Getting 5.1+ sorround sound Audio out of Sage?

[derringer]

Can someone way more knowledgeable than myself give me a basic overview of what I need to do to get proper 5.1(+) sorround audio out of my sage system?

I haven't the foggiest clue what is involved with this, but I know it is far more complex than meets the eye.

I am in the market for a new receiver, and I always had low quality audio before, but want to work on that part of my home theater experience. I don't want to go audiophile level, but I would like decent sorround sound.

Any suggestions on what receiver to buy and anything else I should know before looking at new purchases for my sage box?

[stanger89]

You need an audio decoder compatible with DD, DTS (eg AC3Filter, nVidia, any one that comes with non-OEM DVD software). You need that decoder set to S/PDIF output. You need an audio device with an S/PDIF output (onboard or add-in) and that S/PDIF output enabled. And finally you need a reciever/processor with an S/PDIF input. That's about it.

Any reciever you buy is going to have an S/PDIF input. That said, if you're buying today, getting a reciever with HDMI (1.2 is fine) is a very good idea for futureproofing.

[derringer]

Thanks for the advice, it is much appreciated =)

[sixdoubleo]

Originally Posted by stanger89

You need an audio decoder compatible with DD, DTS (eg AC3Filter, nVidia, any one that comes with non-OEM DVD software). You need that decoder set to S/PDIF output. You need an audio device with an S/PDIF output (onboard or add-in) and that S/PDIF output enabled. And finally you need a reciever/processor with an S/PDIF input. That's about it.

Any reciever you buy is going to have an S/PDIF input. That said, if you're buying today, getting a reciever with HDMI (1.2 is fine) is a very good idea for futureproofing.

What does AC3Filter do? The only way I have been able to get AC-3 pass-thru out the S/PDIF is to use my Nvidia Audio Decoder. This is fine as it seems to work well, but I always wondered what AC3Filter was. Does it come with Sage, or did I get it some other way? (FWIW, I have Theatertek, so I get Nvidia decoders that way).

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by sixdoubleo

What does AC3Filter do?

It was more of a general comment, lots of people who suffer from the low AC3 audio issue seem to be using AC3Filter for decoding, and AC3Filter seems to get carried away normalizing the matrix (to avoid clipping).

The only way I have been able to get AC-3 pass-thru out the S/PDIF is to use my Nvidia Audio Decoder. This is fine as it seems to work well, but I always wondered what AC3Filter was.

AC3Filter is a free AC3/DTS/PCM decoder.

Does it come with Sage, or did I get it some other way? (FWIW, I have Theatertek, so I get Nvidia decoders that way).

Sage installs it, but if you're using passthrough via nVidia codecs there's no need to worry about AC3Filter.

[sixdoubleo]

Originally Posted by stanger89

Sage installs it, but if you're using passthrough via nVidia codecs there's no need to worry about AC3Filter.

Gotcha....thanks for the clarification.