DTS-HD from my HTPC?

[Tumatawhero]

I have a blu-ray drive in my HTPC, I am currently using SPDIF for audio and DVI-HDMI Video. Now my question is, how would I get true DTS-HD from my HTPC? Would I need a new motherboard that is capable of this?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I have a blu-ray drive in my HTPC, I am currently using SPDIF for audio and DVI-HDMI Video. Now my question is, how would I get true DTS-HD from my HTPC? Would I need a new motherboard that is capable of this?

Your motherboard needs to have a PCI-E slot for the $200 Asus Xonar HDAV1.3 sound card. Then you "should" be able to bitstream both Dolby TrueHD & DTS-HD MA to your receiver from your HTPC.

The Xonar DELUXE version also has the 7.1 Analog output ($220, intead of $200). It occupies another PCI-E slot. But you don't need this if you are bitstreaming via HDMI.

 

[biffbyun]

Your motherboard needs to have a PCI-E slot for the $200 Asus Xonar HDAV1.3 sound card. Then you "should" be able to bitstream both Dolby TrueHD & DTS-HD MA to your receiver from your HTPC.

The Xonar DELUXE version also has the 7.1 Analog output ($220, intead of $200). It occupies another PCI-E slot. But you don't need this if you are bitstreaming via HDMI.

So if the xonar only does sound, and I have an hdmi video card as well, which one do I connect to the receiver?

 

[biffbyun]

nevermind, I found it. the xonar comes with 2 hdmi ports. one connects to your video card it looks like (input) and the other connects to the receiver or tv (output) for both video and audio.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

nevermind, I found it. the xonar comes with 2 hdmi ports. one connects to your video card it looks like (input) and the other connects to the receiver or tv (output) for both video and audio.

That's right. Your Video (Graphics) card's HDMI Output Connects to the Asus Xonar's HDMI Input. Then the Asus Xonar's HDMI Output connects to your receiver.

 

[strube]

Additionally, Auzentech just opened up their HT card for pre-orders. It was supposed to come out a year ago around the time of the ASUS but they have been having all sorts of problems with getting HD audio working, and they just didn't release the card until it was working, whereas ASUS released the card and then worked out the problems.

The Auzentech will be better if you like gaming because of the Creative EAX 5 capabilities, as it is based on the Creative X-Fi chip.

OTOH, since the ASUS has been out for a while, it is probably less buggy even though Auzentech has been testing theirs very extensively.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

My understanding is that the Azuntech HD soundcard works only with PowerDVD, whereas Asus HDAV1.3 only works with TMT.

I have not tried the Azuntech, but after trying the Asus and knowing that it is probably rather picky with certain motherboards/CPU (works with my Asus/Intel MB/CPU, but does not work with my Gigabyte/AMD), I would probably choose Azuntech over Asus.

 

[GlocksRock]

I would chose it just because I prefer powerdvd over TMT 3. But I'm still too cheap to spend that much on a card just to get lossless audio.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I would chose it just because I prefer powerdvd over TMT 3. But I'm still too cheap to spend that much on a card just to get lossless audio.

I don't know if it's just me, but Windows 7 is giving me some trouble with PowerDVD.

Like some movies won't load. But when I use TMT on the same movie, it plays just fine.

I hate that you have to choose one or the other. That sucks.

 

[GlocksRock]

get both cards so no matter what player you use, you will have lossless audio.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

get both cards so no matter what player you use, you will have lossless audio.

You are crazy.

No, actually, it's not worth the money.

1st, the extra card will increase HEAT. Yes, indeed.

2nd, I've tried this card on 3 different MBs/CPUs, and even with the latest firmware, I think there are still issues. I noticed that TMT3 locks up more frequently with this ASUS Xonar card.

Oh, and by the way, I went back to Vista-64 because I think Windows-7 SUCKS.

I tried both Windows 7 32-bit & 64-bit, and the movies kept on freezing up. Then when I switched back to Vista-64 (& 32-bit on different PCs), the same movies played perfectly.

I'm sticking to Vista-64 for now.

 

[GlocksRock]

I'm sure the retail version of Windows 7 will be much better than the current RC version. Even when Windows 7 comes out, I'll wait a little while before I make the jump, just to see how well it plays with everyone else's hardware, and what kind of patches they release for it.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I'm sure the retail version of Windows 7 will be much better than the current RC version. Even when Windows 7 comes out, I'll wait a little while before I make the jump, just to see how well it plays with everyone else's hardware, and what kind of patches they release for it.

Did you make the switch from Vista-32 to Vista-64 ?

 

[GlocksRock]

I did put 64 bit ultimate back on my media pc now that I don't use my old soundcard since my new video card has HDMI. The only reason I went with 32 bit before is that the soundcard drivers I was using weren't digitally signed. But so far since the re-install of the new OS, everything runs much better, and I added another gig of ram as well. I would still like to have a faster processor in that PC, but I'm not going to bother trying to upgrade it, as it's not going to be worth it at this point.

 

[krzywica]

I don't know if it's just me, but Windows 7 is giving me some trouble with PowerDVD.

Like some movies won't load. But when I use TMT on the same movie, it plays just fine.

I hate that you have to choose one or the other. That sucks.

Hey man you might want to check and see if the movies you are having issues with are H264. 7 has native H264 decoding support (which is terrible) and seems to want to decode everything if you use certain players even if you try to force it off....

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Hey man you might want to check and see if the movies you are having issues with are H264. 7 has native H264 decoding support (which is terrible) and seems to want to decode everything if you use certain players even of you try to force it off....

Yeah, I think you are right.

Seems like 50% of my movies are H264.

Damn Windows7!

I thought they were supposed to "IMPROVE" everything?

Yeah, everything except for the MOST IMPORTANT thing to my HTPC!

So, I'm with Vista64 now.

 

[krzywica]

Yeah, I think you are right.

Seems like 50% of my movies are H264.

Damn Windows7!

I thought they were supposed to "IMPROVE" everything?

Yeah, everything except for the MOST IMPORTANT thing to my HTPC!

So, I'm with Vista64 now.

Yeah there is a way to fix it but I can't remember how.....several reg edits that you would have to do.

I recently scrapped my HTPC and just went for a Networked Media Tank......much, much easier to use not to mention I get DTS-HD and DD-TrueHD right out of the box with no fiddling....streams everything right from my server/workstation/gaming rig.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Yeah there is a way to fix it but I can't remember how.....several reg edits that you would have to do.

I recently scrapped my HTPC and just went for a Networked Media Tank......much, much easier to use not to mention I get DTS-HD and DD-TrueHD right out of the box with no fiddling....streams everything right from my server/workstation/gaming rig.

Which Networked Media Tank?

I went to some Networked Media Tank websites, and the only audio codecs I see them mention include AC-3 & DTS.

 

[davidtwotrees]

Which Networked Media Tank?

Good Lord! You don't have a Media Tank yet, ADTG??!!

 

[krzywica]

I currently have an EGreat EG-M34A which I have had for a few months and it works flawlessly.

http://www.egreathd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=53&Itemid=65

I also have an Mvix Ultio on preorder that should be here next week. This does not run the NMT OS, its another custom Linux OS that is completely open source as well.

http://www.mvixusa.com/ultio/1080p-high-definition-home-theater-pc.html

Some of the NMT's do not have 1.3 HDMI....hence the lack of HD audio output support.