Asus Xonar HDAV1.3 Deluxe Analog thread - Page 4

What are you talking about?


It's a soundcard. The player does the decoding, not the soundcard.

Best to convert to flac anyway.

He's right, The software won't decode TrueHD / DTS-HD unless it's paired with a device that has a PAP (protected Audio Path). If there's no PAP, it Down-rez the audio quality. Hence the Xonar HDAV series card and the Auzentech AZT-XFHTHD. The other piece of the puzzle is the software companies wrote their code to only work with the partnered card to deliver TrueHD / DTS-HD (i.e. Cyberlink only works with Auzentech and soon the ATI 5000 series video card while Arcsoft TMT with the Asus Xonar).

Asus TMT works very well with analog.

Ah, now I know what you mean - that PAP crap.


Thanks to madshi and slysoft, it's so easy to convert the audio to flac, and play it however you like.

It's just not an issue for me. The commercial players suck anyway, there are lots of reasons to go around them.

@Davinleeds (and other folks in this forum)

I've received the Asus HDAV 1.3 Deluxe last friday. Happy to install and test.

System: Windows 7 (64bit) (fresh install)
Asus TMT 3 latest version (3.0.13.139)
Asus latest driver (7.12.8.1775)
Analog connection from Asus HDAV to my good old Denon 3803 (without HDMI but great anolog 7.1)
Screen: Panasonic TH-50PZ800
AnyDvdHD running

Installing driver and Asus TMT wasn't a problem.
Did the correct settings in Windows, Xonar HDAV center and Asus TMT 3.

Tested first a disk from the Star Trek series (part 1) box.
It contains a DTS HD MA 7.1 stream.

But unfortunally I only can hear 5.1 channels. Whatever I change in settings. Where are the back surrounds?

Switching on the information box in the TMT player. The box in the right corner shows DTS MA HD / 48 khz / 24. I suppose this is just the description of the stream on the disk, not? Not the output of the HDAV. Right?

If I check the TMT player settings and take a look on the information TAB while playing the disk always 2 channel / 16 bits / 48 hz is shown! It this normal?

This confuses me very much.
Is this the DTS 5.1 core I'm getting through analog?
It isn't supposed to be with this expencive sound card !

Read in some postings it seems TMT 3 is downsampling HD audio.
But if I understood very clear this is not concerning the Asus TMT 3. So, I may believe I should hear the real HD audio DTS HD MA 7.1 (8 channels) and not downsampled and reduced to 5.1?

Tried to install the latest version of Asus TMT 2 (xxx.127) on a fresh install of Vista 32 SP1. Installing OK. But now I'm getting a message from the Player "... update needed to play some recent disks in future ...". But you guess! No update available when clicking on the UPDATE button in the message beneath. Even more ironic I get the message " ... No update available. Your player is already up to date ...".
So, can't test with Asus TMT 2.

I'm stuck here.

Please some advice.

Thanks

Set TMT 7.1 and Xonar as 7.1 analog. Is spdif checked? Enable it to test.

Wow. That's quick.

In Windows 7 "HDAV Speakers" is the default device.
TMT 3 set to 7.1 speakers.
Xonar HDAV center: 8 channels - 48 Khz - 7.1 speakers - NO spdif checked.
TEST TONE goes to all 8 speakers correct!

http://www.blu-raystats.com/Stats/De...ek_97360718249

It's listed as 5.1 I'll check other stats.

You're talking ST series.

Then check your settings in the movie itself. I see ST series is 7.1 at Blu stats.

While the movie is playing enable info for audio and check the audio feeds, right click, audio.

What options do you see?

i am sorry, i wasn't familiar with the flac conversion until now.

so what is the best method to get a bitperfect analogue 7.1 flac
output from the PC/soundcard but with proper analog out setup like
individual speaker volume/delay settable?

Yes. Star Trek (Season 1).
Bought in Belgium (Europe version recently).
In disk menu --> audio options exactly "English 7.1 DTS-HD MA" can be choosen !

A mistake in the menu?
Very strange. Let's hope this is the case.

If have tested once again. spdif (pcm) cheked on.
No difference. Still 6 speakers (5.1 sound). Sound is indeed very clear and good. So I suppose it is lossless LPCM 24 and not downsampled.

So. Let's hope this is a huge mistake on the disk menu.
I definetely have to try tomorrow a real DTS-HD MA 7.1 disk.
I go to rent some disk. I want to know.

I know "The Chronicles of Narnia (Prince Caspian)" is a real one. I'm sure because I've created an .mkv file of this BD in the past.

OK

If ST is real 7.1 than I'm not getting it.

Damm!!

Like I said above:

Switching on the information box in the TMT player. The box in the right corner shows DTS MA HD / 48 khz / 24. I suppose this is just the description of the stream on the disk, not? Not the output of the HDAV. Right?

If I check the TMT player settings and take a look on the information TAB while playing the disk always 2 channel / 16 bits / 48 hz is shown! Doesn't change whatever settings I use. It this normal?

Some 7.1 disks are very quiet through the movie. I know 3:10 to Yuma is very loud during gunshot scenes but is 7.1 lpcm, which is a little different. If you are to rent, try that as a choice.

No

Thanks.

I'll let you know.

What have you set in windows?
Right click on playback devices and configure.

In Windows 7 "HDAV Speakers" is the default device.
Set to 7.1 speakers.

Have you done configure? Then you do 5.1 or 7.1 and check your speakers and then you do your khz - 24/48 ?

Yes. Have that done.

In HDAV Center: 8 channels - 48 khz - 7.1 speakers
Just samplerate can be choosen. I nowhere can see the bitdepth to point in the HDAV Center.

Tested with or without spdif (pcm) checked: no difference

I just went into settings of the disk, and set for 7.1 Same for you? I'm using VCD. Virtual Clone Drive, of a disk I own.

Ok, tomorrow is good too. Nice to see you Rew

Well, it took me 4 hours to set up. But my new Xonar HDAV 1.3 Deluxe is installed and running perfectly. This was by far the hardest upgrade to my HTPC. DTS HD and Dolby HD Master working great with blurays, and ISO's with TMT3. I'm so glad I splurged.

Works with my HDTV as well as my Optoma HD20!!

Short update


I've tested two more disks containing DTS-HD MA 7.1 stream:

1) Narnia - Prince Caspian
2) HellBoy II

Did a complete deinstall and install of the ASUS HDAV driver / software.
It looks like the ASUS TMT 3 version 3.0.13.139 definetely doesn't support 8 discrete channels for DTS-HD MA ! I'm only getting 5.1 sound, no back surrounds !

So, I've installed the trial of TMT 3 retail version (3.0.1.160).

And guess?

DTS-HD MA 7.1 is comming through by 8 discrete channels to my speakers.
But, now the important question: the information box shows DTS HD MSTR. In the Asus TMT 3 version it was DTS HD MA 48 Khz / 24. I can hear the difference in audio quality which was in the ASUS version better.Is this because of the trial version (which is restricted) or is this because the audio through analog is downsampled in the retail version.

@rew452
@davinleeds
@others

?????

Your comments please.

downsampled = retail

I was afraid this answer would come.


Conclusion: ASUS TMT 3 version 3.0.13.139 doesn't support 8 discrete channels for DTS-HD MA unless at least one person in the world could prove the opposite.

Cyberlink PowerDVD 9 at least admit DTS-HD MA is limited to 5.1.

Solution:ASUS has to deliver a customised version of the TMT 3 .160 retail version. Ohterwise they are misleading customers. The HDAV Deluxe has to work as they have advertised!


Why, why why so much trouble!?
Just marketing and selling air from ASUS.

I've tested very thoroughly and the conclusion is very clear!

I can tell even more: did some reverse engineering and it seems all non downsampling HD lossless audio is done by the ASAudioHD.ax file in the codec map.

Using the same ASUS TMT 3.0.13.139 and the correct settings in the HDAV center and in the Windows 7 mixer for 8 channel output:

* ASAudioHD.ax (from Asus TMT 3 .139 - 07/20/2009)
--> DTS-HD MA only 6 discrete channels not downsampled

* ASAudioHD.ax (from retail TMT 3 .160 retail - 08/28/2009)
--> DTS-HD MA max of 8 discrete channels, but downsampled

I only have to replace the ASAudioHD.ax from the retail version into the Asus TMT 3 .139 and I have 8 channel discrete output, but downsampled with same settings in TMT3 and HDAV center.

Therefore a big call to anyone who uses this hardware and uses the 7.1 analog out from the daughter card in connection to a receiver to test this.

I also believe the manufacturer has to test this before and not the customer or at least has to publish non supporting elements.

I've reported this issue officialy to ASUS.

Response:


Let's hope they will do something, admit and publish a new build not too long from now!

Any opamp changes to recommend? The 6#7 seems a bit outdated and the news ones are working great.