Laptop to TV (through HDMI) to surround, but no 5.1

[Duckling]

My laptop is a HP Pavilion dv7-2078ca Entertainment Notebook PC
Specs here: Product Specifications 

I have my Computer hooked up to the TV through a HDMI Cable and My TV is hooked to a surround sound receiver through
red and white cables.
From Audio Out on the TV

The TV is a Toshiba 37HL57

I tried installing new Realtek and ATI drivers, but I still couldn't get the surround working.

I installed these
ftp://webuser:[email protected]/pc/audio/HDMI_R229.exe
ftp://WebUser:[email protected]/pc/audio/Vista_Win7_R229.exe
https://a248.e.akamai.net/f/674/9206/0/www2.ati.com/drivers/9-7_beta_win7_64_dd_CC.exe

But working I mean, I go to control panel then sound and for HDMI is only lets me select stereo.

After some research I figured maybe its because the HDMI goes to the TV and the TV itself only has two speakers.

Still there must be a way to do this.

I can't do HDMI to the surrouund receiver as its a bit old

But, its seems to be surround when playing movies through VLC...

But I tried this surround test.
http://www.halfgaar.net/media/chan-id.zip
and you could defintiely tell there was "audio coming from different corners". But, when the test announced which speaker the sound should be coming out, it wasn't always accurate.

 

[ShazaM]

So if I'm correct, here's what you have:

[COMPUTER] --(hdmi)--> [TV] --(rca)--> [SOUND SYSTEM]

First thing, I have a similar thing going on here at my house except I have the sound connected directly to my computer instead of my TV. Which I don't think you want to do that since you want to watch regular TV on surround sound.

What I would do is, run a cable from your TV out to your computer (Line-In) and then distribute that audio to your speaker system. This way, your computer and your tv are both mixed in one place. And run everything from your computer to your speaker system.

 

[Duckling]

I get sound currently. The problem is getting True 5.1 audio.

I use my laptop as the main thing I do on my tv, so its not a problem the way its set-up.

Everything works. But, I can't get sound to be 5.1.

 

[hdmi]

Hi,

You're deffo not the only one. I'll try to explain a little what gives. If you right-click the speaker icon in Windows System Tray and choose Playback devices, you should see NVIDIA HDMI Out or something of the like (in my case it's nVidia, but that's because the HDMI on my laptop is a part of the nVidia 9600M GS vidcard). Select it and hit the Properties button, then the Supported Formats tab. Here you will see that the maximum number of audio channels supported by your HDMI audio output port is only 2, and of course you want it to be 6 if you want 5.1 surround sound.

So what gives? If you look a little further down, you will see that the 2nd rectangle lists the coding formats currently supported by the device. This means that, to be able to send it through a HDMI cable, your audio bitstream needs to be coded to one of these formats.

How can I do this? If you're trying to build your own HTPC to play Blu Rays and DvDs on TV (which I assume you would), you should probably try to use AC3Filter. Many player apps support it, and it's capable of many things amoung which avoiding the compatibility issues. And, of course it's freeware.

 

[chakubanga]

I doubt if you'd be able to get true 5.1 when source is stereo. Even if you distribute it, sound may come out of all speakers, however that will be Sound enhanced and not True 5.1.

You will need 5.1 channel out of your TV to your computer with 3.5 mini jack Sound in, instead of what you have, which is 1 microphone-in.

Your Mini jack out is customized for Headphones only, or stereo speakers, it is not capable of producing 5.1.

Your HDMI is exactly that. High Definition Media interface, supports 8-channel, 192kHz, uncompressed digital audio AND since you also have B/Ray, it means that, hooked directly to your Tv may not give you what you paid for. That said, you need to invest a tiny bit on a Receiver with HDMI capabilites, what you will be able to get out of your investment after that, is simply amazing. you will hook your computer directly to your receiver with a single HDMI cable and OUT of your receiver to TV and back to your computer speakers.

HDMI supports standard, enhanced, or high-definition video, plus multi-channel digital audio on a single cable. One cable and thats it... All you need is HDMI capable receiver.

 

[Etihtsarom]

The TV is taking sound from computer and pushing it through the receiver on 2 channels. This will dictate stereo sound and the reason you might hear sound from all speakers is likely that your receiver is putting it out on all-channel stereo. This is not surround sound, you won't get the correct directional sounds and base. Additionally, looking at your laptop sound specs, you might not be able to get the surround sound you're expecting. Audio Audio Chipset Altec Lansing with SRS Premium SoundAudio Output StereoDigital Input NoDigital Output NoHardware Volume Control NoIntegrated Amplifier YesIntegrated Microphone YesMicrophone Input YesSpeaker Wattage Information Not AvailableSpeakers Yes

 

[Extensa]

I have a HTPC set up and connected to a 51" tv and a 5.1 speaker system. I took a normal 3.5" output, connected to a rca splitter, and into the reciever for the speaker system. I have 5.1 working fine.

VIDEO Computer ---> DVI to HDMI Adapter -----> TV
SOUND Computer Sound Card ----> 3.5" output ----> RCA Splitter ---> Reciever

 

[chakubanga]

I have a HTPC set up and connected to a 51" tv and a 5.1 speaker system. I took a normal 3.5" output, connected to a rca splitter, and into the reciever for the speaker system. I have 5.1 working fine.

VIDEO Computer ---> DVI to HDMI Adapter -----> TV
SOUND Computer Sound Card ----> 3.5" output ----> RCA Splitter ---> Reciever

You think you have 5.1. but it is not true 5.1. Infact it is not surround at all. The 2 posts above have tried to explain why..

I have Yamaha RXV 661 Receiver, Cobra AW850 Deluxe Sound Card with Optical out and Nvidia Geforce 8400 GS DVI to HDMI. Invidia goes to TV Toshiba Plasma 50" sound goes to Yamaha 9.1 Channels, capable of 7.1 surround. I have BOSE Acoustimass 16 series II. When litening to music, I can hear it on all 7 speakers. It doesnt mean it is 7.1 capable from my computer. It means all speakers are doing the same job.

When I watch movie, I select Pro Logic, and, because it is out from Optic I get SPID and depending on Codec from the source, it may send surround to the speakers. Unless if I am watching DVD from Computer, than I get true surround sound 5.1. Because of Yamaha.

 

[hdmi]

Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Notebook Sound Card - THX-certified quality for your notebook


Specifications: Playback: 24-bit Digital-to-Analog conversion of digital sources at 96 kHz to analog 7.1 speaker output, 192kHz for Stereo DVD-A1
Supported in Windows XP only


Compatibility:

Microsoft VBScript runtime error '800a01f4'
Variable is undefined: 'nReviewCount' /products/includes/localnav.asp, line 84

 

[chev65]

Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Notebook Sound Card - THX-certified quality for your notebook


Specifications: Playback: 24-bit Digital-to-Analog conversion of digital sources at 96 kHz to analog 7.1 speaker output, 192kHz for Stereo DVD-A1
Supported in Windows XP only


Compatibility:

Microsoft VBScript runtime error '800a01f4'
Variable is undefined: 'nReviewCount' /products/includes/localnav.asp, line 84

Isn't exactly true, I have working 5.1 drivers for Audigy2ZS but they are modded drivers by Daniel K and have been around for a long time now. They are working perfectly in Windows 7 by the way with full 5.1 function. I'm just not sure if his drivers will work with a notebook version of the Audigy 2ZS.


To get simulated 5.1 working just come out from the laptops sound output standard "green single wire" into the sound port next too the PC HD-15 port on the TV. Works perfectly for me anyway.

 

[jcb420]

ok so lemme get this straight cuz i dont seem to be getting 5.1 audio anymore but i though i was getting it once before. I have an audigy advanced hd soundcard and i swore when i hooked my tv out to my soundcard line in all 5 computer speakers were working while watching cable tv no all the sudden i get only 2 channel audio. But when i plug the speakers into my adapter rca on the other into my tv i hear all 5 speakers on movies hbo etc im stumped i liked the fact i could control the cable sound threw the comp seemed to get louder too. I belive the speaker set i had before might have been what got 5.1 but that only put out dobly not true 5.1 suround so when i pressed the speaker button on that system i could hear everything kick in would go from 2 channel to all speakers now nothing im stumped??? Do i need daniel_k drivers too?? if so do they make any for the audigy value ? that along with advanced mb seemed to work idk but i have audigy advanced hd os idk what i would do i have herd of this digital i/o box would that work???