PC digital audio connection to home cinema issues!

[Rainmaker77]

Hello all!

I have recently purchased a home cinema system (Panasonic 590) with the intention of using it for Xbox and as speakers for my PC.

Xbox works fine, and 5.1 works fine on my PC - surround sound games and 5.1 videos work fine, and stereo videos are simulated as 5.1. My issue however is that for some reason, using Dolby Digital Live causes all my Windows noises, (clicking folders, emptying the recycle bin etc,) to stop playing properly (I think I can hear a faint crackling when they should play. This problem is fixed if FFDShow Codec is running in the background, however when I close it the problem returns.

This is quite annoying as I am very used to my windows sounds, and I am sure that it will turn out that isn't the only sound that isn't working!

If there is no fix for this, my only other option is using the HDMI input on my audio receiver and sending audio through that, if I have to do that though I will need to use the HDMI mini out from my Nvidia 580, and I am currently using a dual screen setup. I know Nvidia cards can only utilise 2 monitors, but is it possible to use 2 monitors and send audio only via HDMI?

Thanks for any trouble shooting you guys may be able to give. It's late here so I won't be on too long but I'll try and give you as much info as possible before I hit the hay.

Current Mobo = Gigabyte GA-EX58
Home Cinema = Panasonic 590
Connection between the two = Digital TOSLINK cable.

Thanks very much for any help guys. It's greatly appreciated.

EDIT: If I use Nvidia's HDMI digital audio windows sounds work perfectly, however I am unable to use two screens and HDMI for audio only, meaning my only solution is to find a fix for the missing windows 'click' noise.

 

[SnowyGamester]

I can't help much as I'm not familiar with the Panasonic 590 or Dolby Digital Live, however might I suggest using HDMI audio and video output from the PC and looping the video back to the monitor from the amplifier? Not sure whether there will be two video outputs to go to both the TV and Monitor so (assuming you route all your other video through it before going to the TV) you may need to get a HDMI switch or splitter. That or hook all your HDMI and other video inputs (other than the PC) to the TV and use an audio out from the TV for audio to reach the amplifier (assuming there is an output of some kind). Not sure what the real solution would be, but ultimately you'll get better quality with HDMI audio anyway cuz digital and no signal degradation.

 

[Rainmaker77]

I can't help much as I'm not familiar with the Panasonic 590 or Dolby Digital Live, however might I suggest using HDMI audio and video output from the PC and looping the video back to the monitor from the amplifier? Not sure whether there will be two video outputs to go to both the TV and Monitor so (assuming you route all your other video through it before going to the TV) you may need to get a HDMI switch or splitter. That or hook all your HDMI and other video inputs (other than the PC) to the TV and use an audio out from the TV for audio to reach the amplifier (assuming there is an output of some kind). Not sure what the real solution would be, but ultimately you'll get better quality with HDMI audio anyway cuz digital and no signal degradation.

Yeah, I did think about that and simply having a HDMI splitter from my receiver output to switch between my PC screen and TV. My main issue with that would be any possible input lag it may create, but I think it'd be pretty negligible.

 

[SnowyGamester]

Yeah, I did think about that and simply having a HDMI splitter from my receiver output to switch between my PC screen and TV. My main issue with that would be any possible input lag it may create, but I think it'd be pretty negligible.

Ah, never considered that problem. You could use a splitter going from your PC to both your amplifier and monitor. I'm not sure why I was overthinking it, that'd probably be the simplest solution (other than fixing the actual problem). You can pick up powerless splitters online for under 5 bucks which shouldn't give you any added lag, though they can sometimes have issues working out what the hell they're doing since nothing is really designed to have multiple displays connected to one port like that, however it all depends on how the various hardware ends up handling it. Failing that you'd have the use a powered one though as you mentioned it's hard to predict what kind of lag you'll get from it. I looked into a powerless HDMI audio/video splitter but it seems things don't work like that which is a shame since there are probably plenty of circumstances under which you don't want audio and video going to the same place.