HTPC no audio through reciever (Gateway DX4831; Onkyo HT-S3500; HDMI and TOSLINK

[asnelson33]

I recently bought an Onkyo HT-S3500 5.1 Receiver. I have a Gateway DX3852 with standard onboard Realtek audio and integrated video (Motherboard>>HDMI). I have had this PC connected to a TV (HDMI) and Receiver (Optical: S/PDIF,TOSLINK) with stereo tower speakers for several years and they worked fine. But now that I have set up the new system, I am only able to get video, NO AUDIO.

Here is what I have tried:

I have set the optical port as the default device both in the Realtek HD Audio Manager and the Audio Devices Manager in the Control Panel.
I have swapped TOSLINK cables and ensured a proper connection.
I have tried all Sample Rates and Encoded Formats. As well as setting the default format back to 2 channels.

In fact, in my efforts to get this working, I accidentally disabled the Realtek Digital Output (Optical) and was unable to re-enable it and it no longer appeared as a device. Shortly after, I began getting a Blue Screen error and had to reinstall windows.

Is this a compatibility issue? I know my HDMI is carrying audio because if I change default audio device[COLOR=blue !important][FONT=inherit !important][COLOR=blue !important][FONT=inherit !important][/FONT][COLOR=blue !important][FONT=inherit !important][/FONT][/COLOR][/FONT][/COLOR][/COLOR] to TV Display (note: it is not labeled HDMI), I Get audio only through the front L and R speakers. Switch it back to Optical and it is silent.

Or could it be that the TOSLINK is too long? Mine is about 12ft. and who knows how old. Still very bright and have worked before with another receiver for stereo.

Or is it that the stock integrated motherboard and soundcard are not compatible with this specific receiver? And in that case should I invest in a quality NVIDIA or ATI card to resolve the problem.





http://support.gateway.com/s/desktop/2009/gateway/dx/dx4831/DX4831sp2.shtml#


Gateway DX4831 specs. However mine is i3 @ 3 GHz.


PLEASE HELP!!!

 

[Durvelle27]

just plug the hdmi cable directly into the receiver and out to the tv and see if that works ?

 

[asnelson33]

That was how I had it set up originally. I read some computers cannot transmit HD audio through HDMI so I added TOSLINK. Audio Devices Manager does not show HDMI as an option, but shows my TV Display and will only do stereo. The computer does not have a separate Graphics Card. It is an integrated Intel Video/Motherboard with HDMI. Could that be my problem?

 

[Durvelle27]

it should let you do audio through hdmi no matter

 

[asnelson33]

That is what I thought as well. I have a Gateway NV59C laptop as well and it also does not show HDMI as an option in the Audio Devices Manager. It does show my TV Display as a device. The port is listed as HDMI, but it will only play 2-channel stereo just like my computer. If I hook up my laptop I have the exact same issue, Video no audio. Only difference is that it does not have optical so my only option is to choose the TV display and I get stereo only.

 

[Rio Rebel]

Some receivers cannot bitstream HD audio, but any receiver with hdmi should be able to receive 2 channel stereo through hdmi...so the fact that you don't even have that option indicates your issue is on the computer, very likely the audio driver.

 

[asnelson33]

That was one of things I thought it might be as well. I have already attempted to update the Realtek audio driver, but it seems to be up to date. So what? New HD sound card or graphics card with HD audio chip?

 

[Durvelle27]

did you download the lastest from the site for audio and video ? do you game ? if not this will be great it does audio and HD graphics and 3D cable

http://www.newegg.com/Special/ShellS...4-_-07042012_2 HD 6450 $15 after rebate

 

[blotto]

That was how I had it set up originally. I read some computers cannot transmit HD audio through HDMI so I added TOSLINK. Audio Devices Manager does not show HDMI as an option, but shows my TV Display and will only do stereo. The computer does not have a separate Graphics Card. It is an integrated Intel Video/Motherboard with HDMI. Could that be my problem?

TOSLINK cannot transmit HD Audio either so worst case is TOSLINK and HDMI are identical. Best case is HDMI is better. Which intel chipset are you using?

EDIT: just did some googling and you're on an H57 Chipset. Both your intel graphics and your receiver support HD-Audio. Ditch TOSLINK and focus on getting everything to work over HDMI. Start maybe by disabling the realtek in bios so you only have the intel audio device. Then try different drivers.

 

[Rio Rebel]

I didn't see the DX3852 on Gateway's site, but I can tell you this: If you are using an hdmi port that is integrated onto the motherboard, it is probably not using the Realtek drivers. Mine uses Intel Display Audio for the hdmi.

 

[Durvelle27]

TOSLINK cannot transmit HD Audio either so worst case is TOSLINK and HDMI are identical. Best case is HDMI is better. Which intel chipset are you using?

the not true at all i use optical to transmit HD 7.1 audio with no problems ? and the chipset is H57 Express Chipset

 

[Durvelle27]

I didn't see the DX3852 on Gateway's site, but I can tell you this: If you are using an hdmi port that is integrated onto the motherboard, it is probably not using the Realtek drivers. Mine uses Intel Display Audio for the hdmi.

DX4831-01e

 

[blotto]

the not true at all i use optical to transmit HD 7.1 audio with no problems ? and the chipset is H57 Express Chipset

No you don't. Optical can either transmit lossy encoded surround (DTS, DD and it's variants like ES or EX) or 2ch lossless.
HD audio is defined by lossless compression like DolbyTHD or DTS-HD. These formats both include a lossy encoded core for legacy hardware. The core can be transmitted over SPDIF (toslink or coax) but the lossless "HD" track can only be sent via HDMI or decoded in player and sent to the amp via analog.
If you're sending 7.1 over SPDIF it is most likely DTS-ES which is fine but is not "HD Audio".

 

[Durvelle27]

try hdmi connection then report back if it worked or not "

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Just peeking in on this thread . . .

Some observations, even if they seem naive . . .

My own Onkyo (a TX-NR616) would require re-assigning a TOSLink or Digital-Coax audio to the "PC-in" HDMI connection and assignment. But I wouldn't bother with it, since all the sound from my PC/graphics-card HDMI connection passes through the Onkyo properly. And it would only add unnecessary complexity.

Second, and someone may already have said so, your HDMI driver would show "Intel" in the Audio Devices dialog. It would also reflect the device as "[Onkyo model]."

AFter going through the misery of resolving a similar problem with RealTek and my nVidia GTX 570 (providing HDMI connection), I can suggest that user/OP is best to first disable RealTek audio (temporarily); reinstall graphics (Intel or nVidia or etc.) as necessary; reboot computer; configure Media Center for both video and "speakers" so that especially the latter is "HDMI" and either 2.0, 2.1, 5.1 . . . etc.

At this point, all PC sounds will go through the Intel sound device and the Onkyo receiver.

If you then choose to add an analog speaker system or digital ReakTek, be forewarned that jumping back and forth will wreak havoc on your HDMI setup if you got it working perfectly. Some games can be reassigned to the RealTek controller -- and that will work. But you don't need to do that, since all sound would otherwise go through HDMI and the ONKYO.

NO LESS in regard to these points about using both HDMI and the RealTek option: You may find it desirable to use the Onkyo two ways: with it's own speaker system, and with the "standby-passthrough" feature to use the HDTV (stereo) speakers. This is very easy, but the same disruptions can occur.

To avoid them, the procedure is as follows. Also note that if you have the Onkyo set up as "5.1" or "7.1" in the Windows Sound->Configuration dialog -- you would leave it that way -- leave it alone. You would also leave alone the "5.1" or "7.1" configuration of speakers under Media Center.

1) Shut down the computer.
2) Go into the Onkyo on-screen setup menus and enable "pass audio through to HDTV"
3) Turn off the Onkyo so that it stays in standby mode
4) Boot the computer [you can view your Windows Sound dialog, or even "test" the speakers -- but shouldn't be necessary]

Your sound should now be coming through the TV in stereo.

To get your THX-surround-sound back [when there's no problem of awakening the dead]:

1) Shut down the computer
2) Turn on the Onkyo -- disable the TV speaker pass-through
3) Boot the computer.

Under all these HDMI scenarios, you'd only need to TV speakers to work for any and all purposes, or you wouldn't mind using the Onkyo's amplified speakers and the power-draw for any and all purposes. You could still enable the RealTek drivers, but beware of the problems I mentioned above.

SIMPLE IS BEST; or K-I-S-S . . .