Coaxial Solution

[newaudiofile]

Hei guys.
I have connected my computer to my home theater because I dont want to dedicate money to a dvd player . Also the fact that I'm watching DVDRip movies and use subtiles most of the time cause of my wife.

Everything works fine except that I'm getting only a PCM signal to the AMP.
I'm using this Zalman external soundcard that has coaxial and optical outputs. I'm using the coax with a 3.5mm jack plug. I was told it will give a digital output. But I get only front L & R speakers and signal say PCM.

Note: When I use the multi-channel output on the card I card hear sounds coming for all 5.1 output.

My question then is,
Is the 3.5mm plug coaxial digital capable?
Is PCM only two channels?
Could it be the sound card itself? Even though I dont think so.
Or what could be wrong?

Help thanks.

 

[bandphan]

Did you tell the card what to output?

 

[newaudiofile]

Did you tell the card what to output?

Yeah I have all the settings.

 

[treejohnny]

The next thing I would try is to go to receiver and tell it what you want done with the signal. What brand is your receiver ?

I can pick if I want to listen to 2 channel or 7 channel stereo or 5.1 or 7.1, I think the best setting is PXII ( Not sure on the code but it sends signals to all speakers even when only getting 2 channel audio)

 

[Highbar]

Since you said you are watching DVDRip movies, what do you get when you have an actual disc in the drive? Most Ripped movies are only in stereo so you would only have L&R. If you use PXII it will give you surround sound from that.

 

[newaudiofile]

Since you said you are watching DVDRip movies, what do you get when you have an actual disc in the drive? Most Ripped movies are only in stereo so you would only have L&R. If you use PXII it will give you surround sound from that.

What is PXII i have tried to search for it but cant get any good return. My receiver is a Yamaha RX-V461.

Last night Installed ffdshow and made some setting changes. I'm getting a good surround sound. But still have PCM being displayed on the receiver. I guess the signal is being decoded before it sent to the receiver. Anyway I'm not sure.

And somehow I'm wondering if I'm still missing something. That is if the receiver was to be doing the decoding will it sound even much better.

You know the saying :- If you want something done better do it yourself.
What do you things of my hypothesis?

Anyway I still will like to try the PXII let me know what I can do.

Thanks already guys.

 

[MDS]

ProLogic IIx (PLIIx) is a matrix decoder from Dolby Labs that can take any 2 channel analog or digital signal or DD 5.1 and convert it to either 6.1 or 7.1 (it depends on how many speakers you told the receiver you have). If you only have 5.1 speakers, PLIIx wouldn't be available but PLII would. PLII can take any 2 channel analog or digital source and convert it to 5.1.

If you are only getting 2 channel PCM the problem lies with the soundcard or its settings. Now if you were using DVDRip (I'm not familiar with it) are you sure when you ripped it preserved the original DD 5.1 soundtrack and didn't convert it to 2 channel PCM?

The only way a sound card or any processor for that matter can decode and downmix DD 5.1 to 2 channel PCM is if it has an on-board DD decoder. All DVD players can do it of course but most sound cards do not. The sound card must have the ability to be configured for DD pass-thru (which would be the equivalent of 'bitstream' on a DVD player) so that it does nothing but pass the bits untouched to its digital output which is connected to the receiver that will do the decoding.

 

[Highbar]

MDS beat me to it. I meant PLIIx. ProLogicII basically but able to use digital also. When it comes to ripping DVD's very few programs, I can't think of any of the top of my head, preserve the true 5.1digital sound tracks, most convert to 2channel audio. Most DVD 'copy' movies that people I know have are only Prologic, 2 channel audio, mixed into surround sound, this is why I buy my movies, I LOVE the sound of a movie. ( One of the many reason I can't wait to have a new movie setup). 90% of computer audio is software processing so if there are drivers for your soundcard that will pass the digital signal then use that, if not your soundcard is going to do the converting and the receiver will pretty much just be used as an amp for digital. If you only have a 2 channel copy then then the soundcard will pass that and the receiver willl convert it to surround if you use PLIIx.
I hope that makes sense it's been a long night out at a concert then an after party. I'll be back tomorrow to make sure.

T