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blizzard · Jul 27, 2001, 09:21 PM

OK, these might have been answered elsewhere, but I've been browsing many a forum and still haven't uncovered satisfactory answers.

1.) Does the Mac version of the SBLive DEFINITELY support Dolby 5.1? I mean in hardware; I know OS 9.1 doesn't support it, but does the card itself have the hardware needed to do 5.1, say when the OS X drivers are released? I read on the IMG review that it indeed did, but a friend of mine told me that she phoned Creative directly and they said that the card did not, and never would, support 5.1.

2.) If the card does indeed support 5.1, and I get a Dolby 5.1 enabled stereo receiver (like one I can find at Future Shop or some other big name retailer), all I have to do is string a cable between the card and the receiver and 5.1 should work fine, right? What about for 4-speaker surround? Like, for games? Can I attach the receiver to the card and get EAX 4-speaker surround? Or does the Soundblaster only talk to dedicated multimedia speakers?

Here's hoping someone can answer my questions (and hoping they're all answered the way I want to be...in the affirmative!)

applenut1 · Jul 28, 2001, 01:58 AM

5.1 is definitely supported in hardware and will likely be supported with the OS X drivers according to Creative.

it'll work with the set-up you described.

For more information go to the audio forum at the xlr8yourmac forums. they have a 15 page thread there with 2 Creative employees who have been providing answers and updates for several months now. can't miss it, it's right at the top.

BTW, i just bought a SoundBlaster plus FPS2000 system for 149!! can't wait to get it

blizzard · Jul 28, 2001, 02:08 PM

Thanks for the answers! I've visited that thread actually, and tried to go through all the answers (although at 15 pages it is a bit of a slog), but when I tried to post my question, I was promptly informed that 'no new registrations are being allowed at this time'.

So I figured I'd have to post here...too bad, because word from these developers would definitely perk my friend up. I suspect that the people at Creative she phoned were just clueless about the mac version, but I want to be very, very sure before I tell her a definite answer.

Thx again!