround sound.

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CarPuter
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RedGTiVR6

Welcome to the site.

Thread moved to the Car Audio forum.

Please read here: http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/faq-emporium/84555-faq-how-do-i-get-5-1-audio-my-m10000-onboard-audio.html and/or here: http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/faq-emporium/32430-how-get-sound-pc-car-stereo-amp.html

That will tell you how to get 5.1 out of a M10000. It may not be the same mobo you were considering, but it should help you figure out how it all works.

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2k1Toaster

http://www.via.com.tw/download/mainb...IA-M_v1.40.pdf

Appendix A.

Specifically page A-6.

Yes YOU DO use the microphone as an output.

And it is 6 channel, not 5 like I thought so it will be true 5.1

The top is the rear left and right, the middle is front left and right, and the bottom is center and sub.

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stonestatue

Oh ok, that makes a lot more sense. I was confused when I read that the VIA motherboard claimed support for 5.1 audio, but only had three input jacks.

I wasn't aware that you could utilize existing components on the motherboard, but you had to change some settings around. Thanks so much for clarifying that.

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RedGTiVR6

FAQs are your friends!

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2k1Toaster

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