Personal computing discussed
Moderators: renee, Captain Ned
REXP5421 wrote:Make sure 5.1 is selected in the HTPC/Windows Sound Control Panel.
Cheers
As I understand it, my HDTV will not transmit a 5.1 signal to my receiver even though my computer is connected via HDMI to the TV. I forgot where I read this, but the post said something like an HDTV won’t output 5.1 sound unless it is using its internal tuners. Is this true?
Chrispy_ wrote:As I understand it, my HDTV will not transmit a 5.1 signal to my receiver even though my computer is connected via HDMI to the TV. I forgot where I read this, but the post said something like an HDTV won’t output 5.1 sound unless it is using its internal tuners. Is this true?
I think so. I had the same problem with my Samsung TV:
HTPC--------------Samsung TV----------------Receiver
All using HDMI and all working with HD-CEC (anynet+) bi-directional control.
When connecting a PC to a TV, the TV Speakers become the active playback device, and it therefore requests (and passes on) a 2.0 stereo signal. I had two options:
- Make do with pseudo-surround using ProLogicII upsampled from stereo, but keep the HD-CEC control that let me control everything with one remote
- Use a SPDIF from my PC directly to the receiver, but say goodbye to the inter-device communication and remote-sharing
I tried the SPDIF cable for a while but got annoyed with juggling two remotes and having to change inputs on both TV and receiver each time I switched from Television to Console to HTPC and back. Pseudo-surround is fine for most things, but I'm not that fussy
cynan wrote:Are you sure your motherboard doesn't have an S/PDIF connection (either optical - toslink - or coaxial)? If the motherboard has onboard sound and is less than half a dozen years old, it should.
southrncomfortjm wrote:Guess this is what I get for buying a cheaper MoBo. Seems like I may have to spend the money I saved on the MoBo getting a sound solution together.
southrncomfortjm wrote:Guess this is what I get for buying a cheaper MoBo. Seems like I may have to spend the money I saved on the MoBo getting a sound solution together.
Chrispy_ wrote:southrncomfortjm wrote:Guess this is what I get for buying a cheaper MoBo. Seems like I may have to spend the money I saved on the MoBo getting a sound solution together.
I think you called it.
This is probably your cheapest reputable TOSLink-enabled card.
just brew it! wrote:Chrispy_ wrote:southrncomfortjm wrote:Guess this is what I get for buying a cheaper MoBo. Seems like I may have to spend the money I saved on the MoBo getting a sound solution together.
I think you called it.
This is probably your cheapest reputable TOSLink-enabled card.
Unfortunately it appears that his motherboard also lacks PCI slots. He will need to get a TOSLink card with a PCIe interface, or a USB-to-TOSLink adapter (yuck).
southrncomfortjm wrote:You know, I had a blast putting my comptuer together, but i don't think I'm up for doing it all over again so soon, though that motherboard looks pretty sweet.
What's the issue with the USB to TOS adapter? I'm not sure what "virtual" 5.1 is, but that sounds something like Pro-Logic.
Does anyone know if option 1 that I listed in the OP would work? That's more of a receiver rather than computer question, but I'm hoping someone can tell me. That would be the easiest and cheapest, but also cabl-iest, option.
Flying Fox wrote:Sorry for being late to the thread. I meant to respond sooner.
I have read your other thread when you built the HTPC. It was a clear example in which had you told us you are using such an old receiver, we would not have ok'ed the choice of motherboard. But what's done is done.
The choice of a discrete sound card now lies in your requirements. I can break it down in 2 progressive areas:
1. "Bitstreaming" DD/DTS-encoded sound from your media files and optical media. Most decent media player software should contain this option to allow direct transmission of DD/DTS-encoded sound data over S/PDIF. If your requirement ends here, then even the cheapo SYBA card that you link should be sufficient. Since you are taking the sound data "directly" from the media files/discs, the computer has very little to do/mess with the sound. Decoding happens at the receiver and you should get your surround sound while playing those files/discs.
2. All sound, including normal Windows and game sounds, to be transmitted in DD/DTS encoded format for the receiver. Normal Window sounds is usually stereo, game sounds are pretty much multichannel without fancy DD/DTS encoding. A discrete sound card with Dolby Digital Live or DTS Connect (the DTS Interactive part) is what you need and it costs more of course. You will need something like a Creative or the more expensive Xonar's.
I am going to venture a guess that you need #1 more than #2, but these are your options.
southrncomfortjm wrote:Because your TV is not a receiver/hub for all your sounds. Actually this limitation is quite common. It is on my 46" Panasonic plasma, though they are not crystal clear on that point in the manual. I had to read that one fine print on some page multiple times to get it stick to my head. Most likely the problem with that is the licensing costs to implement decoding logic (in the case of the TV speakers being used for DD/DTS-encoded data), no idea on by-passing.*wouldn't* my TV send the surround sound signal from my computer on to my receiver? Lame limitation if I ever heard of one.
southrncomfortjm wrote:What's the spec on that surround sound system. What receiver/hub unit does it use? What kind of input the receiver/hub can take will determine your options.I've moved on from this issue and decided to just live with Pro-Logic II for now (first world problem for sure). In the future, I will probably upgrade my surround sound system for the living room and move the existing system to my man cave where I can directly connect my Xbox to the receiver for 5.1.
southrncomfortjm wrote:It also depends on the 2 areas that I listed above. By doing all RCA cables, it means decoding happens on the computer. You don't get that DD/DTS logo light up on your receiver. Actually a relatively new receiver that can take 5.1/7.1 analog input is getting less common and is now kind of in the realm of higher end models (you may find older ones with those however). It is mostly about HDMI or S/PDIF nowadays. Your board has HDMI, which means you can send audio along that HDMI cable to a newish receiver. That will be the simplest. However, the onboard audio does not do DDL or DTS Interactive so you will still need a discrete sound card for #2.So, if I understand it correctly, when I change receivers, all I have to do is get one that will accept the RCA cables for surround sound right? That will provide actual 5.1?
just brew it! wrote:Unfortunately it appears that his motherboard also lacks PCI slots. He will need to get a TOSLink-capable card with a PCIe interface, or a USB-to-TOSLink adapter (yuck).
cjcerny wrote:How do you get your TV programming? Cable, satellite, antenna, etc?
cjcerny wrote:The most elegant and simple solution would be to purchase a new receiver with HDMI inputs and outputs. You'll pull your hair out if you try to go about this any other way.
cjcerny wrote:Sure...new receiver with HDMI inputs and a HDMI output probably at least $200.
If you can't go that way, the problem breaks down into two seperate issues. One, you have to add a optical output to your PC in the least expensive way possible. Two, you have to decide what software you want to use to send data over that optical output. Win 7 will send Dolby Digital soundtracks from Media Center recordings over the optical output natively. If the show you've recorded is in 5.1, 5.1 will be sent to your receiver. If the show you've recorded is in 2.0, 2.0 will be sent to your receiver. Media Player will send the Dolby Digital soundtrack from DVDs over the optical output natively. Again, no upconversion--what is on the DVD, either 5.1 or 2.0, is what gets sent to your receiver. If you want DTS soundtracks to be sent from DVDs to your receiver, you will need to use different playback software, like Power DVD, that has been enabled/unlocked to send DTS soundtracks. If you are playing CDs, a 2.0 PCM track will be sent by Media Player over the optical output to your receiver.