XBMC/Kodi - do you get 7.1 DTS-HD on your systems?

[Adam]

Hi, all. I started using XBMC (now Kodi) a little while ago, and overall I love it. One thing that I can't figure out is how to get 7.1 audio. The tracks that I have that are 7.1 all play as 5.1. At first, I thought maybe I created the MKV files wrong, but I've tried several with 7.1 tracks that all play as 5.1. If you get 7.1 on your systems, was there a trick to getting that to work? I'm running it on Max OS X.

I'm also up for using other software. I just want to play MKV files and get the full audio track.

Thanks!

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Did you configure the XBMC system setup as 7.1, instead of 5.1?

I only have 5.1, but I did have to set it up as 5.1.

 

[Adam]

Thanks. Yes, I set it up at 7.1, and I've enabled pass-through for the audio. If I use PCM, my receiver shows it as being 7.1 audio coming in but it sounds very wrong - like XBMC is sending audio for all seven speakers, but that it's downmixed to stereo.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Did you play around with the XBMC HDMI input/output settings?

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

it's really Easy

0) make sure the skin is default - Confluence - if you don't know what it means - it's probably stock Confluence
a) Settings -> System -> Settings Level - change to expert
b) Audio output -> Number of channels, output config-> best match, Enable pass-thru- Enable.
c) enable codecs your avr supports

 

[Adam]

If only it were that easy.

I appreciate the input. The one thing that I didn't have set like that was the "Best Match" option, but I had that on "Optimized" that I believe does the same thing but that it won't switch after the file starts playing. But, I tried Best Match and still don't get 7.1.

Maybe my files don't have 7.1 even though I choose to extract that track, but the audio track when I pulled it up on XBMC says "7.1" in it...but it also says "5.1" on the same line.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

If only it were that easy.

I appreciate the input. The one thing that I didn't have set like that was the "Best Match" option, but I had that on "Optimized" that I believe does the same thing but that it won't switch after the file starts playing. But, I tried Best Match and still don't get 7.1.

Maybe my files don't have 7.1 even though I choose to extract that track, but the audio track when I pulled it up on XBMC says "7.1" in it...but it also says "5.1" on the same line.

Well, I know I used to use PowerDVD10 Ultra and 7.1 worked playing back my ISO files, but I never used PDVD to playback MKV files.

 

[Lulimet]

I don't think OS X can pass thru the HD audio formats. What is probably happening is that even though KODI does report that the file you are playing is DTS-HD 7.1, it is extracting the core DTS 5.1 track and passing it thru to your receiver. Android has that problem too.
As far as I know, the only way to have Kodi pass thru HD audio is to use a Windows or Linux machine. Openelec (which is Linux) also does HD audio.

BTW, leave the speaker output settings to 2.0 within Kodi. That way your receiver does the decoding.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Lulimet might be right about mac.
My openelec on Nvidia gpu pass through works.
I have yet to check if fire stick does pass-through. Will report soon

 

[Adam]

Thanks for the input, guys. I'll have to try out the 2.0 setting tonight.

I thought that my receiver was showing DTS-HD (I'll have to verify tonight), but it just won't get to 7.1 for some reason. Oddly enough, a 7.1 track today - for the first time - showed up as 6.1. I won't be surprised if it's user error at all, but I thought that I had all of the right settings down and wanted to ask. I knew it was a long shot to get another Mac user. Thanks, again.

 

[Lulimet]

I have yet to check if fire stick does pass-through. Will report soon

It will pass through the legacy DTS and DD but HD audio is no go. It's an Android limitation.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

It will pass through the legacy DTS and DD but HD audio is no go. It's an Android limitation.

Yes it does. Just tested

 

[Grassy]

I get 7.1 dtsma with my auzentech xfi sound card through my pc and i also have power dvd13 ultra. Perfect combination.

 

[moreira85]

How are you liking Kodi? I have started using it in the last few months and I love it.

 

[Adam]

I like it quite a bit. I just wish that it...well, on Macs anyway...could do 7.1 audio. The overall interface works great for me.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I think I'm responsible (at least partially) for spreading xbmc/kodi on these forums and yes - while Plex has some minor convincing points, kodi is still the king

 

[rojo]

Hey Adam, on Windows, Kodi max channels <= Windows' sound card config max channels. Last time I upgraded my Nvidia drivers my sound device config reverted to a default setting of 2.0, and Kodi playback was affected likewise. Have you checked your audio device config in OSX System Preferences to make sure it isn't limited to 5.1 at the OS level?

Sent from my LG-VS980 using Forum Fiend v1.3.1.

 

[Adam]

Thanks, Rojo! I appreciate the advice. That didn't help get 7.1 from Kodi, at least yet, but I did do some research and learned a bit more about the sound settings in OS X.

 

[Faisal]

Excellent advice,worked perfect for my Yamaha 675 home theater system

 

[david rogers]

on passthrough output device set it to wasapi hdmi 1 , and at the top under audio output again set to waspi. that should do it.