Odd SPDIF problem

[ryema22]

I'm setting up a system with the Realtek ALC889A codec. I've got a reciever connected to the SPDIF output driving 2 bookshelf speakers and a subwoofer. On my old setup with a Creative card, the spdif sent a 2.1 signal and everything worked fine. For some reason, I'm only given the option in the audio driver to select a 2 speaker setup and there's no signal coming out of the subwoofer.

Does anyone know how to solve this?

 

[DAPUNISHER]

I haven't used a board with that yet, but did you install audio manager software? Perhaps supplied on the CD that shipped with the mainboard? Usually you can specify that you are using digital somewhere in it, and pick your speaker setup. Or when you state audio driver, are you referring to the manager/CP?

Up for you^

 

[ryema22]

I was referring to the audio manager software that came on the Mobo CD. I can select digital output and a 2 speaker setup, but it's like there's no discrete sub channel being sent to the reciever.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

What board is it?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Did you set up your bass management on your receiver?

Speakers should be set to "small" with a crossover frequency selected. 80Hz is a typical setting.

What are you playing? Unless it's a movie, you're probably just sending PCM stereo and your receiver will be the device directing signal to the sub (as long as you have bass management set up)

 

[vshah]

what yoyo said. try playing a 5.1 source, and see which input channels your receiver detects.

 

[ryema22]

Yoyo:

The reciever's bass management is set up exactly the same as it was for my previous sound card's digital out, which is why I suspect the onboard audio is doing something fishy.

The other odd thing I noticed last night is that when the reciever is getting the signal from the onboard card, i can't turn on any of the reciever's equalizer or pro logic environment settings... it's stuck in 2.0 stereo when hooked up to this audio source.

Dapunisher - the mobo is a Gigabyte P35-DS3R

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

What are the bass management settings set to?

Is the receiver getting a 2.0 PCM stream, or is is detecting a Dolby stream but only 2 channels have info on them?

Do you have the latest drivers for your realtek sound?

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Looking at the manual, for digital out, just the output sampling rate and mode need to be selected/confirmed. There looks to be a area in that configuration tab that shows status, output sampling rate, data validation, and copyright protection status. Have you tried playing a source with this open to see what info it provides?

BTW, which OS? XP or Vista?

 

[ryema22]

Yoyo: The reciever is a Kenwood VR-707. Not a ton of bells and whistles, but it's only driving the 2.1 setup with my computer, not my home theater. The front speakers are set as "small" and there's no option to manually set the crossover frequency - I've tried it with the "subwoofer remix" option both on and off. (which i think is an active bass management/crossover feature)

I don't think it's getting a dolby digital stream.. the reciever display shows "96khz", "digital", and "stereo" icons lit up. I do have the latest drivers installed from Gigabyte's web site. Realtek's site doesn't have any support for the chip yet, I think it's a fairly new model. I might try contacting Realtek to see what they can tell me.

Dapunisher: I've tried the 48/96/192 sampling rate options with no change. I'll check the configuration tab again. I'm using XP pro.

I appreciate the help guys

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Actually Realtek has the drivers available, their HD audio driver is for all their HD codecs, but it looks like it is the same R 1.72 Gigabyte has. You seem to have troubleshot this fairly extensively already, but since it is a new build, have you made certain whatever software you are using for playback, is configured correctly too?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Do you have a CD player or DVD player you could hook up to the receiver digitally and play a CD in it?

That would narrow the problem down to either the receiver's bass management or the computer's output depending on whether or not the CD / DVD player activated the sub.

 

[ryema22]

That's a good suggestion, I'll try hooking a dvd player in when I get back. The sub is activated just fine when I switch to the radio tuner, but who knows.

I was playing back using itunes and wmp11... I'll double check to make sure nothing was going on with either of those.

If I can't figure it out I can always fall back on the old Audigy card, though I'd prefer not to.