I set kodi to pass the audio signal through digitally via hdmi and let the AVR's DAC convert it. (its lossless) When I send the same signal to my TV I hear nothing. The hdmi is hooked up via Intel audio/marantz AVR and it sounds amazing. Better then my PS4 blue ray player. I don't let Kodi use its own software dac or windows drivers. "If you want kodi/Windows to convert the audio then you want passthrough off. You want kodi sound on default direct sound. Direct sound uses Windows audio drivers, wasapi is used for pass through". I use wasapi/MarantzAVR.
DTS-HD Master Audio is classified as a lossless audio format and I make sure I get that as much as possible. I have a much better understanding of my systems weaknesses now and I'm happy with the results that I came to. Thanks for the help
Curious, what is the TV in use here? If it does not support eARC, any lossless multichannel signal being sent to it from a directly connected device will not be sent over ARC to the receiver as a result of the ARC bandwidth limitation.
Depending on the source device capabilities concerning decoding and the speaker configuration, it can be advantageous to decode multichannel signals at the source. This is especially true concerning Dolby signals as the Dolby offset means PCM and DTS will seem to come in hot in comparison to it.
The Marantz SR7013, like some other Denon/Marantz models, in special in that it has the 2ch Playback and A/B speaker features. This works well for those that want different settings for different signals and for those that added smaller speakers all around with a sub for a surround experience after running their favorite tower speakers in a 2.0 setup for a long time and still wanting to use them.
So, when playing two channel signals, one can decide how they are played through the Marantz SR7013 using the same or different Front speakers. So, let's say one has their dream Full Band speakers for two channel music and don't really want to mix them in with a new 5.1, 7.1 or more speaker combo. They can set the Marantz to playback two channel signals to the B speakers in Direct or Stereo mode with settings separate from those playing two channel signals to the A speakers using an up mixer such as Dolby Surround or DTS Neural:X.
Adding old and new media, audio and video devices and speakers with a newer AVP/AVR is no easy task. There are so many variables. Best to start off with a pair of speakers you already like and then deal with the rest of it accordingly.
In this use case, I do not believe an external amp will improve anything. I'd experiment with other adjustments. You will never be disappointed in DTS HD MA loudness, just don't play "Tenet" too loudly or you will be shopping for ALL new speakers.
I would expermiment with it. The SR7013 supports DTS Virtual:X so that the existing speakers are used to simulate height effects without height speakers. DTS Neural:X expands signals into height speakers when they are in use. The SR7013 does not support Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization. So, without a 5.1.2 or more speaker configuration, Atmos metadata from bitstreams is lost and only the core channels are decoded and then processed into the 5.1 speakers of this particular setup. Use a device that supports Dolby MAT 2.0, and the Dolby Atmos track is converted to a multichannel PCM signal BUT retains Atmos metadata and it will still be displayed as the incoming signal on the receiving end. The SR7013 just won't be able to simulate height speakers with Dolby Atmos metadata or the Dolby Surround up mixer.
With Dolby Atmos metadata off the table here, I would decode Dolby signals into multichannel PCM at the source when possible to avoid Dolby offset. The Marantz will use your chosen up mixer to process what it will see as simply another multichannel PCM signal. You might prefer it to decoding a Dolby signal and everything that comes with it.
Unfortunately, when playing a DTS:X track, there is no way to output it as multichannel PCM from the source and keep the object based metadata and it will be lost. So, those are best left as bitstream and DTS Virtual:X can work some magic on them.
That is a nice setup. Have fun tweaking it. Do not expect room correction of any kind to work miracles on a difficult room layout and don't feel locked into crossovers and levels set by them. You will not be listening to signals using a mic like AVR/AVPs do when setting levels. You will be using your own ears. Tweak it manually until you achieve the desired sound in your own ears from your main listening position and enjoy.
Oh, and as far as tweaking something until it looks and sounds they way you like it, I can't think of a movie with which I have experimented more than "The Greatest Showman." It comes with a DTS HD MA 7.1 track on blu-ray(1080p @24Hz SDR) and a Dolby Atmos track on the 4K/UHD blu-ray(4K @24Hz HDR10). After watching and listening to it in different ways, my preferred experience on my setup is to watch the 4K disc, not with its Dolby Atmos track, but with its DTS HD MA 2.0 track. The Atmos track on the 4K disc is meh. The picture on the Blu-ray disc is meh. I have the Sony UBP-X800M2 player output the $K disc in Dolby Vision instead of HDR10, color looks a bit better this way, and play the DTS HD MA 2.0 track using the DTS Virtual:X up mixer in my receiver. The DTS up mixer is great with DTS signals. You'd never know it wasn't a multichannel track. I prefer it to the 7.1 track as dialogue isn't quite as isolated and in your face. The DTS up mixer gets everything out to all of the channels nicely. Results will vary of course.
