[TheNME123]

Hi everyone,

i would like to know if it is possible to get 5.1 playback in XBMC for Windows with a Realtek HD Audio sound device and the speakers directly connected to the back of the pc (no receiver or decoder)?

If i switch to to digital output mode in the sound options i don't get any sound from surround sound sources.

Thanks for your help

TheNME123

[nekrosoft13]

nm

[mcage]

when using digital out you have to connect your receiver/amplifier to the analog digital out of your soundcard. Also refered to as spdif. A regular tulp-plug will do.

[TheNME123]

So pc-systems like that will not work?

http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-G51-Surro...144&sr=8-3

Or do i need a another/better sound card for this to work?

[warwon]

Most people I think these days use Realtek.

I run a muti-channel analog from my onboard to my recevier from logitech with no issues.

XBMC supports it just fine.

I don't use SPDIF as you can't get DTS HD from Blue-ray (you most likely don't need to even read this part), or PCM audio.

SPDIF is a old format that is going to be faded out, HDMI 1.3v supports 7 channel audio, and mutli-channel analog also works.

[TheNME123]

I run a muti-channel analog from my onboard to my recevier from logitech with no issues.

I don't understand your setup? Do you have a multi-channel audio analog connection from your pc to your receiver? My speaker-system has no receiver/decoder it is just an amplifier with connected speakers.

I thought you just need an receiver/decoder if your soundcard does not decode the digital ac3/dts stream put passes it via spdif or hdmi to the receiver/decoder which then decodes the stream and outputs it analog via a seperate amplifier or an integrated amplifier.

[TheNME123]

So i guess using standard PC 5.1 speaker-systems won't work.

What is then the best solution for getting surround sound in XBMC on Windows? Connect a receiver via spdif? Or is HDMI a better option? Or are there special pci cards which output an analog 5.1 signal?

Thanks for your help

TheNME123