Steam Link 5.1 Audio

Narj

Narj

Narj

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Thought I'd post here because this is driving me nuts.

No matter what I do, I can't get 5.1 audio working on Steam Link. I've tried plugging the Steam Link directly into my amp and also via the TV, I've set 5.1 in the audio config on the Link and I've ensured in windows I'm set to 5.1.

Also tried the suggested SPDIF default device setting for playback but I always just get PCM stereo displayed on my amp. I tend to just set my amp to multi channel stereo as a (pants) workaround.

I've made sure to disable Dolby Headphone on my control centre on the PC as well.

Has anyone else got this working? I'm definitely trying games that have 5.1 sound. Funny thing is Witcher 3 seems to be missing channels when I have this set up.

I'd like to avoid lugging the PC downstairs but may end up doing this tonight to check a direct HDMI feed. :(
 
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Hrm I found a similar thread but not that one - I'll do some digging through it - thanks.

I suspect my TV may not do PCM 6ch passthrough (Panasonic TX-P55vt65b) but as I said, I've tried direct to the amp (str-dh820). The annoying thing is I didn't really want to share a source to the TV and therefore have to keep flipping to game mode settings each time.

Maybe I missed a combination of settings somewhere along the line.

Auto doesn't work BTW - I get some very odd behavior with channels missing completely in some games (ie: no speech at all in TW3)
 
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Narj said:
Hrm I found a similar thread but not that one - I'll do some digging through it - thanks.

I suspect my TV may not do PCM 6ch passthrough (Panasonic TX-P55vt65b) but as I said, I've tried direct to the amp. The annoying thing is I didn't really want to share a source and therefore have to keep flipping to game mode settings each time.

Maybe I missed a combination of settings somewhere along the line.

Auto doesn't work BTW - I get some very odd behavior with channels missing completely in some games (ie: no speech at all in TW3)
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Aye might be worth trying to set it up fresh and double check the settings whilst you do it, I don't own a link or I'd have a look closer myself but can only assist on the googles.
 
I thought it was stereo only? Last time I tried to get 5.1 that was what I found.

Edit - Appears it was added this year!
 
Skully said:
I thought it was stereo only? Last time I tried to get 5.1 that was what I found.

Edit - Appears it was added this year!
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Yep, but it's a pain to get working. I think they won't pay the licence fees for DTS so the PCM setup is what's catching some people and their kit out. Not to mention other unknown issues.
 
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As someone who uses an amp as a secondary option when I want to game on my TV. I know all about the pain of getting 5.1 DTS etc working properly.

In the audio devices, is it listed as your TV or amp? I assume you've set the speakers to 5.1? And I assume you've checked what audio codecs are supported (DTS, DD, PCM etc) in the device properties.

Further to that, try and run a film which you know has 5.1 DTS or something, and make sure VLC is setup to work with that and not just output PCM for what ever your audio is set to.

I can't remember off the top of my head how to do this in VLC, but it's in advanced audio and you need to enable SPDIF output (even though you don't use it) and something else.

Finally, can you walk me through your exact connection chain?
 
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agnes said:
As someone who uses an amp as a secondary option when I want to game on my TV. I know all about the pain of getting 5.1 DTS etc working properly.

In the audio devices, is it listed as your TV or amp? I assume you've set the speakers to 5.1? And I assume you've checked what audio codecs are supported (DTS, DD, PCM etc) in the device properties.

Further to that, try and run a film which you know has 5.1 DTS or something, and make sure VLC is setup to work with that and not just output PCM for what ever your audio is set to.

I can't remember off the top of my head how to do this in VLC, but it's in advanced audio and you need to enable SPDIF output (even though you don't use it) and something else.

Finally, can you walk me through your exact connection chain?
Click to expand...

I've tried:

PC -> network -> Steam Link -> HDMI -> Sony AMP

but currently it's

PC -> network -> Steam Link -> HDMI -> TV HDMI1 -> TV HDMI2 (control) -> Sony AMP

I'll have a play tomorrow afternoon with the PC plugged in directly to see if it's an issue on the machine or the link. Any good test source material appreciated - I don't have a BluRay player in my machine.
 
Narj said:
What are the settings in your playback devices mate? Are you using auto detect on the link?
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Yeah, I'm pretty sure I just plugged it in and it picked it up correctly, PC is set to 5.1 on the control panel. I have had my PC plugged into the receiver directly via HDMI before, so I'm not sure if that made a difference.
 
Sorted! I definitely must have missed a test step.

Looks like possibly not having SPDIF enabled.

My TV definitely doesn't pass through PCM 6 channel as it's working direct to the amp now. Odd as I'm sure it passed through DTS from my fire stick. :confused:

Thanks for the help guys.
 
Narj said:
Sorted! I definitely must have missed a test step.

Looks like possibly not having SPDIF enabled.

My TV definitely doesn't pass through PCM 6 channel as it's working direct to the amp now. Odd as I'm sure it passed through DTS from my fire stick. :confused:

Thanks for the help guys.
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No ARC can pass-through multi-channel PCM, the spec just doesn't allow for enough bandwidth. Most modern TVs can pass the bitstreams for AC3 and DTS though.
 
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