Question about optical audio port in new MBP

[Archinago]

Greetings,

I've been a Mac Rumors junkie for awhile now; haven't ever posted in the forums, but here I am...

My question pertains to the optical audio port in the new MacBook Pro (just got it today!).

Is this a "real" optical audio port, or will the sound card convert it to something else? Audiophiles forgive me if I lack understanding in how audio cards work.

Basically, I am looking at purchasing a 5.1 sound system, and I want to know if I plug that system in via the optical port on my mac, will I get 5.1 surround sound, or will I get something else? If the latter, I guess I need to start researching external sound cards.

Thanks for the help,

James

 

[chilipie]

Just found this page, which might be some help;

Apple’s DVD Player application - included for free on every Mac - can play the 5.1 AC-3 audio from a physical DVD directly through the optical output of your Mac. DVD Player does this by streaming the encoded AC-3 straight from the DVD to the optical out, bypassing QuickTime. Some other players - notably VLC (which also uses liba52) - will stream AC-3 straight to your optical output, too. But any application which uses QuickTime for its audio playback - and this includes Front Row, iTunes, and QuickTime Player - works by first decoding audio into its discrete channels, before outputting it to your system audio device. The AC-3 encoding is lost in the process. So if you want a Mac Mini and Front Row to run your home theatre, with 5.1 sound from third-party movie files, then it’s not so easy.

 

[Archinago]

Thanks chilipie.

If I understand this correctly, it does support 5.1, but only if you're playing with certain programs and the file is encoded in a certain way, as the Mac doesn't see it as 6 channel, but a 2 channel.

So what about if I was trying to play a game, Half-Life 2 or something, on Windows XP via Boot Camp; would I get 5.1 sound or would I be stuck with 2 channel being "spread around" (pardon the technical jargon 😀)?