Getting 5.1 over optical.

R.C.Anderson

R.C.Anderson

R.C.Anderson

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I was under the impression that this is possible, and my amp is supposed to support it (Sony STR-DB940), however I have never seemed to be able to get anything other than stereo over the optical connection from my sound card (Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio)

I thought this card could also support it, but does anyone else know any better?

Is there a way I can get this working?
 
I used to have exactly the same amp for my TV setup and it definitely supports DD / DTS 5.1 sound over optical.

I haven't got an X-Fi, but is your playback device in Windows set to output to the SPDIF port or speakers? Normally, to get 5.1 over optical, you'll need to have it set to SPDIF.
 
Inaharry said:
I used to have exactly the same amp for my TV setup and it definitely supports DD / DTS 5.1 sound over optical.

I haven't got an X-Fi, but is your playback device in Windows set to output to the SPDIF port or speakers? Normally, to get 5.1 over optical, you'll need to have it set to SPDIF.
Click to expand...

It's not at the moment, as I'm using the analogue jacks to be able to get 5.1, however when I've previously tried to get 5.1, I have set it to spdif, however still can only get stereo.
 
Hi R.C Anderson

Have you got a graphics card with an HDMI out on it?

Marsman (a member on here) recommended that I use HDMI instead of outputting 5.1 via my Auzentech X-Fi Prelude via SPDIF into my AV Amp.

I must say that HDMI seems to work much better from the graphics card than SPDIF from the soundcard for 5.1 gaming/movies. I used to use DTS Connect from my X-Fi Prelude to get 5.1 surround sound in games on my Denon AVR-1911 & Monitor Audio Bronze 5.1. However, outputting via HDMI seems to give an uncompressed sound that to audiophiles like myself has greater sonic quality (although I have not A-Bed as much as I'd like yet!).

If HDMI from your graphics card is not an option you should be able to send 5.1 via SPDIF with some Windows tweaking.

First of all, make sure that "Speakers" (contrary to what Inaharry has said but this used to work for me) is selected as your default device in windows sound properties. Also, highlight "Speakers" and click configure (to the left bottom) to make Windows default to 5.1.

Now, go into the "SPDIF Out" device -> supported formats and click all the ones that you want to be able to use. You can also test that they are working from here.

Looking at your soundcard I am unsure how you are interfacing with your amp in the first place?

Do you have a 3.5mm jack -> phono cable to interface with the SPDIF input on your amp? Or using an adapter?

Tom

EDIT: I've just remembered that I used to have the same issue as you with the X-Fi Xtreme Audio. I managed to fix it by downloading custom drivers for it. The creative ones are rubbish. Do a google for PAX drivers...iirc that's what I used.
 
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