HTPC HDMI 5.1 digital sound pass through TV issue

[rfisc270]

For the past few months, I have been streaming my video content from my HTPC to my PS3, then PS3 to TV using PS3 Media Server. This set up has been working perfectly by connection of HDMI to my TV (Samsung UN55B6000) then optical out of the TV to my receiver. All my connections go to the tv via HDMI and i get at least 5.1 digital surround sound to passthrough.

Well now I got the bright idea to use Windows Media Center (Windows 7) and actually use my HTPC for its full intended use and cut out any transcoding compression. My motherboard has an HDMI built in. (ASRock H67M-itx with sandy bridge i3) When I connect my HDMI to my TV I only get 2.0 sound. I check the settings (Start > Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Sound) and see it has detected my Samsung and is using Intel Display Audio as a driver. This will ONLY ALLOW 2.0 sound.

How can I override the computer and tell it to pass through what ever I send at it. It doesn't allow me to select anything other than 2.0 audio and states the max number of channels is 2. It also states that no encoded formats are supported. There has to be a work around.

Thanks in Advance!

p.s. any advice on using Media Center to its full potential is greatly appreciated. I plan to play MKV files for HD and heard there are a couple plug-ins/ skins that are really awesome but dont know which ones.

 

[Shark007]

The folks @ AVS are some of the most knowledgable people you'll ever encounter.
Stick with them for the solutions you seek.

 

[rfisc270]

yeah sadly i have an identical post over there and they haven't been able to help yet. I was hoping someone over here could help.

 

[warrenhaydock]

This is a know Windows issue - audio must be set to either 2 or 7 channels for full 5.1 sound output.

You should then be able to get 5.1 on your receiver, if not check the tv or receiver's encoding options.

Try thegreenbutton.com for comprehensive MC help.

 

[byngo]

It might well be an EDID issue where Windows reads the capability of your tv's hdmi input.
I had a similar issue connecting my htpc to my receiver.
To solve this you should try connecting the htpc to your receiver and the receiv3r to tv.
This was only part solution for me though since my ATI card read the EDID of the amp incorrectly and assumed it only did 2 channel stereo. Hence I had your symptoms.
I had to use a program called Moninfo to read the correct EDID of the receiver, create a new .inf file and load that as the monitor driver.
(windows sees your receiver as a monitor).
This cured my problem and the 5.1 and 7.1 options then appeared in the configuration settings for my hdmi audio device in windows.

 

[rfisc270]

I'll definitely try that Moninfo. However, my receiver doesn't have HDMI. So I connected the pc to my TV directly as HDMI and my optical out directly to my receiver. I still have a 2.0 only with my optical out! Is it because it thinks the optical out is going to the TV? They are two different drivers it seems though.

 

[hariharan]

Passthrough is done by the software you are using to decode the audio.

you can use ffmpeg audio decoder & in its settings enable passthrough. That should work.

As for the HDMI issue.

you have to disable audio for HDMI & only keep Optical out enabled, then only it will work.

My HTPC is connected using the same style that I am recommending to you.

If you have any other queries feel free to ask.

Regards,

 

[jonny4]

I'll definitely try that Moninfo. However, my receiver doesn't have HDMI. So I connected the pc to my TV directly as HDMI and my optical out directly to my receiver. I still have a 2.0 only with my optical out! Is it because it thinks the optical out is going to the TV? They are two different drivers it seems though.

tv's will only use the 2 channel dolby digital on hdmi or optical, it is because the tv only has 2 speakers.

 

[jammala]

For the past few months, I have been streaming my video content from my HTPC to my PS3, then PS3 to TV using PS3 Media Server. This set up has been working perfectly by connection of HDMI to my TV (Samsung UN55B6000) then optical out of the TV to my receiver. All my connections go to the tv via HDMI and i get at least 5.1 digital surround sound to passthrough.

Well now I got the bright idea to use Windows Media Center (Windows 7) and actually use my HTPC for its full intended use and cut out any transcoding compression. My motherboard has an HDMI built in. (ASRock H67M-itx with sandy bridge i3) When I connect my HDMI to my TV I only get 2.0 sound. I check the settings (Start > Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Sound) and see it has detected my Samsung and is using Intel Display Audio as a driver. This will ONLY ALLOW 2.0 sound.

How can I override the computer and tell it to pass through what ever I send at it. It doesn't allow me to select anything other than 2.0 audio and states the max number of channels is 2. It also states that no encoded formats are supported. There has to be a work around.

Thanks in Advance!

p.s. any advice on using Media Center to its full potential is greatly appreciated. I plan to play MKV files for HD and heard there are a couple plug-ins/ skins that are really awesome but dont know which ones.

Were you able to get this working..If so, how?

 

[jammala]

Passthrough is done by the software you are using to decode the audio.

you can use ffmpeg audio decoder & in its settings enable passthrough. That should work.

As for the HDMI issue.

you have to disable audio for HDMI & only keep Optical out enabled, then only it will work.

My HTPC is connected using the same style that I am recommending to you.

If you have any other queries feel free to ask.

Regards,

I have simialr setup and have been struggling wiht the same issue. How did you disable Audio over HDMI from HTPC?
Once dis-abled, you used audio connection from native HTPC sound card to receiver..is that correct?