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can't get 5.1 audio from PC to TV

post #1 of 15
7/10/10 at 5:24am
Thread Starter 
TV: panasonic tc-p50g15

receiver: sony srt-ks360

os: win7 pro
cpu: amd opteron 170
ram: 2gb
mb: lanparty nf4 ultra-d
gpu: ati hd 4650
sound: onboard (no sound card)

drivers: ccc 10.6 (w/ ati hdmi driver 7.11.0.7706)

codecs: cccp

the ati card has an hdmi out, which is connected to the tv. the tv is then connected to the receiver via toslink cable. i've tried wmp and vlc 1.1.0, but all i get is 2 channel audio. i don't need lossless audio, i just want 5.1 audio. and yes, the .mkv files i'm playing are encoded for 5.1

i only see 2 channel support when i look at the ati hdmi driver properties. is it a software issue? do i need other drivers and/or codecs? or is it the gpu?
LL
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post #2 of 15
7/10/10 at 6:02am
If you want audio sent to the receiver, you need to connect the toslink cable from your computer to your receiver and then select the realtek audio. There is no way to send 5.1 to a TV for two reasons. One, the HDMI connection automatically detects the hardware in the TV and will only allow 2 channel audio, because that's all the TV reports it can handle. Two, most (if not all) TVs do not support pass through audio, ie: connecting a DVD player to a TV and then the TV to a receiver. The receiver will only get 2 channel audio. 5.1 is normally only possible from a TV to a receiver when the audio is coming directly from a TV show.
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post #3 of 15
7/10/10 at 9:42am
Not true kego.

I have my htpc connected via hdmi to my tv, and then digital coax from my tv to receiver. My tv passes through the 5.1 audio just fine.

Make sure your ffdshow audio settings are set to "no change" and you have the spdif checkboxes enabled.
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post #4 of 15
7/10/10 at 12:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jagojago View Post

Not true kego.

I have my htpc connected via hdmi to my tv, and then digital coax from my tv to receiver. My tv passes through the 5.1 audio just fine.

Make sure your ffdshow audio settings are set to "no change" and you have the spdif checkboxes enabled.

I don't know who is right, but page 39 of OP's manual:
"When audio from other equipment connected to this unit via HDMI is output using DIGITAL AUDIO OUT of this unit, the system switches to 2CH audio.
(When connecting to an AV amp via HDMI, you can enjoy higher sound quality.)"
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post #5 of 15
7/10/10 at 1:33pm
Ah that could be the case with his specific TV. It just sounded like kegobeer said that all TVs act this way which they clearly don't.
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post #6 of 15
7/10/10 at 1:38pm
jagojago,

My Sammy PN50B450 plasma is the same way as the OP's: multi-channel input on HDMI is outputted as 2-CH out of the TV's optical output. Consider yourself lucky if you have multi-channel pass-through... many TVs do not support it.

-T
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post #7 of 15
7/10/10 at 3:22pm
Thread Starter 
if most TV's don't support pass-through, how do most of you get your surround sound from the PC to the TV in your HTPC setups?

so i guess i'm SOL with my current hardware setup?

i don't have a toslink output on my MB - only s/pdif. and there is no s/pdif input on my receiver. are there s/pdif to toslink adapters/converters? if i get the converter and connect my PC to my receiver via toslink/spdif converter and select the realtek audio option, will i get surround sound?
LL
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post #8 of 15
7/10/10 at 3:27pm
Coax in labelled video 2 looks like it would do s/pdif, unless that's a strangely labeled composite video input.
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post #9 of 15
7/10/10 at 3:31pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by spivonious View Post

Coax in labelled video 2 looks like it would do s/pdif, unless that's a strangely labeled composite video input.

ha, i missed that. i believe you're right.

so s/pdif from PC to orange COAX in on receiver should do the trick?
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post #10 of 15
7/10/10 at 3:37pm
I have my PC hooked up to my 50" LG via HDMI and use PowerDVD10 as this has a setting to let you use HDMI in 5.1 surround mode which when selected routes the sound through my Yamaha receiver or TV whichever i choose and can still play 2chl stereo through my pc..
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post #11 of 15
7/10/10 at 3:46pm
Thread Starter 
just tried to connect s/pdif from my PC to that orange Coax in (video 2) on my receiver. doesn't work. i guess i'll have to order an s/pdif to toslink converter and try that method.

also, do i check all the s/pdif boxes?
LL
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post #12 of 15
7/10/10 at 4:54pm
I believe all of them should be checked, but I haven't used CCCP in a while.

I guess I do feel lucky that my tv supports passthrough, it's a cheap Dynex 42" from best buy.
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post #13 of 15
7/10/10 at 5:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by drossel View Post

if most TV's don't support pass-through, how do most of you get your surround sound from the PC to the TV in your HTPC setups?

We connect the HTPC via HDMI to a receiver that is capable of 5.1/7.1 audio, then connect the receiver to the TV via HDMI. We also let the receiver handle all of the audio and don't bother to use the TV sound at all.
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post #14 of 15
7/10/10 at 6:40pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by kegobeer View Post

We connect the HTPC via HDMI to a receiver that is capable of 5.1/7.1 audio, then connect the receiver to the TV via HDMI. We also let the receiver handle all of the audio and don't bother to use the TV sound at all.

i tried that, but couldn't get the TV to display correctly. all that was displayed was the background even if there were other icons on the desktop or windows open.
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post #15 of 15
7/10/10 at 6:55pm
Thread Starter 
nevermind. i forgot to adjust the display settings in CCC.

i finally got it working. HDMI from PC to receiver and then to TV.

thank you all for your help.
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