No 5.1 Surround from HDMI

[Random_Bit]

Problem - I only get "stereo" two channel sound when playing a DVD (with Dolby) on my computer.  The computer is connected to a audio receiver that's set up for surround sound.  Video and audio signals are transmitted from the PC via the HDMI connetor on the video/tuner card.

Computer - Compaq SR7510F

Video/Tuner - ATI All in Wonder HD

Connected to Onkyo TX-SR604 via HDMI cable from Video/Tuner card.  The Onkyo receiver has speakers connected for 5.1 surround.  Video signals are passed through the receiver to a flat panel monitor

Sound - onboard Realtek

According to the specifications for the SR5710F it is supposed to support 6-speaker sound.  However the HDMI sound driver only allows me to select 'stereo'.  The is a box the select "surround" but the box is 'grayed' out.

When I play the same DVD using a stand-alone Phillips DVD player, connected to the Onkyo receiver with the same HDMI cable, I get Dolby on the receiver.  That means its not a problem with the receiver, so it must have something to do either with 1) the onboard Realtek sound 2) the HDMI driver, or 3) the HDMI connection on the video/tuner card.

I've checked at the Realtek website and they list a newer driver for Vista (32 bit), but when I use Device Manager to update the driver, it says that its the most current.  I don't know that the driver is the problem, so I'm reluctant to trying it for the heck of it.

I've tried the latest Catalyst 9.1 drivers for the ATI All in Wonder card, but that didn't help either.

Any idea?

[Telefunken]

Problem - I have the same problem as the original poster but have slightly different hardware. I only get "stereo" two channel sound when playing a DVD (with Dolby) on my computer.  The computer is connected to an audio receiver that is set up for surround sound.  Video and audio signals are transmitted from the PC via the HDMI connector on the video card. The receiver shows that it is only getting a Dolby 2.0 signal from the PC.

Computer - HP Pavilion m9400t

OS - Vista 64

Sound - Onboard Realtek 7.1 High Definition Audio (ALC 888S)

Video - Nvidia GeForce 9500GS with HDMI output

Connected to Onkyo TX-SR706 Receiver via HDMI cable from video card.  The Onkyo receiver has speakers connected for 5.1 surround.  Video signals are passed through the receiver via HDMI to a LCD TV.

On the PC I have the sound playback device set to "Realtek HDMI Output". When I click on "Configure" I only see a choice for "Stereo" in the speaker setup window. There is no choice to select "5.1 Surround".

I've done an extensive Google search and found this is a widespread problem, but I haven't found a solution yet.

It seems that problem is with 1) the onboard Realtek sound driver or 2) the Nvidia Video driver not handling the HDMI correctly.

I've downloaded the latest audio and video card drivers, and the newest Realtek High Definition Audio Codecs from the Realtek site, but still the only HMDI audio output choice on the PC is "stereo".

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Telefunken]

I found a solution that works for me, perhaps it will solve your problem too. 

 I'm playing DVD's through ArcSoft's "Total Media Theater". In that program I changed the audio output mode to "S/PDIF" (it was previously set to 5.1 surround). 

Also, in the Vista sound settings, I selected the "Realtek HDMI Output" -> "Properties" -> "Supported Formats" then placed check marks next to "DTS Audio" and "Dolby Digital".  I also placed check marks next to all of the Sample Rates, though I'm not sure if that's necessary, I'm just telling your what I did.

The Realtek sound driver still shows "Stereo" as my only HDMI choice, but now when I play DVD's in Total Media Theater, I get full 5.1 Dolby Digital sound out through HDMI to my Onkyo Receiver. 

[Random_Bit · Accepted solution]

Telefunken,

Thanks for the suggestion.  It worked!  It makes absolutely no sense to me, nor does it seem logical to select SPDIF, but I can't argue with success.

I didn't need to purchase Arcsoft Media Theater.  I was able to select SPDIF with either ATI Catalyst and Microsofts Media Center.  I was able to get Dolby

In my current configuration I updated ATI Catalyst to version 9.3 and loaded the Realtek ATI HDMI sound driver R2.18.  Also in the BIOS, I set the Audio to "Auto".  I selected the HDMI driver, not the Realtek driver in Control Panel.  I selected bothy Dolby and DTS under the driver settings. 

Now I think I'll enjoy a Quantum of Solace since this nagging problem is solved.

[BlueDareDevil]

Hello. i am just wondering how you changed the output mode to S/PDIF as the output mode using the ATI Catalyst. I have the same issue here, and i bought the Archsoft Total Media Player, but i cant figure out how to get subtitles on to that software. So could you make explain to me in a more detailed way how you changed it? My email is af2815@gmail.com if it isn't there already. Thank you

[Random_Bit]

SPDIF is can be configured in Catalyst under "Settings" and then "Sound".  This is the same area where you configure TV settings and search for channels.

[andrewjohn81]

I'm having the same problem here. The speaker test for DTS or dolby makes all the speakers work, but when I go to configure, the only option is stereo? What's the deal with that?

I'm just using hdmi, I've chosen to disable digital output, which uses the spdif. In order to use that you have to disable "exclusive mode" under properties > advanced tab > exclusive mode. If you don't disable it, itunes, among possibly other applications will still try and use spdif even if you disable it. So dumb.

I really want to change the default format to something in surround, but there are no options.

Just a warning also....if your ipod is plugged in and you change the default audio format? You may corrupt your ipod. oops! Also sound stops working in itunes until you open it again. I did it twice to confirm.

[rob36_86]

Hi all,

I am also having similar issues.

I have a HP pavillion m9385a desktop computer. I have:

- an HDMI cable from the computer directly into the back of the HDMI connection in the tv

- a separate HDMI cabel from the tv to the surround sound.

I have video, but the sound does not work. Even if i plug one of the above cables into just one of the tv or surround speakers it does not work. I have HDMI sound on as default, and when i play music the little green bars move as if their should be sound working?

Any tips please would be greatly appreciated??

Cheers

[CaptCrunch]

I have a 470f which has onboard SPDIF and an ATI card with HDMI that also has its own sound and a receiver with a TOSC input*.  To the extent this is your config:

From ATI/AMD Tech support: 

"The video card gets its supported options for sound and video from the EDID chip on the HDTV or receiver. When the receiver is connected after the HDTV it will only process stereo output because this is the information it is getting from the HDTV's EDID. 

Using a receiver that connects before the HDTV should allow you to set surround sound options as long as the receivers EDID reports the options correctly to the video card." 

From what I see there's two workarounds.

1) From a previous post: ArcSoft Total Media Theater 5 (TMT5 $99).  Good for DVDs only (or DVD ISO files given you download a virtual DVD ISO mounter - there's a free one from slysoft.com).

2) Connect your computers SPDIF (TOSC) output  (that's part of the motherboard not from the ATI card) to your receiver TOSC input and setting the sound source, from the control panel, to that rather than the ATI HDMI. The HDMI will then only output the video and the sound will go directly to the receiver as 5.1.  The output will be surround.
Of course, this means to play sound from your computer vs the TV you will have to switch audio sources on the receiver. 

* If you only have a digital coax input on your receiver you can by an adapter for about $10 from Amazon.