Attempting to achieve 5.1 from PC to Receiver
Attempting to achieve 5.1 from PC to Receiver
Attempting to achieve 5.1 audio from PC to receiver without a new device. PC uses ASRock B650E GPU with PowerColor RX7700XT; it connects directly to TV via HDMI but lacks passthrough support, so surround sound can’t reach the receiver (only ARC). Audio is sent through motherboard ports (SPDIF/TOSLINK) but compressed and downsampled. Need 4K+ with HDMI to receiver and TV pass-through. Active Display Port might be a solution. Looking for the most affordable option.
A basic USB DAC seems like the simplest option for your needs. Use it as the audio source for whatever device you connect. Keep in mind that optical TOSLINK supports 5.1 audio, though with reduced quality due to limited bandwidth. If you're only receiving 2.1 channels, the problem likely lies with your setup.
When I choose that output in sounds, “Configure” disappears and turns gray. I can pick another option like front audio out and set it up, but not this one for some reason. Right now I’m away from the PC, though I remember it was set to Windows 3D sound or similar, with only stereo available. The receiver clearly supports surround sound—by using HDMI ARC to the receiver and streaming YouTube, I can get a 5.1 setup. I’ll check TOSLINK again, but most Steam games don’t handle DTS well, so I need a newer codec. ATMOS, 4K120 passthrough sounds like such a big expense when I’m only 90% done.
Ensure you're using the correct drivers for your sound card. Original OEM versions often include capabilities missing in the installed alternatives.
You're asking about the audio formats being used and the tools involved. It seems you're looking for information on how to send uncompressed TrueHD audio through older systems, possibly using software like PotPlayer or MPC-HC. You mentioned optical connections via motherboard outputs, which can be straightforward with compatible players.
I found listings around $80 CAD for 8K60/4K120 splitters… not great. I was hoping to maintain the HDMI 2.1 connection from the GPU to the TV, but most of these splitters still lack full support.
Steam games mainly. I can connect the Xbox Series X straight to the TV and it will sync to receiver 5.1, but the GPU won’t work. I’ll check later tonight to confirm the GPU connects to the receiver and might find the cable I mentioned. In the meantime, the motherboard HDMI could still output video even if the GPU isn’t active.
You're using tools designed for 5.x or 7.x discrete channels, but it seems you're missing the middleware component. The link points to a Dolby Atmos resource that requires additional software to enable stereo output.
I tried the Bungie Audiotest (“welcome to the DVD surround sound test, doot doot doot doo!”). It only played in stereo despite being a WAV file. The media player detected 5.1 channels but didn’t recognize the surround setup.