How do I know if a sound card is digital or analog?

[Relztrah]

I have a set of digital computer speakers (Boston Acoustics BA735) for which I need a digital sound card. My father has a Diamond 5.1/16 bit sound card which he is not using but says there's nothing on the box that indicates digital or analog. I know it is new as of last Christmas because my son purchased it for him as a Christmas gift. I determined that his old computer didn't have enough horsepower to run it from the system requirements so he's not using it, and there it sits. He really doesn't need a good sound card anyway because he doesn't play CDs or music on the computer. (It was one of those "I didn't know what else to get him" gifts.)

Furthermore there is no model number on the box that I could research. I have not seen the sound card itself, and only know what he told me over the phone. There's nothing on the Diamond website to give me any direction. Before I ask him to mail me the sound card and just install it and see if it works, what else can I do--or ask my father to do--to determine if this sound card is digital or analog?

[Sylvander]

All modern speakers are analogue.
Modern speakers marked as 'digital' are always analogue speakers, in most cases driven by an analogue amplifier. The widespread use of the term 'digital' with speakers is a marketing ploy intended to lead some buyers to associate the product with the advantages of digital sound systems. If pressed, manufacturers may claim the term means the product is ready for input from digital players (a claim true of all speaker systems). (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_speakers)

[Relztrah]

I saw the following in the Tech Support area of the Boston Acoustics website:

Q. I’m having problems using the Digital BA735 with non-digital sound cards. Why?
A. The Digital BA735 is a digital only system, and requires a properly set up digital sound card. For assistance in sound card set up, please contact your soundcard or computer manufacturer. If you do not have a digital card, these manufacturers can also recommend a digital card upgrade to based on your computer model and needs.

But maybe it's just a matter of the correct driver (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/302710/en-us).

Thanks for your input.

[Sylvander]

THIS (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switching_amplifier) might be the most unusual situation where the amplifier [included inside the speaker cabinet?] converts digital input [from the sound card] to analog output to the speaker.

I'd never heard of these prior to now.

QUOTE
"The term "Class-D" is sometimes misunderstood as meaning a "digital" amplifier. The quantization of the output signal at the power stage can be controlled by either an analog signal or a digital signal. Only in the latter case would an amplifier be using fully digital amplification."

[FTT]

On the same page as the Q&A above as a test, it mentions to try a portable audio player such as a CD Walkman or an MP3 player which are analog output devices.

But if it's a sound card it needs a digital only output?!?! I'm confused :confused: :confused: :confused:

[Sylvander]

See Audio Characteristics of these speakers (http://support.gateway.com/s/SOUND/bostonac/7001332/U0133203.shtml).

Notice where it says:
"Cables: Two RCS speaker cables, one 1/8-inch analog input cable, one 9-pin mini-din digital control cable, one 1/8-inch mono to RCA digital cable"

Got to from:
Here (http://search.support.gateway.com/iphrase/query?attr1=&attr2=&command=text&t=0&text=BA735), then here (http://support.gateway.com/support/supinfo/index.asp?pg=2&file=dt_spe002.html), then here (http://support.gateway.com/s/SOUND/bostonac/7001332/U01332nv.shtml).