Decoding SPDIF signal into surround?

[smlee5]

Hey guys,
I was hoping I could get some advice. My budget system currently consists of a Marantz SR5001 hooked up to 4 Polk R150's. My input source is my laptop which is transmitting through the optical out on my Audigy 2 nx soundcard. I JUST found out that the Audigy 2 nx does NOT support surround sound modes through its optical out. I was wondering if I enable SPDIF passthrough on my card, was there some way I could split the digital signal into "surround" on my receiver? I've enabled passthrough but I can't seem to enable any surround sound modes on the receiver; instead I only get stereo. I really would really like use SPDIF instead of 2 separate analog connections to utilize all four speakers but the sound card and receiver are making it difficult. Any suggestions?

 

[MDS]

If the receiver is getting a 2 channel stereo signal you should be able to use any number of different surround modes like PLII, DTS:Neo6, any of the receiver's DSP modes, etc.

How are the 4 Polk speakers connected to the receiver? If they are connected to the front A and B speaker terminals then you only get stereo because there are only two speakers.

 

[smlee5]

I have two connected to the front left and right. The other two are connected to the left and right surround. I am outputting at a sample rate of 96 kHz from the SPDIF output on the soundcard and the only mode that seems to now be available on my receiver is "stereo 96k". It clearly recognizes the digital connection, but can't enable any additional speakers. I'm pressing the "surround mode" button on my receiver but I can't set any of the different surround modes as I was able to when I had an analog connection.

 

[MDS]

Try changing the output of the sound card to 48 kHz or 44.1 kHz.

 

[smlee5]

Thanks, that seemed to do the trick!