No 5.1 sound from HTPC via HDMI

[abhijeet309]

Hey Guys,
I have got an old HTPC whose specs are:
Motherboard: Zotac IONITX-A-E
CPU: Intel Atom N330 (Dual Core), FSB 533Mhz
Graphics: NVIDIA ION Graphics GPU
GPU : 450Mhz, Shader : 1100Mhz16 stream processors
DirectX 10 / Open GL 2.1
Sound: Realtek ALC662

I have connected the HTPC with my Yamaha 473 AVR but i m not getting 5.1 sound with HDMI connection but when i connect with coaxial cable i m getting the 5.1 sound.
I have updated the graphics and sound card drivers but still no sucess. Please help with this issue. I am running Windows 7 on it........

 

[prosenjit]

try the hdmi output into a tv and see whether its working or not...
if works,problem in reciver hdmi input...
if does not work--dont know about pc systems.but are you righly selecting hdmi out of your motherboard settings..

 

[abhijeet309]

I am getting PCM sound via HDMI connection, but no 5.1 channel sound. So its not the problem of receiver....And have tried every possible setting in HTPC.......

 

[rud3dawg]

DId you try setting the default Audio to the NVIDIA ION GPU ? in the windows sound settings..

just a hunch... !!but on a serious note: As far as I have checked the ION graphic card audio seems to be HDA (Azalia) and not Realtek ALC662 .... so have a looksie .. ofcourse I am just stating whatever I could find off hand..

 

[prosenjit]

I am getting PCM sound via HDMI connection, but no 5.1 channel sound. So its not the problem of receiver....And have tried every possible setting in HTPC.......

okay,is there any setting in pc sound like dont decode and send as raw(bitstreaming)...try that and let your avr decode the file.try with tru DTS or DD file...and check avr flashes DTS or DD logo or not.........

 

[baijuxavior]

First set the hdmi as your default audio. Right click task bar volume control > Playback devices > Set hdmi as default playback device. Also configure the hdmi to 5.1. Check the hdmi properties to know which audio formats are supported.

You should set the media player to send dts and dolby digital as raw. You haven't mentioned the media player.

 

[abhijeet309]

When i checked the properties for my digital audio (hdmi) it says format supported 2 channel stereo. I tried to update the drivers automatically but it says best drivers in use. Can i update them manually and if i do is there any chance getting 5.1 channel support.....

 

[aakashr]

+1 to baiju.............follow what he says. Also what files are you playing and what media player are you using? Ensure the files you play are encoded with 5.1 audio. Sometimes we think movies and other video formats are encoded in 5.1 but in real might only play in stereo.

 

[vaibhavyagnik]

+1 to baiju.............follow what he says. Also what files are you playing and what media player are you using? Ensure the files you play are encoded with 5.1 audio. Sometimes we think movies and other video formats are encoded in 5.1 but in real might only play in stereo.

Totally agree. now a days aac is the preferred audio codec in files. that gets transferred as PCM unless you are doing some voodoo with your player. first check the audio stream of your file. ensure it is DD or DTS and then check.
P.S: XBMC can convert multichannel aac to DD or DTS on the fly.

 

[vprasad84]

your mobo also has provision for spdif out both coaxial & optical so you can also try with it.

 

[spirovious]

Did you set HDMI speaker config correctly in windows?
Playback devices>Rt.click Realteck(HDMI) >configure speakers>7.1.
Now you should get it.
http://www.hifivision.com/home-thea...18571-sam9s-htpc-project-powered-xbmc-54.html
http://www.hifivision.com/home-thea...078-need-s-pdif-out-back-panel-bracket-2.html
http://www.hifivision.com/speakers/25838-z906-no-sound-center-rear-speakers.html
http://www.hifivision.com/home-thea...1-light-weight-media-player-720p-1080p-7.html

 

[abhijeet309]

Friends as I told u when config HDMI audio it gives option of 2 channel stereo only. I tried to update the drivers but no luck with that.....

 

[vprasad84]

does it has the option of spdif audio also. i mean you can either select the sound output to hdmi or spdif...check within the realtek utility

 

[abhijeet309]

does it has the option of spdif audio also. i mean you can either select the sound output to hdmi or spdif...check within the realtek utility

Yes it has got spdif option and i m getting 5.1 sound from that.....

 

[haisaikat]

abhijeet, you can try one option that worked for me since I face a similar problem for my HTPC. before you start the HTPC start your yamaha AVR and set to the specific input (HTPC). Now power on your HTPC and make sure before that HTPC is connected to AVR via HDMI. I supposed you are running Win 7. Now once desktop comes go to HDMI sound propoerties from Manage Audio Devices in control panel and configure the device and check if now the properties are giving you option of 5.1.

 

[baijuxavior]

+1. AVR should start before htpc audio is initialized. Otherwise system will default to two channel audio.

 

[spirovious]

Oh,then as said by others,its problem that Playback devices are recognizing LCD/Display as sound option & not Yamaha.Even when HTPC/TV is on,I switch off Yamaha,even main button & start again,now windows identify Yamaha as sound device & you should get 7.1 option like this-



Here you can check the properties in ATI>supported format> you should see all including HD audio.

 

[ausyz]

When i checked the properties for my digital audio (hdmi) it says format supported 2 channel stereo. I tried to update the drivers automatically but it says best drivers in use. Can i update them manually and if i do is there any chance getting 5.1 channel support.....

Check your NVIDIA HD Audio Driver version. It should be at least 1.2.22.1. There were many bugs in the previous versions of HD Audio Driver.
(For checking, right click computer -> manage -> Device Manager -> sound, video and game controllers -> NVIDIA HighDefinition Audio -> properties -> Driver)

You can download the latest driver from here. This is display driver for windows 7, 32 bit, and HD Audio driver (version 1.3.18.0) comes integrated. NVIDIA DRIVERS 306.23WHQL

 

[abhijeet309]

abhijeet, you can try one option that worked for me since I face a similar problem for my HTPC. before you start the HTPC start your yamaha AVR and set to the specific input (HTPC). Now power on your HTPC and make sure before that HTPC is connected to AVR via HDMI. I supposed you are running Win 7. Now once desktop comes go to HDMI sound propoerties from Manage Audio Devices in control panel and configure the device and check if now the properties are giving you option of 5.1.

Did as u said.....still no sucess. audio device config still displaying stereo option only....:sad:

 

[abhijeet309]

Oh,then as said by others,its problem that Playback devices are recognizing LCD/Display as sound option & not Yamaha.Even when HTPC/TV is on,I switch off Yamaha,even main button & start again,now windows identify Yamaha as sound device & you should get 7.1 option like this-



Here you can check the properties in ATI>supported format> you should see all including HD audio.

tried ur trick as well......when i turn off the AVR with HTPC on tv display says TV SPEAKER ACTIVE and when i turn the AVR back on it says AUDIO SYSTEM ACTIVE but my HDMI audio device is not recognising my AVR......