Audio formats for 5.1 surround listening

[Hi-Fi-Guy]

Hi all,

I recently downloaded some DVDs which are 5.1 channel music. I do not have a player, so I wanted to convert that DVD and play it on AVR via usb flash drive.
I ripped it as MKV HD file, audio encoder is EAC3 to 6 channels, smaple rate 48000khz and bitrate 640kbps.
My 1st question is will any AVR play this video with 5.1 audio?

Also, I downloaded a .wav audio file which is 5.1 surround (I can't check anywhere) and is 450mb.
Will any AVR play it as is, a 5.1 audio file?
I played a little and converted it to a DTS surround audio file, but that shrinked it to a 56mb and I went mad! It probably downgraded the quality.

I don't have an AVR yet but plan to buy one this year. I don't plan to buy any separate player though.
I have a large collection of high-res music on my HDD and now I'm preparing these video files too.
I don't want to get into situation where my new AVR can't play some audio/video files with surround sound.

Any suggestions on how to convert, to which format, and if conversion is necessary at all?

Tnx

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

Not sure about your long term goals. I’ve not had any luck with AVR’s and Zip drives, but my Sony x700 and ps3 both do thumb drives.

 

[lovinthehd]

I've used a dvd ripper for audio (free version) called DVD Audio Extractor with mixed results (and never got it to work on a bluray) using flac format. I can stream the multich thru my Oppo 203 but not to the avr and if I play a thumb drive on the avr it extracts just the L/R channel (it seems) but plays 5.1 fine on the Oppo. My Sony bluray players also play the thumb drives fine and can stream to them too.

I've recorded a DTS disc to flac and it plays multich fine on the avr via thumb drive and I think I could also stream that one (wifi/dlna) but don't have internet hooked up to that avr at this time (needs hard wiring on that avr, and the access point I used with DirecTV no longer works since I cut the cord).

I don't have any particular multich wav files to experiment with....got a link to download the one you have?

 

[Hi-Fi-Guy]

Im using wonder fox dvd ripper pro.

And the DVDs are Mike Oldfield's Ommadawn and Return to Ommadawn.

I'm exploring the options to rip only 5.1 audio from them, and the video+multichannel audio which I want to play as one file on an AVR.

 

[Hi-Fi-Guy]

Im using wonder fox dvd ripper pro.

And the DVDs are Mike Oldfield's Ommadawn and Return to Ommadawn.

I'm exploring the options to rip only 5.1 audio from them, and the video+multichannel audio which I want to play as one file on an AVR.

But what is important is that D or M AVR can play those files properly.
Maybe the TV can read it and via eARC send surround audio to the AVR?

 

[sterling shoote]

OP, you can download the DVD to a folder and just send it to thumb drive without need for a player to get tunes onto the drive. To play a tune you will click and scroll from monitor connected to AVR via HDMI. If you want to play the file from PC to an AVR via HDMI just install Foobar 2000. It plays 5.1 FLAC downloads. FLAC files allow for multi-channel bass management, DSD does not. FLAC will play your playlist to virtually any modern AVR or Pre-Pro. Also, you can play from Foobar to your AVR via usb hard drive or HDMI connection if you want to control the music playlist from your PC. At any rate, whether using thumb drive, HDMI, or usb hard drive connection from music storage device to amplification it will all be gapless. One more thing. The BEST way to enjoy/control multi-channel music will be via a Universal Player, like the inexpensive Sony UBP-X800 II. From its HDMI output you can enjoy multi-channel SACDs, BDs, and UBDs without the sort of click and scrolling struggle which is the case for multi-channel pleasure from a computer to AVR. Overall, multi-channel SACDs are still state of the art for multi-channel pleasure, convenience, and resell value. The only reason I download any multi-channel music is when I cannot get it on an SACD, just too much scrolling and clicking, too often. It sort of changes the mood for music.

 

[Hi-Fi-Guy]

OP, you can download the DVD to a folder and just send it to thumb drive without need for a player to get tunes onto the drive. To play a tune you will click and scroll from monitor connected to AVR via HDMI. If you want to play the file from PC to an AVR via HDMI just install Foobar 2000. It plays 5.1 FLAC downloads. FLAC files allow for multi-channel bass management, DSD does not. FLAC will play your playlist to virtually any modern AVR or Pre-Pro. Also, you can play from Foobar to your AVR via usb hard drive or HDMI connection if you want to control the music playlist from your PC. At any rate, whether using thumb drive, HDMI, or usb hard drive connection from music storage device to amplification it will all be gapless. One more thing. The BEST way to enjoy/control multi-channel music will be via a Universal Player, like the inexpensive Sony UBP-X800 II. From its HDMI output you can enjoy multi-channel SACDs, BDs, and UBDs without the sort of click and scrolling struggle which is the case for multi-channel pleasure from a computer to AVR. Overall, multi-channel SACDs are still state of the art for multi-channel pleasure, convenience, and resell value. The only reason I download any multi-channel music is when I cannot get it on an SACD, just too much scrolling and clicking, too often. It sort of changes the mood for music.

All right then, I'll keep that in mind. I shouldn't be concerned then.

As I wrote i downloaded the multichannel WAV but my computer just makes noise when i play. Same with the file converted to dts surround.
Now I don't have surrounds yet but I expected PC to play the damn file however.

 

[sterling shoote]

All right then, I'll keep that in mind. I shouldn't be concerned then.

As I wrote i downloaded the multichannel WAV but my computer just makes noise when i play. Same with the file converted to dts surround.
Now I don't have surrounds yet but I expected PC to play the damn file however.

OK, if you want to play now from PC, just download Foobar 2000 and you can listen in stereo from Foobar Player; but, to hear 5.1 you need an AVR or Pre-Pro to reciever HDMI output from your PC. Now, I have a DVD burner connected to my PC which allows me to burn 5.1 onto a disc, which I can insert in my Universal Player to output 5.1. So, your best bet will be just to get a Universal Player, which by one means or two others you can enjoy anything recorded in the history of recorded music.

 

[lovinthehd]

Curious, in your other thread you mentioned that the file you downloaded as multich wav was a .cue file/extension (which I looked up was the text file info for the content). Are you sure you're extracting the .wav files properly? I don't know if my avr can use a multi-ch .wav file, and the manual doesn't say but suspect it would since it can handle multich flac.

 

[2channel lover]

Hi all,

I recently downloaded some DVDs which are 5.1 channel music. I do not have a player, so I wanted to convert that DVD and play it on AVR via usb flash drive.
I ripped it as MKV HD file, audio encoder is EAC3 to 6 channels, smaple rate 48000khz and bitrate 640kbps.
My 1st question is will any AVR play this video with 5.1 audio?

Also, I downloaded a .wav audio file which is 5.1 surround (I can't check anywhere) and is 450mb.
Will any AVR play it as is, a 5.1 audio file?
I played a little and converted it to a DTS surround audio file, but that shrinked it to a 56mb and I went mad! It probably downgraded the quality.

I don't have an AVR yet but plan to buy one this year. I don't plan to buy any separate player though.
I have a large collection of high-res music on my HDD and now I'm preparing these video files too.
I don't want to get into situation where my new AVR can't play some audio/video files with surround sound.

Any suggestions on how to convert, to which format, and if conversion is necessary at all?

Tnx

At some point...invest in player if you want to do multi-ch music and enjoy it to it's fullest potential.

 

[Hi-Fi-Guy]

Curious, in your other thread you mentioned that the file you downloaded as multich wav was a .cue file/extension (which I looked up was the text file info for the content). Are you sure you're extracting the .wav files properly? I don't know if my avr can use a multi-ch .wav file, and the manual doesn't say but suspect it would since it can handle multich flac.

I made a mistake, there were .wav and .cue in the folder. That .wav supposed to be a multichannel.
I thought that single file would be playable, that I don't need to convert it.

 

[Hi-Fi-Guy]

At some point...invest in player if you want to do multi-ch music and enjoy it to it's fullest potential.

The thing is that I'm a man on the move, can't stack too much gear because it's a huge problem when I move.
When this covid thing is done I'm moving to another country nad I'm not sure how long will I stay.
This audiophilia is a disease which makes my life complicated.

 

[sterling shoote]

The thing is that I'm a man on the move, can't stack too much gear because it's a huge problem when I move.
When this covid thing is done I'm moving to another country nad I'm not sure how long will I stay.
This audiophilia is a disease which makes my life complicated.

The Universal Player (Sony UBD-X800II) is not too much gear, it's singular component solution for multi-cannel, as well as stereo pleasure. It's ubiquitous, for sure; and, in your case, it's essential to enjoy 5.1 with the least hassle either via 5.1 SACD, BD, UBD, or Data Disc to which you burned your 5.1 downloads. At any rate, the Sony Universal Player uncomplicates things and precludes any need for you to extract 5.1 from your computer's music library, which can be complicated.

 

[2channel lover]

The thing is that I'm a man on the move, can't stack too much gear because it's a huge problem when I move.
When this covid thing is done I'm moving to another country nad I'm not sure how long will I stay.
This audiophilia is a disease which makes my life complicated.

I understand...just pointing out those other options are more or less bandaids.

For 10+ yrs, I had a mixed matched LCR, just never cared enough about 5.1...when I built my most recent system I said I was going to do 5.1 right this time...very much glad I did.

So...when time and life style permit..get a source player if you want to do multi-ch music right. Until then, you do what makes sense with your travels.

 

[Hi-Fi-Guy]

I'll have to make some compromises, it's inevitable.
It is a tricky business preparing a highres library without a gear to hear it.
First I have to move after this crisis and settle in. Then we'll see about the pleasures

 

[2channel lover]

I'll have to make some compromises, it's inevitable.
It is a tricky business preparing a highres library without a gear to hear it.
First I have to move after this crisis and settle in. Then we'll see about the pleasures

Hi res library...w/o the proper gear is tricky...very much so.

I couldn't imagine moving my system around a lot now, the system itself is one thing...all the music is another...I would consider a set up with Tidal or Qobuz with the best speakers I feel okay moving around and call it a day until I was ready to settle down.