Hey, I just recently re-did my home theater with new speakers / receiver. I've got an optical toslink connection to the receiver via creative x-fi soundcard. My question: Will purchasing an internal blu-ray drive for the PC output dts-hd and TrueHD audio to the receiver? Will the soundcard not support it or will the drive just not support have the ability to do it like a standalone will? Thanks in advance.
Toslink/optical does not support DTS HD-MA or TrueHD, you will only get the core audio. You either need a sound/video card that can transmit audio via HDMI. Or, you need a sound card with multi channel outs (outputs for each speaker, 5.1 or 7.1)and a compatible audio receiver (multi channel ins). The second option requires your PC/software to decode the HD audio, which most do. And of course a HD audio receiver that can decode TrueHD, DTS HD-MA, and at least LPCM.
Hey thanks a lot for the info. So theoretically, if I use the audio on my ATI card's HDMI output, that will function properly for the HD audio formats? My soundcard also has the multiple outputs for each speaker for 7.1 but I have no clue as to how I'd go about setting that up. I'm connecting it to an Onkyo SR806 receiver, not sure if it supports that or not? Sorry for all the questions, I'm pretty new with this audio stuff as it's my first real audio setup. Hope you don't mind me picking your brain. I really appreicate the response!
The Onkyo 806 decodes all of the current HD audio codecs; DTS HD-MA, TrueHD, and LPCM. As for the HDMI out on your PC, I don't know if it supports HD audio, it might not. You should check online or your PC manual. As for the multi channel out on my PC, I can see which jack is assigned to which speaker by right clicking on the Speaker icon in the system tray (by the clock), double clicking on the playback device under the playback tab ("Speakers"), and there is shows the jack information. On my PC there are four 3.5mm jacks (headphone size) that each have two speackers assigned to them. So theoretically I can have 7.1 from my PC... but I have a PS3. Or go to Control Panel, Hardware and Sound, Sound, Manage audio devices, and that will take you to the same place as I described above. BTW, what is the model # of your ATI card, is it a dual video/audio card?
It's a radeon HD 4870, I think it should work. I have the native azalia run Realtek HD Audio I believe you're describing integrated with my motherboard that you can see what audio ports do what, and even re-assign. I'm just not sure how I'd go about putting the 2.5mm jacks from the PC card into the receiver.
http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...d=10218&cs_id=1021804&p_id=665&seq=1&format=2 Three for 5.1, four for 7.1.
