Audio Problem - 5.1 & 7.1 channel not working with Realtek HD audio & ATI HD4670

Can someone please help me try and figure out why my audio isnt working the way is should be?

Playing a blu ray disc (Tron Legacy) using PowerDVD 11 and there is no sound from the side speakers.

On the weekend I hooked up my next door nieghbours PS3 and it played all 8 channels perfectly.

I have been trying to figure this out for 6 weeks now and I am not getting anywhere at all.

Does this only Happen in PowerDVD 11? Have you tried Windows Media centre?

Josh

Hi Josh,
Thanks for your reply buddy.

In Windows Media centre the only player that can play an original BD disc is PowerDVD DX, the program that originally came with my computer when I bought it from Dell.
Using PowerDVD DX I only get sound from the front speakers, centre speaker and subs only.

Up until a month ago I used to think everything was working good. The "Blue Light" on my sony receiver was shining bright and I was watching everything using Dolby Pro Logic II.
Well I was wrong ..... Yeh I got sound from all the speakers but thats only because this is what Dolby Pro Logic II does .... gives you that false surround sound.
Now after weeks n weeks of searching I have taken on board a sh.t load of information and what all the different settings do on the computer, my Amp, my TV and basically how different components work with each other. So I have learnt alot.

Joe

Hi,

If I just use the cable that came with the system I do not get full 7.1 sound. I have to use another cable to get full 7.1 sound on the top right (blue/grey) port.

OK?

Have I hooked up the system the wrong way?

I am using a HDMI cable from the Graphics Card (ATI Radeon HD 4670) into the receiver and then another HDMI cable into the LCD.
I'm not using any of the analog RCA type ports on the back of the computer like you are pointing out to me in Realtek HD Audio manager. Should I be using them?
My version of Realtek HD Audio manager is ALC888S
Here are the specs of my graphics card http://www.amd.com/us/products/desk.../Pages/ati-radeon-hd-4600-specifications.aspx

After testing my set up with the PS3 with one thing I do know 100% is that the reciever is working properly, the HDMI cable is working properly (I tested two types) and the ATI Radeon HD 4670 Graphics Card adaptor is working properly (I tested two of these as well).
So thinking logically the problem lies inside the computer somewhere.
I strongly believe it is PowerDVD to be honest because using PowerDVD DX (the program that originally came with my computer) I only get sound from the front speakers, centre speaker and subs only.
Without touching any other settings and both programs using the same audio driver when I play the disc using PowerDVD 11 I only get sound from the front speakers, centre speaker, subs and this time the rear speakers.

No That is the setup of my PS3 System where the HDMI Output goes through the Speaker system then through the TV Meaning I cannot see any Picture if the Surround sound is off

Did the Sound ever work?

Josh

the SP/DIF (the tiny cable connected to your graphics card from the motherboard) rarely supports 7.1, only a few select recievers actually read the 7.1 signal sent via the SP/DIF cable to your graphics card.

You would need to use the onboard audio device to get 7.1, sorry

Like I said above ... I used to think the sound was working properly but stupid me thought wrong.
I was watching everything using Dolby Pro Logic II ... this is only 6 channel (5.1) so really the sound in the back speaker is also reproduced into the side speakers.
So no it has never worked correctly.

The HDMI cable in my case carries both picture and sound.

MrNeeds said:

the SP/DIF (the tiny cable connected to your graphics card from the motherboard) rarely supports 7.1, only a few select recievers actually read the 7.1 signal sent via the SP/DIF cable to your graphics card.

You would need to use the onboard audio device to get 7.1, sorry

Click to expand...

Let me see if I am understanding what you are saying ...
So what you are telling me is leave the graphics card just for the picture
and
To produce the 7.1 sound I should use the onboard audio device (the analog RCA type ports "top right" as seen in the picture above) which are located on the back panel of my computer?

How can I check if (the tiny cable connected to your graphics card from the motherboard rarely supports 7.1) this cable does support 7.1?
Also how can I find out what motherboard I have, so I can look up the specs on it?
I have already taken the side cover off and I couldnt see anything.

correct, that's if your reciever supports multiple connections from 1 audio source, the reason lottiemansion has 4 cables plugged in is because he has a 4 input surround sound kit(designed for PC), i myself have 7.1 but its headset via USB, so you could effectively get a secondary surround decoder to process surround via USB as well if you can't get it working, you have many options available

MrNeeds said:

correct, that's if your reciever supports multiple connections from 1 audio source, the reason lottiemansion has 4 cables plugged in is because he has a 4 input surround sound kit(designed for PC), i myself have 7.1 but its headset via USB, so you could effectively get a secondary surround decoder to process surround via USB as well if you can't get it working, you have many options available

Click to expand...

hmmmm ok, my receiver doesnt suport multiple connections.
I have inserted an attachment on here View attachment 23592 which is my "Home Theater Manual" on page 9 it shows you the rear of my receiver.

What other options do I have

Hi,

I have looked at my HDMI setup on the computer & I have only got "Stereo" as an option. Therefore I would expect you to use the "Surround as you did, simulated 5.1 or 7.1 from the stereo signal.

Digital output is another thing & I cannot look into this option as I do not have any equipment to test the various options.

On saying that I would have thought this was your best option though. 6.1 uplifted to 7.1 sound with the speakers. Pg 44 in the manual.

Right, we may have some success, you have an RCA connection on your back i/o panel of your PC, this will transmit 5.1 true surround, so you might need to use that from now on, you need to get yourself the relevant cable to get this working though, it should look like a normal RCA socket but orange in colour. hope you have it sorted after this mate

EDIT: you also have an optical toslink port on your desktop as well, looks like you might be set with that

Lottiemansion said:

Hi,

I have looked at my HDMI setup on the computer & I have only got "Stereo" as an option. Therefore I would expect you to use the "Surround as you did, simulated 5.1 or 7.1 from the stereo signal.

Digital output is another thing & I cannot look into this option as I do not have any equipment to test the various options.

On saying that I would have thought this was your best option though. 6.1 uplifted to 7.1 sound with the speakers. Pg 44 in the manual.

Click to expand...

This is what Dolby Pro Logic II does it takes the 5.1 true sound and up mixes it into 7.1. What comes out of the rear speaker is also heard from the side speakers, its exactly the same sound!

7.1 is totally different again ... what comes out of the rear speaker is totally different to what comes out of the side speakers. I clearly heard the difference when I hooked up the PS3 using a HDMI cable and setting the output of the PS3 to PCM.
Unlike the computers you cant play around with the settings on the PS3 it only asks you what cable your using (in my case HDMI) and then spits out a list on what it can produce. Then according to what you playback (in my case a true 7.1 blu ray movie) it puts out that sound 7.1.

In saying that ... I now know my receiver can do the job and I also know that the HDMI cable can do the job too, so the problem lies at the computer end.

I can set the output in both versions of PowerDVD to PCM but when I play it back ...
Using PowerDVD DX - I only get sound from the front speakers, centre speaker and subs only.
Using PowerDVD 11 - I only get sound from the front speakers, centre speaker, subs and the rear speakers.
The side speakers dont work in both these cases!
So the BIG question is ....
Is it the player?
The player tells me its playing 7.1 when playing back the disc (with both versions)
Is it the motherboard?
I know the sound travels through the motherboard when the disc is played back.
Is it the graghics card?

I get exactly the same results on three different computers ... my laptop, my wifes laptop and of course the desktop which is the computer I'm trying to get working properly.

Have you set windows volume mixer options to 7.1 then?

MrNeeds said:

Have you set windows volume mixer options to 7.1 then?

Click to expand...

Yeh its something more technical than that i'm afraid

Hi,

If I could I would point you to the exact bit of the "PDF" file for your sound amp. Unfortunately, I am unable to do so but I feel the answer is in the set-up of the amp for the various inputs.

As a start, please check the various setting from Pg's in the following chapters: -

Enjoying Surround sound, pg 50 to 55
Other operations, pg 65

Good luck!