CMetaphor
Quadfather
I just recently remembered something important about PC audio, even on new installations: PC audio always defaults to stereo, even when connecting via HDMI or DP. That means that a lot of HTPCs out there are probably only able to output 2.0 stereo and the receivers only able to do Pro Logic -type surround at best. Apparently there is no audio equivalent of EDID, so PCs don't get (or ignore) what the receiver says is capable of supporting in terms of surround sound formats.
A quick way to correct this:
Control Panel (not the gear icon, type it out in the Start menu) -> Hardware and Sound -> Manage Audio Devices. From the Playback Tab (default / leftmost), click on your chosen audio output (HDMI in my case) then click Configure at the bottom left.
Now you'll get a pop-up window and the ability to chose what your PC can output (number of channels including subwoofer). You can test each surround speaker one at a time from this window to confirm your chosen output and also tell windows if any of the speakers are large or not (which actually means speakers that are "small" will have some bass cut out and "large" speakes will receive the full audio output range).
Note: Kodi settings do not affect the above! Ex: If the PC is in 2.0 bit Kodi's audio settings say 5.1, the receiver will only get 2.0. You need both the above and Kodi to use the same setting for true surround audio tracks to work.
I wasn't today days old, but I had forgotten this a while back. Imagine my surprise when I fixed this on an htpc and everything it played since actually sounds good (non- pro-logic virtual surround mediocrity).
Hope this helps others out.
A quick way to correct this:
Control Panel (not the gear icon, type it out in the Start menu) -> Hardware and Sound -> Manage Audio Devices. From the Playback Tab (default / leftmost), click on your chosen audio output (HDMI in my case) then click Configure at the bottom left.
Now you'll get a pop-up window and the ability to chose what your PC can output (number of channels including subwoofer). You can test each surround speaker one at a time from this window to confirm your chosen output and also tell windows if any of the speakers are large or not (which actually means speakers that are "small" will have some bass cut out and "large" speakes will receive the full audio output range).
Note: Kodi settings do not affect the above! Ex: If the PC is in 2.0 bit Kodi's audio settings say 5.1, the receiver will only get 2.0. You need both the above and Kodi to use the same setting for true surround audio tracks to work.
I wasn't today days old, but I had forgotten this a while back. Imagine my surprise when I fixed this on an htpc and everything it played since actually sounds good (non- pro-logic virtual surround mediocrity).
Hope this helps others out.
