5.1 Over SPDIF - Problems/Room Correction

[Destruktor77]

Hi guys,

First of, this is the equipment I am using:
Speakers Panasonic SA-PT460
SoundCard/Mobo RAMPAGE IV EXTREME (Built in Realtek® ALC898 7.1-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC) Latest Drivers installed.
Digital Receivers Turtle Beach Earforce PX5

The trouble I'm having is with the 5.1 surround over the SPDIF connection. I get sound out of all speakers, however the rear left/right are very quiet in games and films ect,. I've setup the room correction on the actual system (But that only works for DVDs, and I want my 5.1 from the PC) Youtube 5.1 test videos seem to work better than games as the rear speakers play a little louder than usual. And during music they're really quiet, pretty much pointless.

On my Realtek Software, room correction is available for analog input, but not digital, See Image.

What are my options for getting this to work properly with my games and music? As I said, I have a turtle Beach Receiver, could I buy another SPDIF cable and run it all through that?

Or is there any free software someone can recommend?

Cheers,

Rory

 

[james.miller]

it's probably assumed that an av amp can do a better job of room EQ than the realtek drivers, hence no correction over spdif.

"I've setup the room correction on the actual system (But that only works for DVDs, and I want my 5.1 from the PC)"

Can you clarify this? I take it the 'actual system' is the panasonic amp and speakers - why would the room correction only work for DVDs? are you playing the dvds on the system and not the amp? does the panasonic's room correction not work for spdif inputs? that would be unusual if so

 

[Destruktor77]

it's probably assumed that an av amp can do a better job of room EQ than the realtek drivers, hence no correction over spdif.

"I've setup the room correction on the actual system (But that only works for DVDs, and I want my 5.1 from the PC)"

Can you clarify this? I take it the 'actual system' is the panasonic amp and speakers - why would the room correction only work for DVDs? are you playing the dvds on the system and not the amp? does the panasonic's room correction not work for spdif inputs? that would be unusual if so

Yes sorry, Stated 'Actual System' is the Panasonic built in menus (It's actually a home Cinema System i.e DVD drive, iPod Dock, USB connection), they (menus) only work when playing DVDs through the Panasonic Drive, and it's not that great even then. If you change the input to Digital in, then you're no longer able to access the menus and the rear speakers default to being quiet again.

I got the system for very cheap as it was left in an old office building and the new people moving in didn't need it.

Do you think the Turtle Beach AMP would be a good shout then if I buy an extra SPDIF to run it from the PC into the AMP and then into the System?

 

[Yaayuh!]

Assuming that the Realtek actually outputs 5.1 properly using DDL (most onboard sound chips don't) then make sure you have DRC off (Page 33 of the manual).

Other than that, are the rear speakers wireless? If so make sure nothing is interfering with them.

 

[Destruktor77]

Assuming that the Realtek actually outputs 5.1 properly using DDL (most onboard sound chips don't) then make sure you have DRC off (Page 33 of the manual).

Other than that, are the rear speakers wireless? If so make sure nothing is interfering with them.

I remember turning DRC off when I was setting it all up, so I know that's not on.

Just did some Extensive Research... Turns out that the Realtek Chips they use have no pending information about DDL OR DTS. Who woulda known a £266 Mobo wouldn't bother with a full function sound card.

Seems like Gigabyte mobos are the only company to still apprciate decent sound quality packaged in...

Thanks for the suggestions, now here I am, looking at PCI-E cards that will let me use my 5.1 during games properly. Any suggestions? the Panasonic enables the use of DTS or DDL, so I would like to find a card with SPDIF that encodes DTS or DDL and won't break the bank.

OR... is it better to just go and use analog? there's only 3 analog inputs for the speakers, which in my mind would only reside as 2 Channel + Sub. Which wouldn't be 5.1?

Thanks.

 

[Marsman]

I don't think the Panasonic has 6 channel input, so SPDIF is the only option. Cheapest sound card that can do DTS 5.1 in real time is the Xonar DS/DSX. That only has DTS Connect though. For Dolby Digital Live, then you'd want a D1/DX; doesn't do DTS though. Xonar D2/D2X has both DDL and DTSC. Cheaper just to go with either DDL or DTSC.

All the cards have a mini toslink socket and come with an adaptor which allows a standard toslink cable to be used.

 

[Yaayuh!]

I remember turning DRC off when I was setting it all up, so I know that's not on.

Just did some Extensive Research... Turns out that the Realtek Chips they use have no pending information about DDL OR DTS. Who woulda known a £266 Mobo wouldn't bother with a full function sound card.

Seems like Gigabyte mobos are the only company to still apprciate decent sound quality packaged in...

Thanks for the suggestions, now here I am, looking at PCI-E cards that will let me use my 5.1 during games properly. Any suggestions? the Panasonic enables the use of DTS or DDL, so I would like to find a card with SPDIF that encodes DTS or DDL and won't break the bank.

OR... is it better to just go and use analog? there's only 3 analog inputs for the speakers, which in my mind would only reside as 2 Channel + Sub. Which wouldn't be 5.1?

Thanks.

Yep, it's annoying. Although the hardware is well capable of chucking out 5.1 it is limited by the Dolby license....

My advice? Get an Asus Xonar D2/D2X.

 

[Destruktor77]

I don't think the Panasonic has 6 channel input, so SPDIF is the only option. Cheapest sound card that can do DTS 5.1 in real time is the Xonar DS/DSX. That only has DTS Connect though. For Dolby Digital Live, then you'd want a D1/DX; doesn't do DTS though. Xonar D2/D2X has both DDL and DTSC. Cheaper just to go with either DDL or DTSC.

All the cards have a mini toslink socket and come with an adaptor which allows a standard toslink cable to be used.

Yep, it's annoying. Although the hardware is well capable of chucking out 5.1 it is limited by the Dolby license....

My advice? Get an Asus Xonar D2/D2X.

Okay, seems like you both agree on the Xonar.

But now you've confused me with the TOSLINK... To calrify, TOSLINK is the cable name, and SPDIF is the format/connector, such as a coaxial would be?

And with this converter that comes with this Xonar, I should be able to play games ect using 5.1 properly by making use of the digital cable I'm currently using?

All this Audio talk is new to me

 

[Yaayuh!]

It can be unnecessarily confusing. You will indeed be using a TOSLINK connection.

Yes, using this cable with a Xonar with DDL will give you the means to send 5.1 to a decoder.