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What software do I need to get my PC to play TrueHD or the equivalent DTS?

Tags:
  • ASrock
  • Home Audio
  • Software
  • DTS
  • Audio
  • Dolby Digital
Last response: in Home Theatre
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September 18, 2014 12:39:10 PM

My current set up is:
Audio is being outputted from my PC (Asrock Extreme 4 b3) using the onboard audio chip. I have a S/PDIF connection going from the optical port on the motherboard to the optical on my Pioneer VSX-517 A/V receiver. I'm using Realtek HD Audio Drive version 6.0.1.6699. Here's two pictures of my Realtek UI and Windows Playback Devices UI.
Link: http://imgur.com/a/F3Fvz#3God9TT

One thing that stumps me is that if I go under the 'Supported Formats' tab in properties and test Dolby Digital and DTS they work for the two back channels but when I try and play a 5.1 audio file it does not. My receiver is displaying PCM 96 and says it's decoding Dolby Pro Logic II. Am I missing software on my PC? Do I need Dolby Digitial Atmos or Live or Plus or a similar software for this to work?

More about : software play truehd equivalent dts

September 19, 2014 12:05:40 AM

Using the S/PDIF solution, it is pretty much a pass through of a digital signal. SO the AVR does all of the surround processing. It's a matter of configuring the Windows and realtek options. Also, just so you know, S/pdif isn't the best choice for surround since it can only send 2.1 uncompressed audio so it isn't true/discreet surround. If your just using S/PDIF for music, then it's fine. S/PDIF can't do Dolby True HD or DTS HD. Analog, HDMI and Display Port can do 5.1/7.1 true/discreet surround True HD and DTS HD.

You do have a saving grace, your motherboard(outputs) and AVR(inputs) have 5.1 analog outputs and inputs which can deliver true/discreet 5.1.

For audio 2.0(stereo), you have to use the AVR to fill the speakers to a get a simulated surround.

Your receiver supports regular DTS and Dolby but it doesn't support Dolby True HD or DTS HD so that won't happen.

Here is a link for the manual in case if you haven't read it. http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pio/pe/images/portal/cit_11221/468833420VSX517OperatingInstructions0716.pdf

I hope that answered some questions and gave you some ideas.

Happy listening, the Prisoner...
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September 19, 2014 10:39:57 AM

I found out the one thing I was missing was the passthrough. I set it up with MPC and used the AC3 filter to pass it through to the receiver and heard Double-D for the first time on my AVR! Now how would I go about setting it up with Netflix? Do I need to encode the audio files on my PC for that?
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September 19, 2014 11:17:23 AM

You shouldn't have to encode anything. The AVR will decode if it has 2.1 and beyond.
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September 19, 2014 1:12:05 PM

How do I passthrough the audio then to my AVR from Netflix and other internet sources so that my sound card on my PC doesn't decode it and output it as a stereo source?
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September 19, 2014 10:06:40 PM

If I remember correctly, NetFlix uses Dolby Digital Plus for 5.1. Your pc sound chip is using Realtek ALC892 Audio Codec. The pc chip(S/PDIF) should be just passing through the signal but your AVR doesn't have Dolby Digital Plus for 5.1. I use a Outlaw Audio 975 surround processor that has all the modern and older surround formats. . So it could be the problem that the AVR can't decode certain formats since it is older.

I would try the analog outputs on your PC to the analog inputs on the AVR(the surround inputs). You'll probably get better surround compared to S/PDIF and that way you can bypass digital all together.

Pro Logic IIx will take a 2.0 source and up mix it to 5.1 but it's still simulated surround.
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