[DEcosse]

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I just tested the file from you link. And it works perfectly here. The sound comes from the speaker illustrated on the TV.

My setup:
Intel Hasweel i3
Ubuntu Server 13.10 - I installed XBMC following this guide: http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid...pid1429454

So far I have played media with DD and DTS-HD and everything has worked perfectly for me....

Thank you Jorgensen
This is not through xbmc, correct? Just the file played directly through one of the embedded video players in Ubuntu, and the config on the sound app set for hdmi 5.1?

The difference appears to be the connection config - yours directly to amp, mine to TV via hdmi, then to amp via optical.
The passthrough will not work in my case.*

*The passthrough works via xbmc however by setting the sound app setting to stereo and then xbmc decodes the 5.1, DTS, AC3 etc when 'enable passthrough' is selected

But it looks like to process from 5.1 output from the NUC, it needs to go directly to amp.
(my amp has no hdmi inputs - would require an hdmi splitter/converter)