Sijun Forums :: View topic - Sound Blaster 5.1 Live! Can I use headphones with 5.1 system

BiGJoN · Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2002 10:57 pm

Its probably a silly question but I just wanted to make sure before I went ahead and brought the card. I use headphones cause of close proimity to other family members in the house.

So can I use headphones with the Sound Blaster Live! 5.1????

(Note that I have never had a multi channel sound system before!)

[Shizo] · member Member # Joined: 22 Oct 1999 Posts: 3938

And why couldn't you? Sure go ahead and use it, although the 5.1 stands for dolby 5.1 and to get advantage of it you's need dolby surround speakers :o

Jim S · Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2002 5:32 am

You can't plug your headphones directly into the soundcard, they need amplification. Or well, you can, but the sound will distort as soon as you crank up the volume. If you have speakers with a built-in headphone jack or a separate amplifier, of course you can use that. Otherwise you need the Livedrive!. It has a built-in amplified headphone jack. I think there should be a Platinum version of the Live 5.1 where the LiveDrive! is included, otherwise you could just buy it separately.

/Jim

[ January 13, 2002: Message edited by: Jim S ]

BiGJoN · Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2002 6:54 am

Thanks for that! Thats exactly what I needed to know. Thanks Jim...

There goes the idea of getting the cheap SE version.. haha.

Backto the drawing board... literally

What about the Hercules Game Theater.... no amps needed for that hey to use headphones they have got the output for it too..?

[ January 13, 2002: Message edited by: BiGJoN ]

Awetopsy · Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2002 3:05 pm

The SBlive cards a meant to be run with an amplified subwoofer+4 speaker surrond system.. like the cambridge soundworks setups those systems have amplified headphone jacks built in.

In the soundblaster drivers there is a quad-sound-headphone-emulation setting which is meant to give the simulation of four point surround with just two headphones.

BiGJoN · Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2002 12:59 am

WEll seeing as I can't afford an amplified system ...I mean I could hardly afford the sblive!... so it can wait I spose.

Back to onboard sound... *Shrugs* it works allright even though its not the best...

Jim S · Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2002 7:02 am

You could though, unless your really picky about the sound quality, buy a couple of really cheap amplified speakers with a headphone jack to use until you can afford something better.

/Jim