think not so soon coz there's still hv Z5500's old stock flooting around the market and it's certainly not the best selling 5.1..
not every1 can affort getting 1..

maybe its ur optical cable prob, try use another optical cable..

1 thing i notice is that only newer version of the z5500 hv the control pod prob..
[since still can send for RMA under warranty peroid]
im using mine for around 1.5yrs b4 selling, non of the above mention problem control pod problem occurs..

yes, a good soundcard does makes a difference,
and digital connection [coax or optical] also makes a difference as well...

so better get a soundcard with digital output..

This post has been edited by jerren: Jul 3 2009, 11:18 AM

i think he's using on board...
coz he said: "get a soundcard" and not "change to another soundcard"

This post has been edited by jerren: Jul 4 2009, 01:27 PM

both Optical and Coax are digital connection

coax and optical has lil difference in terms of SQ where normal human ears cant really differentiate it..

1-2 metres should be fine...

- Z5500 doesn't comes with the Optical cable
- yes, plug it to the S/PDIF output of ur soundcard

i sold mine, by postage, buyer paid,
postlaju cost rm1xx

coax and optical connection are both spdif.
both as digital connection, either 1 will do
u can try both digital and analog..

it is advisable to get a sound card if u play lot of games,
an additional sc can speed up the whole system, inc games..

This post has been edited by jerren: Jul 25 2009, 12:03 PM

perharps u want to discuss more about the troubles u're facing,
what kind of troubles tht u refers to?
when do it occurs?
how u set ur Xfi?
what hv u tried in order to solved the "troubles"?

turn off the CMSS 3D, it makes music sounds bad..
at ur Z5500, set it to Stereo X2 or stereo
dolby digital prologic music or movie mood is not so suitable for music..

u'll should be able to get clean, clear music

This post has been edited by jerren: Sep 2 2009, 09:45 AM

ahaha, the tai kor that WITHOUT his Z5500 for a long time ago...

why optical and not coax??
what u need is 3.5mm monopole-to-rca..




This post has been edited by jerren: Oct 26 2009, 04:57 PM

copy the photo into ur hp and show it to them..

im not sure as i doesnt tried passing thru the digital signal from a creative card to Z5500..
all i know is tht if u wanted to use the creative spdif, then u need this type of converter..

mp3 is just stereo, only left & right channel
if u wanna test the centre speaker with mp3 then u got to switch to prologic movie/music [this upmix 2channel source to 5.1 sound]
else u need a 5.1 source, a DVD movie to have all the speakers works in 6-channels direct mode..

This post has been edited by jerren: Oct 27 2009, 12:31 PM

if u planning to use either optical or coax, don't bother to get expensive soundcard because u're not really "using" it..[don't waste ur money]
digital signal is not decoded in ur sc, it only pass-thru the soundcard to ur z5500 for decoding..
it has no different from using the mobo digital out.,.,

This post has been edited by jerren: Dec 24 2009, 04:41 PM

i've tried once before, this carrefour cheapo cable can't work with my audiotrak prodigy 7.1LT & Zero DAC...