5.1 over LAN

[prizi]

I have a laptop with no spdif output and I have a PC with an spdif sound card.So is there a way to listen to the 5.1 sound in my laptop through my LAN?

[rallynavvie]

What is the source that you're using?

If you're playing a movie with 5.1 on your laptop and wanted to output the surround to your receiver/speakers then you'd probably have to set the movie up as a streaming media server, but then you'll very likely run into synch issues playing it back on both your laptop and desktop.

Have you tried using your regular stereo output on your laptop into your receiver to see if it sees a surround signal?

[prizi]

Sorry but since my laptop only have a stereo output how can my receiver recognize it as 5.1 signal?

[SingSing]

This is like asking can you watch color program with a B&W TV?

Answer is of course "no".

[Cornucopia]

Yeah--NO.

You might as well just copy the clips to your desktop and play through there out the SPDIF (in Raw bitstream form) to your amp.

Scott

[prizi]

What is the source that you're using?

Have you tried using your regular stereo output on your laptop into your receiver to see if it sees a surround signal?

Then what did rallynavvie mean?
The thing is the laptop has video out and the desktop has spdif and i need to combine them....apparently from what I understand I can't right?

[rallynavvie]

Use your receiver's surround enhancement to turn the stereo output into a "surround". I've found that if the source was in Dolby or DTS and converted to stereo that my receiver does a great job of turning it back into surround on my system. It's not perfect but it gets the job done.

I think your best bet is to serve the video from a PC connected to your receiver and watch the video on your laptop.