HDMI / Dolby Digital problem

[MLem]

Hey everyone, this looks like a good forum and I'm glad to have discovered it.

So on to first post/problem;

I bought a new amplifier, mostly for listening music and for watching movies with (Kenwood RV7000). My laptop is Acer 5755G, and these two are connected with a HDMI-cable. My ampliefier supporst all kinds of Dolby digital sounds, though I cannot use them.

When I listen to FM radio, the amplifier lets me decide between Dolby digital listening modes, or the Pure Audio mode (some sort of pre-equalized thingy). I can also tune the sound with these Dolby modes.

So when I connect my laptop to the amplifier, I only get a PCM and a Stereo mode, with no settings for the sound. Another thing is my computer has a Dolby Advanced Audio v2 equalizer in my laptop, which does nothing when music goes through the HDMI to the amplifier. When I listen with my laptop speakers, it lets me equalize the sounds.

I've updated the Realtek HD Audio drivers, though I'm not sure if they do anything, since it only seems to be controlling the microphone.

Is there something wrong with the signal my laptop sends to the amplifier, or what? Starting to get a bit confused here.

 

[armyslowrdr]

If the onboard card won't support digital surround then you won't be able to get it no matter what the reciever is capable of...although the reciever depending on its features might be able to code the signal into some sort of psuedo digital surround.

I had an old laptop with that problem and got around it by purchasing an external Audigy extigy sound card. I would think such a device is still made.

 

[MLem]

Would you care to explain how did this device work?

 

[armyslowrdr]

The Extigy worked via USB on the laptop, it performed much like an add on card that you'd put on a spare slot on your mother board.

Make Your Notebook Sing Review & Rating | PCMag.com The article from way back in 2002.

 

[MLem]

Gotta say this option isn't too tempting, have to seek for other solutions. So the problem continues...

 

[James7679]

Maybe this will help.

My setup;
HDMI from GTX580 to Sony 7.1 receiver, then to HDTV.

To set Audio for manual field selection on receiver;
1. Right click your volume control on the task bar.
2. Select Playback Devices.
3. You should see your receiver listed, right click and select Configure Speakers.
4. Select "Stereo", then click next until finished.
Doing this will, basically, disable the HDCP

To set Audio to auto field select on Receiver;
1. Right click your volume control on the task bar.
2. Select Playback Devices.
3. You should see your receiver listed, right click and select Configure Speakers.
4. Select 5.1 surround or 7.1 surround, whichever your receiver is capable of. Then click next and select proper speaker setup to finish.

When HDCP is enabled, via HDMI, if the content you are playing back is not encoded with Dolby Digital, or any type of multichannel audio, the source will only pass 2 channels of audio. Therefore, your receiver is only going to playback the same signal as it receives, as it is also HDCP compliant.

Hope this helps.

 

[James7679]

If the onboard card won't support digital surround then you won't be able to get it no matter what the reciever is capable of

If the laptop has an HDMI out, then it can stream Dolby Digital.

 

[James7679]

MLem, did you get something figured out here?

 

[MLem]

It worked with your advice for a short time, then something happened and now I can't get a proper sound out of it. Starting to lose my head with this. I'll get back to you as I know more...

 

[James7679]

Yes, please let us know more.

What are you connecting to and with what?
What have you done outside of what I told you?
Are you having sound issues across the board, or only with certain programs?
Is your sound effected on your laptop or only on the output of the sound to the receiver?
And, when you say you "can't get proper sound", please explain a little more. i.e. static, muffled, unevenness, etc.

 

[MLem]

Well I have to say I like that deep sound. With AUX-cable it feels like I can get a lot more out of my front speakers - probably due to the fact that my Dolby Advanced Audio equalizer works when using this cable.

I switched the output into Stereo, and now the amplifier lets me choose between these Dolby Digital formats. The sound is even and not muffled with either cable, the only problem seems to be that the equalizer won't work, so now I get the deepest sounds by turning the amplifier into stereo and cranking up the bass levels - which isn't the best option.

I hope you don't think I'm some sort of bass freak or anything, I'm just used to deeper sounds which I know my speakers can do - somehow I just can't reach them now.

So basically with the 3,5mm or HDMI-cable the amplifier does the same things, now the problem is getting the equalizer to work. The problem is with every source I have. Please ask more, I'm really glad for the support and hopefully can repay the favor some day!

 

[James7679]

Does your receiver have an HDMI input?

 

[MLem]

As in the amplifier? It does, yes.

 

[James7679]

Okay, based on what you're telling me, here's what I can tell you.

If you are using the method I told you previously, to set the speakers to 7.1 in playback devices, you are only going to be able to reproduce 2.1 audio unless you are watching a movie, or listening to music(very unlikely) that is encoded with multichannel surround. The sound quality will be better like this because the signal is not being split and separated artificially.

If you are using the other method, to set the speakers to 2.1 in playback devices, you will be able to select different sound fields on your receiver. From my experience, the only sound field that sounds good, other than standard stereo, is multichannel.

And, BTW, in my heart, you will always be known as Bass Freak! J/K I rather enjoy loud and balanced audio reproduction myself.

 

[MLem]

Thanks James for the help, I managed to make the sound somewhat alright! It just seems weird why I cannot use the equalizer with HDMI-cable, even though the signal is sent out as stereo.

Anyways thanks guys, you've been of huge help!

 

[James7679]

No problem MLem!

 

[dmoss74]

It just seems weird why I cannot use the equalizer with HDMI-cable, even though the signal is sent out as stereo.

it's probably because the hdmi signal is just sending the audio information. once it gets into your amp's DACs, the amp's own tone stack is taking control. All eq etc from that point will be done from your amp.