TrueHD audio playback question

Originally Posted by Epyon415

Greetings All,
First let me say thanks for the WONDERFUL forum that helped me to build my first HTPC! Has made my entertainment life much better.

I'm still in the early stages of getting everything configured and I have encountered an interesting issue with BR rips and TrueHD audio.

Using this guide (HD to mkv.....endless options {cant post link yet}), I was able to rip Transformers (main feature + trueHD). When I play the file on my desktop using VLC i get the audio back without issue (on some POS dell speakers). However, when I try to play the video back on my HTPC using XBMC's built in player I get zero audio. Video plays back fine, but I am not getting audio. My system is running S/PDIF from the HTPC to my Sony HTIB receiver. I tried using the native HDMI out of my GPU straight to the tv but still the same issue.

Any ideas? I still have a bit more upgrades to go including buying a new receiver (likely Onkyo TX-SR607 or like). I'm just wondering if I might need to buy the Asus Xonar HDAV 1.3 for processing the audio stream or if the receiver will resolve the issue.

Thanks for any help, and sorry if this has been posted already.

*at work now, will update the specific receiver model later.

Desktop:
---------
EVGA 780i SLI Mobo
EVGA GTX260 (SLI'd)
Intel Q9550 (stock)
(all codecs from the HD > MKV rip guide)
Generic Dell 2ch speakers
VLC media player

HTPC:
---------
Gigabyte 785G Mobo (connected to receiver via S/PDIF)
Gigabyte Radeon HD4670 GPU (connected to tv via HDMI)
AMD Athlon x2 245 Regor

Originally Posted by Epyon415

Thanks for the response hlkc. To answer your questions:

1. The goal of the HTPC is to be a central location to access all of my media (movies, tv shows, music, pictures, hulu). I wanted someone simple enough that my gf (non-techy) could use, and something fancy I can show off to my friends (hehe). I also was aiming for something that would eliminate a need for discs, lower noise from fans (i was using my PS3 for BR play and with that running + tv, heat would kick ps3 fan into overdrive), and improve my ent. center presentation.

For the most part I've been able to accomplish most of this by ripping all my movies (DVD so far) to my DAS attached to the HTPC and access everything using XBMC interface.

My desktop has no real role in all of this other than being my primary ripping/encoding system due to its specs.

2. When I say I'm not getting audio I mean that, there is no voice, music anything when i play the file from XBMC (which uses a default player). If I play the file from my desktop with VLC I hear the voice, music etc fine from regular old dell speakers connected to the on-board audio out on my mobo.

I did some searching earlier and saw that S/PDIF cant send TrueHD, but I was thrown off because I could play the movie on my desk using plain audio plug (sorry not sure the technical name). The reason I am using MKV is because I havent fully figured out an easy way to have XBMC use an external player (on my LONG list of things to eventually get to/configure).

I think you are right that upgrading my AVR will resolve the issue, but I just wanted to make sure I wasnt missing any specific steps. I'll try some tests tonight when I get home.

Thanks again!