Connecting an external dac to a receiver?

[GustavMahler]

Is it better if the decoding happens in the computer and then i send PCM to the receiver via HDMI, Or i should bypass the computers decoding and decode in the receiver and why? I am talking about two channel and 5.1 surround. If i send from the PC PCM then it'll be two channels even if it was 5.1 channels as DTS/AC3?
Also, Is there a way to send surround signal to the receiver without SPDIF? (I still don't understand why i need to interere with SPDIF settings in AC3filter to get surround sound from the HDMI..?)
Thank you so much for you help and patience!
I am trying to learn as much as i can, I need everything to be perfect (Whuch is impossible..)

 

[ProtegeManiac]

  Is it better if the decoding happens in the computer and then i send PCM to the receiver via HDMI, Or i should bypass the computers decoding and decode in the receiver and why?

 
That's the only way you can do it, the receiver likely can't decode anything that isn't on an optical disc. Even the iPod dock input in the rear has the iDevice churning out PCM into the receiver.

Unless, of course, you use a network receiver, which has CODECs for a lot of lossless and compressed audio and video formats, given it has a direct LAN connection to the NAS where the media is stored with no computer between them.
 

  I am talking about two channel and 5.1 surround. If i send from the PC PCM then it'll be two channels even if it was 5.1 channels as DTS/AC3?

 
If it's going through HDMI1.3 it should go through as the native signal. I'v played Total War on HT systems and I've heard thundering hooves coming from behind, right as the AI's spears smashed against my general and battle line from behind. If a video games works, so should a movie.
 
 

 
Also, Is there a way to send surround signal to the receiver without SPDIF? (I still don't understand why i need to interere with SPDIF settings in AC3filter to get surround sound from the HDMI..?)

 

Are you sure you actually have to? I just hook up my CPU to an HT receiver and I don't need to configure anything. Where'd you see that anyway?

 

AFAIK you'd only need to configure that if you don't have the audio going through HDMI. Check your computer, it might not be using HDMI1.3. It needs to be v1.3 and higher - that's the one with the high bandwidth digital audio channel. That's also why many receivers nowadays tend to not have any SPDIF inputs.

 

If you're referring to your laptop then there's no other choice but to get a new one if you really want to use it, but again that's why I've been saying you should just set up an NAS that any other source can access instead of lugging around the laptop. In any case, why do you even need to use the laptop? You have all the other stuff in there. You're complicating things by needing to use so many source units and wanting its output to go anywhere and everywhere.

 

[GustavMahler]

So i don't need SPDIF on my pc to output surround? How do i know the my PC is outputing via PCM a surround signal and not stereo? And so what is AC3filter for? It's supposed to bypass the pc decoding

 

[ProtegeManiac]

  So i don't need SPDIF on my pc to output surround? 

 

If you have HDMI1.3 and later on your PC then it will output digital audio through HDMI. Check the specs on both your PCs and see what one has, and check what GPU has it when you get one for the other.
 

  How do i know the my PC is outputing via PCM a surround signal and not stereo?

 

When you hear the right surround effects around and behind you? If you have a copy of The Grey there's a part there where Liam Neeson walks around stalking the other guy while taunting him. Some of the lines should come from behind you, basically putting you in the shoes of the other guy. Dogfights like in Top Gun and Star Wars should also make for a good test.
 
 

  And so what is AC3filter for? It's supposed to bypass the pc decoding

 

SourceForge describes AC3Filter as follows:

 
It is DirectShow AC3 Decoder filter used to playback AVI files with AC3 sound tracks and DVDs. Multichannel and S/PDIF support. Focused at flexible controls during playback: gains, mixer, stream information, levels and other.

This one's from Wikipedia:

AC3Filter is a free DirectShow filter for real time audio decoding and processing. It can decode the audio formats AC3, DTS, and MPEG Multichannel.^[1]

I think it should be in your computer, the main thing it will bypass is the PCs DSP.

In any case where did you get the idea that your PC will output PCM stereo through HDMI anyway? I'm not sure if this comes preinstalled or it comes with media players, but I've always used HDMI without ever fiddling with this and I've always gotten surround sound. Receivers I've plugged into show my computers were sending out 5.1, movies and even one game I've tried on such systems, Total War.

However if AC3 is specifically for DTS then you'll need to check the specs on your computer now and whatever GPU you'll get for the other one - it's also possible that they aren't DTS compatible.

I still think you should just streamline your systems instead of trying to get everything to work with everything. The wiring alone feels like too much of a problem to start with.

 

 

[GustavMahler]

I understand that i can check the surround if i hear surround-But currently i have 2 speakers, And i want to know if my laptop connected to the receiver will output 5.1 and more if it outputs PCM and not the compressed format. When i check the signal info in the receiver when playing a 5.1 format file, The receiver shows that the signal is 2.0. I wonder if it's normal since i have two speakers, Or maybe in the signal info it should show 5.1 Becuase that's the signal it's getting, And afterwards it downmixes it?

 

[ProtegeManiac]

  I understand that i can check the surround if i hear surround-But currently i have 2 speakers, 

 
You do have plans on getting a full 5.1 set, right? Because we've been discussing surround and the entire time I assumed you had one, fully functioning surround sound system considering you're worried about so many other things. This is one more example of over complicating everything while core problems have not been addressed yet.
 

  And i want to know if my laptop connected to the receiver will output 5.1 and more if it outputs PCM and not the compressed format. When i check the signal info in the receiver when playing a 5.1 format file, The receiver shows that the signal is 2.0. I wonder if it's normal since i have two speakers, Or maybe in the signal info it should show 5.1 Becuase that's the signal it's getting, And afterwards it downmixes it?

 

You first have to check your receiver's manual. For starters, it may be set to 2ch because you've been using it as such, or it can't detect anything on the the Center and surround amp channels and defaults to stereo. Normally you'd set all these at the source, but check the receiver's settings first to make sure.

 

Also, check your laptop's complete specs - it may actually not be capable of sending out a surround signal, or not DTS AC3, which means you have to manually install the AC3 filter. When you first mentioned it I thought you were referring to one of the computers - I'm getting lost in the web-like lay out of this proposed set-up already.

 

[GustavMahler]

I have my room prepared for 5.1 with all the cables hanging from the walls. I'll get all the speakers soon, I don't know what speakers to consider buying, What is the sweet spot in terms of price range? I can't spend a lot of money, And still want the greatest sound possible-The best bang for the buck (Also my receiver's specs don't specify the impedance it supports.. What should i assume it supports? in the back of the receiver it says near one speaker output 6ohm, Is it possible it supports only 6 ohm and up?)
So in order to be sure my laptop will decode 5.1 i have to install ac3filter and that's it? I don't need any SPDIF passthrough or SPDIF output in my laptop, Just HDMI? I need to know becuase i can't test it now..

 

[ProtegeManiac]

  I'll get all the speakers soon, I don't know what speakers to consider buying, What is the sweet spot in terms of price range? I can't spend a lot of money, And still want the greatest sound possible-The best bang for the buck 

 

Over here it's always the Wharfedale Diamonds, the latest version or if there are good deals the previous generation NOS. Problem is over here the prices are amazingly low, like, $160 for the 5in standmount for the latest version. At that price point it's easy to ignore the relatively thin wood. When I see the prices for these everywhere else I tend to see other bargains for the money.

 

Not sure what you can get for cheap over there though, but don't go too cheap on these and make sure that whatever you get is one set, with the center matched to the mains. If I'm gonna go with internet prices it would be Polk Audio but that's off Crutchfield or Fry's in N.America.
 

  Also my receiver's specs don't specify the impedance it supports.. What should i assume it supports? in the back of the receiver it says near one speaker output 6ohm, Is it possible it supports only 6 ohm and up?

 
6ohm is likely the lowest it can support but don't use anything too high either. Most speakers are either 8ohm or 6ohm anyway so that's not really a problem.
 

 
So in order to be sure my laptop will decode 5.1 i have to install ac3filter and that's it? I don't need any SPDIF passthrough or SPDIF output in my laptop, Just HDMI? I need to know becuase i can't test it now..

 
You don't but you still have to check if your laptop does have HDMI1.3, on the off chance that it might not.