No 5.1 audio configuration over HDMI Windows 7

[Shamoy]

I am currently on windows 7 with a ati radeon hd 3600 graphics/audio card. When I plug it in to my home theatre through HDMI there is only a 2.0 sound configuration, there is no 5.1. My home theatre is a sony ht-sf470. It is 3 months old and it is capable of dts-hd 5.1. How can I configure the HDMI to 5.1. I would kindly appreciate any help.

 

[bassfisher6522]

When your connected to your HT system, right click the sound icon in notification area and select playback devices then choose your speaker setup you want to use. The default setting will be your built in speakers of the laptop.

 

[Shamoy]

When I go to notification area icons and I go on playback devices and choose and set my home theatre to deafult and try to configure it it only gives me a stereo configuration, there isn't any quadraphonic or 5.1 configuration listed. I also tried to do a sound test. My home theatre doesnt get me true 5.1 from my pc, it just plays the same front sound on my side speakers. And also I am on a desktop.

 

[bassfisher6522]

Sounds like either your onboard sound card (on mother board) or your GPU sound (which I never use) is not capable of 5.1. Do you know which one your are using at the moment? It could be something simple as setting one or the other as the default. What does it look in your device manager? Any issues there? You could try disabling the onbaord sound in the BIOS and then set the GPU sound as the default.

 

[fireberd]

For HDMI audio (via the HDMI connection) either you have the built in sound device on the Video card (most newer video cards) or there is an S/PDIF connection on the video card that is connected to the PC's S/PDIF for the audio.

Some 5.1 audio depends on the source, if you have a stereo source all you get is stereo; if you have a movie, for example, that has 5.1 audio then you get the 5.1.

 

[Shamoy]

My Video Card is capable of 5.1 over HDMI and it is in perfect condition, also all my drivers are installed. In device manager it says it is properly working. Could it be a problem of pass through on my ht.

When I go to sound in control panel, it says it is plugged in and set to deafault, but only gives me a stereo configuration, on quadraphonic or 5.1.

 

[Shamoy]

My video card only has HDMI DVI and VGA

 

[Shamoy]

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[Shamoy]

I dont have an spdif on my graphics card

 

[Evols]

Ok, so this is starting to sound familiar. Perhaps your computer is seeing your tv through your ht receiver and realizes that your tv is only capable of 2 channel stereo. There may be a setting in your receiver or tv that prevents your tv from sharing this information with your pc.....I'm having a similar issue but haven't found the solution yet.

 

[jbible]

Computer detecting tv's audio capabilities most likely culprit

I have a similar setup... desktop, hooked to a SONY STR-DH520 receiver, passed through to an HDTV. I was only being given the option for 2.0 audio, but when I went into the receiver's settings, under the hdmi menu, under audio out, I changed the setting to AMP only. At that point Windows offered me a plethora of audio options, and I have been able to tune the system almost perfectly.

Hope this helps!

 

[ManOwar2]

I see that you are using an ati Radeon HD.

If you are using Catalysts 12.4 drivers, I suggest switching back to catalyst 12.3 drivers. There are know problems with the 12.4.

 

[lz2kc]

Same problem. My receiver is Sony STR-3400. Settings > HDMI >audio out - AMP only. From WD TV Player the mkv file plays with DTS 5.1, but from PC - there is only PCM 2 ch.
Mainboard with VIA audo optical SPDIF: Gigbyte Z77-D3H
When i play DTS 5.1 test from windows spdif properties the sound is 5.1 DTS 3/2.1
I try with 2 players - windows media player and windows media player Classic. There is only one audio stream in the mkv file.
Codecs - Ace mega codec pack full
Any suggestions?

P.S.
Sorry for my english

 

[Evols]

Same problem. My receiver is Sony STR-3400. Settings > HDMI >audio out - AMP only. From WD TV Player the mkv file plays with DTS 5.1, but from PC - there is only PCM 2 ch.
Mainboard with VIA audo optical SPDIF: Gigbyte Z77-D3H
When i play DTS 5.1 test from windows spdif properties the sound is 5.1 DTS 3/2.1
I try with 2 players - windows media player and windows media player Classic. There is only one audio stream in the mkv file.
Codecs - Ace mega codec pack full
Any suggestions?

P.S.
Sorry for my english

Try using VLC player. In VLC you can select the audio track you want to play under the audio device menu in the player.

 

[Shamoy]

Unfortunately my ht does not have any settings like that.

 

[lz2kc]

Thanks Evols!
You solve my problem!!!

 

[Shamoy]

reply

There is an amp option, but still doesn't allow me

 

[jonnyk9]

I have been having this problem since i converted my desktop to my htpc. i have tried both hdmi and spdif and the speaker config always only recognizes 2 channel stereo. i have updated and removed all drivers, fiddled with the bios... i've tried everything i can think of.

i'm using xbmc and fortunately it will actually play the files in 5.1 but i would like the computer to justify that it actually there.

i'm using:
windows 7 ultimate x64
asus p5n7a-vm
onboard video and audio

 

[ManOwar2]

I have been having this problem since i converted my desktop to my htpc. i have tried both hdmi and spdif and the speaker config always only recognizes 2 channel stereo. i have updated and removed all drivers, fiddled with the bios... i've tried everything i can think of.

i'm using xbmc and fortunately it will actually play the files in 5.1 but i would like the computer to justify that it actually there.

i'm using:
windows 7 ultimate x64
asus p5n7a-vm
onboard video and audio

What is your video card ? Are you sure it does output more than 2 channel stereo ? Does your TV have a speaker settings or factory-built speaker ?

When you say you tried SPDIF, you mean you plugged spdif at the same time that you plugged the hdmi ? If you use SPDIF you better use DVI wich is unlikely to be possible on modern lcds TV.

As soon as your HDMI is plugged and receiving sound output, it will be the channel the sound will come throught.

 

[jonnyk9]

I am using the onboard audio and video of my mobo. it is supposed to support 8 channel audio. I am using an older avr that doesn't have hdmi in so that's why i'm going direct to my avr via spdif. I disabled the hdmi of the mobo in the bios.

When i'm using htpc hdmi -> tv -> avr w/ spdif i think the tv maybe only able to do dolby digital and that's why the htpc only recognizes 2 channels... but why it's still only seeing 2 channels with spdif going direct to the avr is beyond me. but somehow the avr plays all 5 channels.

Thanks