No surround sound from computer to home theatre via HDMI

[skiier]

Hey so I have a laptop which I connect through HDMI to my home theatre system consisting of a projector and 7.1 audio. The thing is, I've configured the system in the sound settings of my laptop (windows 7) so that the 7.1 surround sound DOES work in the theatre system- I tested each individual speaker through these settings so I know it's not a problem with connecting the pc to the theatre. I've also checked and the system supports DTS.

But, when I try to play some HD videos with surround sound (like How I met your Mother from iTunes), I only get sound through the front speakers. I use VLC player and I've tried configuring the audio settings in VLC but I can't seem to get any audio from the back speakers.

I'm kind of new to this stuff so any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[technobhatt]

I assume the video content itself doesn't have 5.1/7.1 sound encoded into it.
Try to check the Audio Codec of the video source using VLC player.
Tools--> Codec Information

Also, check if the your laptop has HDMI output set as default.
If it's not helpful, you can also try to install XBMC player and choose HDMI option under the audio settings of XBMC.

 

[skiier]

Thanks for the reply. Here's the screenshot of my videos's media information and it seems that it does have the 5.1 surround sound. Perhaps I should switch to XBMC then?

 

[technobhatt]

As I could see, VLC doesn't have HDMI output in its Audio settings; however your laptop's audio settings would allow you to select HDMI audio settings as soon as you connect the HDMI to your TV/Home Theatre. I wonder what could be the problem, but you can try to use any other player which has HDMI option in its Audio settings.
Also check what icon of Audio Codec you see in your Home Theater (DD/DTS etc.).
Please mention which AVR or Home Theater you are using.

HTH.

 

[aakashr]

you should get 5.1 audio irrespective of VLC or XBMC. Try to play some more movies and see. HDMI audio should be set to default which you have already done. Which AVR and speakers do you have?

 

[spirovious]

HDMI out can be default or set Direct sound to HDMI. Also in vcl-Audio setting you have to select 5.1 option(not windows default).Configure Playback device to & set as 7.1.

 

[baijuxavior]

Setting bitstream is very easy in xbmc. No other media player is so much easy to set audio settings. Settings>System>Audio Output.

Another player is Daum PotPlayer. In it you can enable bitstreaming under Preferences>Filter Control> Audio Decoder > Built in codec settings. Tick mark AC3 and DTS.