Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
cinema or distinct-audio-channel game-playing experiences, the audio tech-
nology onboard the Maximus VI motherboard delivers the goods. However,
we still need to send that audio to an end device that can render the sound
data with perfection.
Speakers and Headsets
The I/O ports provided by our motherboard can deliver to both analog and
digital speakers and headsets. While you certainly could use a cheap pair of
stereo speakers or a set of low-cost earbuds, it would be a waste of the
motherboard's audio-fidelity capabilities. To get the most out of the sound
data being emitted, use quality equipment that can handle it.
In the case of speakers, take advantage of the optical digital-audio output
capability that the Maximus VI provides. High-quality home theater and PC
speakers can plug directly into the Toshiba TOSLINK fiber-optic port located
on the motherboard's rear I/O panel. Doing so delivers crystal-clear digital
sound directly to the external amplifier to decode and send the output to the
speakers. The Logitech Speaker System Z906 is the best dedicated PC
speaker system I have heard that takes advantage of this configuration (check
it out in the next figure).
1
This Dolby 5.1 five-speaker system is THX certified,
meaning that the speakers can replicate the high-end movie-theater experience
in the home. The Z906 also provides multiple audio-input plugs to service
more than just the PC. Once you have heard the amazing clarity and channel
separation of these speakers even at high volume, you will never be able to
go back to using cheap stereo PC speakers again.
Figure 58—The THX-certified Logitech Speaker System Z906
