5.1 surround sound help!

joedeath332

joedeath332

joedeath332

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Hi i am trying to get 5.1 surround setup on my pc

MB onboard sound sabretooth p67

http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/SABERTOOTH_P67/

AV receiver :Sony STRDH550 5.2 Channel 4K AV Receiver

speakers Tannoy 5.1 SFX

ATM i have the pc connected to the AV receiver via a optical cable but yet in the options on the pc the max i can set it to is 2 channels.

My pc set up is 3 screens , i could try to run 1 of the screens hdmi lead through the receiver to get the audio but am worried about screen lag doing this as the reason i use 3 screens is for sim racing, and i want the surround sound for it. ( i would try this method now but have not got a long enough hdmi lead to try it )

or can i connect the card to the receiver via some other method to get true 5.1 sound and if so what leads would i need.
 
The reason you are only getting 2 channels when you connect via optical is because the audio is not encoded with Dolby Digital or DTS.

When using SPDIF (optical and coaxial), the audio needs to be encoded with one or the other to get 5.1. Without that SPDIF can only support stereo. If you play a DVD for example, then that has Dolby and/or DTS tracks, which are passed on the external receiver and are decoded. Most PC games though, don't use Dolby/DTS so needs to be encoded first. This is where real time 5.1 encoders come in: Dolby Digital Live and DTS Connect.

Some motherboards have one or both, but it's generally the higher end boards. Not all do though, and looking at your board specs, it doesn't. You'd need a sound card that has either Dolby Digital Live or DTS Connect. Some cards have both. Soundblaster Z, is probably the best bet, as it has both and is a decent price for the OEM variant.

If you don't have room for a sound card on your board, then you're going to have to run HDMI to the receiver, then HDMI from that to one of the monitors. Whether that will have any affect on performance or lag, I'm afraid I don't know.

Edit: If you don't have space for a sound card and passing HDMI through the receiver causes trouble with your setup, you could use an external USB sound card. Creative X-Fi Surround Sound 5.1 has Dolby Digital Live and optical output.
 
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Marsman said:
The reason you are only getting 2 channels when you connect via optical is because the audio is not encoded with Dolby Digital or DTS.

When using SPDIF (optical and coaxial), the audio needs to be encoded with one or the other to get 5.1. Without that SPDIF can only support stereo. If you play a DVD for example, then that has Dolby and/or DTS tracks, which are passed on the external receiver and are decoded. Most PC games though, don't use Dolby/DTS so needs to be encoded first. This is where real time 5.1 encoders come in: Dolby Digital Live and DTS Connect.

Some motherboards have one or both, but it's generally the higher end boards. Not all do though, and looking at your board specs, it doesn't. You'd need a sound card that has either Dolby Digital Live or DTS Connect. Some cards have both. Soundblaster Z, is probably the best bet, as it has both and is a decent price for the OEM variant.

If you don't have room for a sound card on your board, then you're going to have to run HDMI to the receiver, then HDMI from that to one of the monitors. Whether that will have any affect on performance or lag, I'm afraid I don't know.

Edit: If you don't have space for a sound card and passing HDMI through the receiver causes trouble with your setup, you could use an external USB sound card. Creative X-Fi Surround Sound 5.1 has Dolby Digital Live and optical output.
Click to expand...

Thanks Marsman i will go down the option of an internal sound card , as in furture i might a few butt kickers for my sim rig and would need a 2nd sound card to do that anyway , so my onboard sound could be used for that .

but i will need to w8 untill my new GPU ( saphire 290x vapor-x ) arrives to see how much space that brute will take inside my pc case to make sure i will be able to also put in a internal sound card.

anyone any good suggestions for such a sound card that has these features ( Dolby Digital Live or DTS Connect ) and if so any experience with them ?
 
Soundblaster Z, is probably the best bet. Has both Dolby Digital Live and DTS Connect, so you can use either.

Other options are Xonar DSX, which has only DTS Connect, or a Xonar DX, which has Dolby.

Personally, I'd probably go for the SB Z.
 
I can vouch for the Soundblaster Z. I have 5.1 running through SPDIF from the PC into an amp using DTS on the Soundblaster.

To be honest though, for various reasons (some of them frankly stupid!), I have only recently put it to use so I can't offer a wealth of advice and feedback on it :)
 
ill have to ask on the sim racing forums , that even if i do this will i be getting true surround sound via the sim game, i know if i do this and then play a dts movie it will work ok,, but the living room is for that.
 
Any reason you can't just use HDMI audio? Seems a waste to order a new soundcard when you just need to change the connection you are using. Not to mention you can then avoid the compression of DD live.
 
joedeath332 said:
ill have to ask on the sim racing forums , that even if i do this will i be getting true surround sound via the sim game, i know if i do this and then play a dts movie it will work ok,, but the living room is for that.
Click to expand...

Yes. Dolby Digital Live or DTS Connect takes 5.1 direct sound and encodes with Dolby Digital. The receiver will decode that just as it does with DVD tracks.


DarkBahamut said:
Any reason you can't just use HDMI audio? Seems a waste to order a new soundcard when you just need to change the connection you are using. Not to mention you can then avoid the compression of DD live.
Click to expand...

He could, but seeing as he is using a multi display setup, I'm not sure whether running it through the receiver would upset this. It's certainly worth trying at least first.
 
joedeath332 said:
Will i be able to download the software shown in the soundblaster video if i get the owm version,,as i really like the function in the software to switch between the speakers and the headphones.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=YWu1ZOgBhgI
Click to expand...

Software is the same. The differences are no box, red cover and the included microphone.

You can always go or the retail one if you want, but personally I don't think the extras are worth paying the extra £20 for.
 
joedeath332 said:
Will i be able to download the software shown in the soundblaster video if i get the owm version,,as i really like the function in the software to switch between the speakers and the headphones.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=YWu1ZOgBhgI
Click to expand...

Marsman said:
Software is the same. The differences are no box, red cover and the included microphone.

You can always go or the retail one if you want, but personally I don't think the extras are worth paying the extra £20 for.
Click to expand...

Seconded. Yes, you get the software as featured in that video.

I went for the OEM version, with no regrets.
 
Marsman said:
Yes. Dolby Digital Live or DTS Connect takes 5.1 direct sound and encodes with Dolby Digital. The receiver will decode that just as it does with DVD tracks.




He could, but seeing as he is using a multi display setup, I'm not sure whether running it through the receiver would upset this. It's certainly worth trying at least first.
Click to expand...

last night i tried running one of the monitors on the eyefinity display via the AV receiver to get a audio via the hdmi but it stopped my eyefinity from working.

i have a new gfx on the way here a saphire 290x Vapor -x and ill prob try using the 2 x dvi-d ports and the display port to run the 3 monitors , then just run a hdmi to the av receiver for the audio signal. ( not sure if this will work,,but ill know once ive tried it,,lol )
 
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