5.1 HTPC Help

markwilliams82

markwilliams82

markwilliams82

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I've just bought a HTPC and Onkyo HT5305 amp & speaker package.

The HTPC uses onboard audio and graphics on the Gigabyte GA-880GM-UD2H motherboard.

At the moment I've got three HDMI in's - V+ HD box, PS3 and HTPC
And an output to my LG 32" HD TV

The V+ HD and PS3 are set up OK and on the amps display they are outputting to "PLII" However on my PC I'm struggling to get a decent 5.1 setup. At the moment I'm using mode "Dolby Digital" .

In Windows 7 I've got all the drivers installed correctly and the ATI HDMI Output is down as saying it only supports a maximum of 2 channels, so I've used the custom option to enable pass through so I can have 5.1
When I go back into the speaker set up and test the set up, I'm getting test noises from all speakers

Any help would be really appreciated as all my films are now on the HTPC so would be good to finally watch some of the Blu Rays I had for Christmas

Is there much difference between a forced Dolby Digital and Dolby Pro Logic II output? Would I get better sound output if I was to get audio from optical rather than HDMI? As all my other devices are outputting to Pro Logic II
 
First thing to say is that if you're only getting PLII from the PS3 then you need to have another look at the PS3 settings. I know you've come on for advice on the HTPC kit, but until you can get the PS3 right - which should be a reasonable straightforward job - then I wouldn't consider tackling the HTPC.

Is there a big difference between DD/DTS and PLII? - YES!!!

DD, DTS, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio - they all use individual discrete channels for each speaker. ProLogic II doesn't. The difference in clarity and the precision of the surround effects should be easy to spot. ProLogic is the lowest quality of surround sound. DD & DTS (standard for DVDs and a lot of games) is substantially better. Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio (from Blu-ray) are better still. If you're listening in ProLogic is means that you only have a stereo signal coming in to the amp - this can be stereo over HDMI, optical, coax or stereo phonos - and you're missing out on better sound.
 
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well i've now got both the HTPC and PS3 connected via optical and set it up to output audio via this.

When I select;

HTPC on the amp it now displays Neo:6 Cinema and the red icons for Dolby Digital and DTS are lit up

PS3 on the amp it displays Neo6 with the red icon for DTS lit up

it this ok?
 
Have a look at this thread which goes in to the ins and outs of PS3 audio set up.

Set your AV receiver to Direct mode. (see page 19 of your manual about how to make the front panel of the receiver show you info about the incoming audio signal)

Make sure you select the HD audio track from the disc to be played.

If you are using anything mode such as ProLogic II, Neo 6, TV Logic, Game, All-Ch stereo, Studio Mix, Multich then the amp is applying an artificial surround effect. You won't be hearing the sound in it's original format.
 
I've just watched Iron Man 2 in XMBC and it was ripped to my HDD and whilst playing the display read DTS and I was able to hear all the surround sound working perfectly :)

The same happened earlier when I tested the PS3 with a Blu Ray. The output changes automatically to match with what is actually being played
 
Yep, that should happen when the amp is receiving the bitstream data and allowed to do it's own thing.
 
ok so I'm new to having an amp and a home cinema set up like this.
So I'm basically trying to get the amp to display DTS or Dolby D when playing movies or TV shows? (With the red icons lit up as well) otherwise I'm just having a standard sound output?
 
If it doesn't say DTS or DD etc, chances are you're outputting stereo which is being forced out of the surround channels.

What is the source video container and codecs?
 
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