How to connect Home Theater 5.1 to PC

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chaosmonger

chaosmonger

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Aug 2, 2010
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Hello guys, I've a 5.1 Home Theater System:
PHILIPS HTS3593
I want to use the same speakers with my desktop computer, motherboard:
ASUS M5A78L-M/USB3
For watching movie, playing games, etc. having a 5.1 output, like when I'm watching bluray from the Philips system (or like when I'm using a true PC 5.1 speakers).

I've tried with the optical cable SPDIF, but no results at all...

I can also buy some extra components for my PC, max budget $150. Like an external card, or some cheap 5.1 PC system to plug the Philips speakers.

I searched around this forum, but haven't found any solutions...
Any suggestions?

THANKS A LOT!
 
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Optical is going to be the best way to do this. Make sure it is enabled (red light on) and that it is using settings that your receiver understands (proper encoding and frequency).


If your onboard optical refuses to work then I would get an external USB sound card with optical. They are cheap, do little to no processing (ie what you hear is what you get), and as it is all digital they don't add any noise. If you want any post-processing then get a software solution like the creative XFi MB2 suite. Hook one of these up with an optical cable to your receiver and you are good as gold.

It is hard to tell from internet pictures, but it does not look like your reciever has any surround sound options other than optical. I see stereo analog/RCA, and there is Ethernet which is not a real option for your PC, so optical is the only way to go here.

It is likely a settings or a cable issue, I would try the onboard again.
 
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@boju
The Philips receiver does not have a HDMI in

it´s not realtek, this Mainboard uses a VIA VT1708S chip.

@chaosmonger
Install VIA Audio drivers from this page:
http://www.asus.com/de/Motherboards/M5A78LMUSB3/HelpDesk_Download/

optical spdif of the Mainboard should work

Which operating system do you use?


 
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My graphic card is NVidia GeForce GTX 660 Ti, I think it has HDMI audio out, but the Philips has only HDMI out... or is it also in? Is it better than optical for 5.1?
Regarding the "set default" and enable Realtek Digital Output, can you give me some screenshots?
I've my SPDIF interface "active" and "ready":
51speakersss.jpeg
 
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UPDATE:
After installing the VIA driver, checked some cable alignment, etc. now it's working!!!
BUT, it's working as 2.1 (i.e. I can hear sound only from the Front-R Front-L and subwoofer), nothing from rear and central speakers.
 
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This is the VIA Utility... not so much to set.
Anyway, if I play it from here, the audio test is not working:

51via.jpeg


Seems like it's the setting from the minijack panel, not from the optical one...
 
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With another version of VIA utility, I can see both minijacks panel and SPDIF out...
But for SPDIF out I've only 2 channels.

51viapanel01.jpeg


51viapanel02.jpeg


At the moment I can hear from all the speakers I have, but I cannot control their volumes separately (only from the Philips hardware) and I'm not sure if the PC output is redirecting them correctly...
🙁
 
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See my last posts... Now I can see the SPDIF option, but I can set only two channels.
At the moment all my speakers are working, but I cannot set their volumes separate and if I download some 5.1 test audio, basically the front and rear play at the same time... i.e. is like having just a stereo output on 5 speakers+subwoofer. Cannot play each speaker separately.

I'm wondering... Maybe it's a problem of SPIDF output? What can be the software solution?
And, in case I would like an hardware solution, what should I buy?
 
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chaosmonger under windows playback devices in the configure tab on the optical device, is that set to 5.1? not sure if you've done that yet, just wondering whether VIA reads from the operating system sound config.

And sorry for assuming incorrect things up there lol.
 
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Optical CAN do 5.1, but the end implementation depends on the device manufacturer. I have one receiver at home with optical and all that it does is stereo. It is old as dirt and requires you to use 6 chanel RCA connections if you want surround sound. Surely it is not typical... but at the end of the day just because it has a port does not mean that it is not crippled by a bad controller or other limitations.

Still, the receiver mentioned on this thread should do 5.1 with no problem. I think it is merely a settings issue.
 
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I still have some issues...
Basically, I can hear from all my speakers, but if I play a 5.1 test, the speakers play at the same time.
i.e. when the test voice say "FRONT RIGHT" I can hear also from the central speaker.
What's the matter? How can I solve it?
I'm still without a solution...
I guess that SPDIF optical is outputting only 2 channels and my Philips Home Theater is unable to splitt them properly in 5.1.
 
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