DTS audio pass-through over HDMI

[corwiniii]

I thought I saw the answer to this but I haven't been able to find it again - I'm not able to get DTS audio to pass-through to my Onkyo 705 AVR over HDMI from SageTV server to STX-HD100 when using the HDMI audio setting on the STX-HD100. The AVR info status says "no signal." Video is fine.

So, I changed the audio settings on the STX-HD100 from HDMI to S/PDIF and tried an optical cable from STX-HD100 to AVR and it worked fine. Then I pulled out the optical cable and kept the audio settings on the STX-HD100 set on S/PDIF and DTS audio is passing through fine over HDMI with no optical cable.

I don't get it. Can the STX-HD100 pass-through DTS audio over HDMI (with the HDMI audio setting on the STX-HD100 selected) or not?

I'm using the latest STX-HD100 FW (non-beta) and latest SageTV server (with SageMC).

Any help greatly appreciated. TIA!

[paulbeers]

Originally Posted by corwiniii

I thought I saw the answer to this but I haven't been able to find it again - I'm not able to get DTS audio to pass-through to my Onkyo 705 AVR over HDMI from SageTV server to STX-HD100 when using the HDMI audio setting on the STX-HD100. The AVR info status says "no signal." Video is fine.

So, I changed the audio settings on the STX-HD100 from HDMI to S/PDIF and tried an optical cable from STX-HD100 to AVR and it worked fine. Then I pulled out the optical cable and kept the audio settings on the STX-HD100 set on S/PDIF and DTS audio is passing through fine over HDMI with no optical cable.

I don't get it. Can the STX-HD100 pass-through DTS audio over HDMI (with the HDMI audio setting on the STX-HD100 selected) or not?

I'm using the latest STX-HD100 FW (non-beta) and latest SageTV server (with SageMC).

Any help greatly appreciated. TIA!

Yep. I haven't tried any of the beta firmware, but yes you have to select both HDMI and SPDIF in order to get digital audio via HDMI. I had to do this to get it to go to my Onkyo 605, but it works fine and since it doesn't hurt anything I suppose I just haven't cared. I never had my SPDIF cable hooked to my receiver, so I know you don't have to hook it up to get it to work.

EDIT: I guess technically you don't have to select both HDMI and SPDIF to get digital audio via HDMI according to your post, but it doesn't hurt and it works........"if it ain't broke..."

[starfire]

Originally Posted by corwiniii

I thought I saw the answer to this but I haven't been able to find it again - I'm not able to get DTS audio to pass-through to my Onkyo 705 AVR over HDMI from SageTV server to STX-HD100 when using the HDMI audio setting on the STX-HD100. The AVR info status says "no signal." Video is fine.

So, I changed the audio settings on the STX-HD100 from HDMI to S/PDIF and tried an optical cable from STX-HD100 to AVR and it worked fine. Then I pulled out the optical cable and kept the audio settings on the STX-HD100 set on S/PDIF and DTS audio is passing through fine over HDMI with no optical cable.

I don't get it. Can the STX-HD100 pass-through DTS audio over HDMI (with the HDMI audio setting on the STX-HD100 selected) or not?

I'm using the latest STX-HD100 FW (non-beta) and latest SageTV server (with SageMC).

Any help greatly appreciated. TIA!

Its not at all clear and hopefully someone will update the FAQ but as I understand it:-

1. If you select HDMI for Audio it will only attempt to pass a stereo downmix over HDMI, and if this is a DTS soundtrack it cannot downmix that (see my postings on the other thread) so will pass nothing, but AC3 downmixes ok.

2. If you select SPDIF for Audio it will attempt to passthrough DTS/AC3 compressed (ie unaltered), so you need something at the other end like an AV Amp to decode it and drive your speakers.
edit: see http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/show...21&postcount=2

HTH.

[corwiniii]

Originally Posted by paulbeers

Yep. I haven't tried any of the beta firmware, but yes you have to select both HDMI and SPDIF in order to get digital audio via HDMI. I had to do this to get it to go to my Onkyo 605, but it works fine and since it doesn't hurt anything I suppose I just haven't cared. I never had my SPDIF cable hooked to my receiver, so I know you don't have to hook it up to get it to work.

EDIT: I guess technically you don't have to select both HDMI and SPDIF to get digital audio via HDMI according to your post, but it doesn't hurt and it works........"if it ain't broke..."

Well, thanks for the confirmation. I guess I don't care that it works that way, just want to make sure that is the correct way to set it up. I must have read that somewhere because I thought to try it out.

I have to say, coming from a D-Link DSM-320 that never did anything right, this STX-HD100 is amazing. I'm buying a second one soon because it works so well. I was holding out for so long for the next generation of windows-based media streamers that the Sage option became viable. And as a long-time SageTV user it was a no brainer. Coupled with the fact that those other streamers just didn't seem to get the stellar reviews I was expecting.

At this point I'm in deep, looking to rip my entire DVD collection and buying a DAS enclosure and more HDD - spending way too much time on this but having fun with my new toy.

[corwiniii]

Originally Posted by starfire

Its not at all clear and hopefully someone will update the FAQ but as I understand it:-

1. If you select HDMI for Audio it will only attempt to pass a stereo downmix over HDMI, and if this is a DTS soundtrack it cannot downmix that (see my postings on the other thread) so will pass nothing, but AC3 downmixes ok.

2. If you select SPDIF for Audio it will attempt to passthrough DTS/AC3 compressed (ie unaltered), so you need something at the other end like an AV Amp to decode it and drive your speakers.
edit: see http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/show...21&postcount=2

HTH.

Hey, thanks. Yeah, the link in 2 is what I must have read to get the idea - probably while checking for FW versions/updates. Just not initially intuitive to me. And since I have the AVR to decode, it is exactly what I want. In fact, I'd prefer the AVR do all the decoding rather than the source unless the source has some better decoder chip/software, so pass through is all I'll ever want. I know many aren't there yet and use TV speakers or other setups so decoding at the STX-HD100 is preferable in that case.