XFi and Denon Amp

pondscum · 14 Jun 2006 at 09:44

I have built a media center pc using the X-Fi Fatal1ty as a soundcard. It was my intention to push the output through a Denon Amp via an SPDIF cable.

The amp keeps complaining that it is only seeing Dolby PLII instead of a true 5.1 signal. I have read that I should be able to output 5.1 from DVD's etc via an SPDIF but have had no luck so far.

Anyone know how I can do this?

tom_nieto · 14 Jun 2006 at 10:04

You can output 5.1 from DVDs. You have to go into the settings of your DVD player and change the sound output to SPDIF passthrough.

You will only be able to get proper surround sound from DVDs though and not in games etc through the SPDIF cable. For anything else you'll need to connect in analogue mode.

pondscum · 14 Jun 2006 at 13:16

Damn, I was hoping to get 5.1 out for all things from the SPDIF.

What would I be losing pushing all the output via the analogue connectors?

Is it worth changing to a different card?

Phil99 · 14 Jun 2006 at 13:22

pondscum said:
Damn, I was hoping to get 5.1 out for all things from the SPDIF.

What would I be losing pushing all the output via the analogue connectors?

Is it worth changing to a different card?

Probably nothing, depending on the quality of the DACs in the receiver/whether there's a lot of interference.

Not worth getting a different card unless you absolutely must have everything via S/PDIF.