Optical SPDIF to external DVD

[ViViDboarder]

I have a Soundblaster Extigy with an optical SPDIF output that is said to be dolby digital 5.1 compatable. And my DVDplayer/stereo reciever is the AMW-T365. This reciever has an optical in that is said to be 5.1 dolby digital compatable. Whenever I play sound through it, I get it in 2 channel PrologicII stereo. I called Soundblaster and they said to configure my reciever, and amw said that they dont know what to do because the reciever should auto-sense the input channels and be 5.1 but it isnt, and they told me to post in this forum because someone could help me. So if anyone knows of something that may help, i could use the info.

Sincerely

Ian

[DJRumpy]

If your just playing standard 'sound', like an audio CD, then it will only come out as 2 channel stereo (assuming your 'sound' is stereo). About the only time you can expect to hear 5.1 sound, is when your playing a DVD with 5.1 audio, AND using software that will output 5.1 sound via the SPDIF output. WinDVD will do this, but I don't know if PowerDVD will.

Unless your audio is 5.1 audio, don't expect 5.1 output.

Regular system sounds, wav's, mp3's, etc, will just be plain old stereo.

[ViViDboarder]

What about games? And souround sound test programs? Because whenever the sound is behind me i get nothing. It just stays on Prologic II.

[DJRumpy]

Only if the game supports and outputs 5.1 sound, AND the game knows to output the audio via the SPDIF output, and not the standard outputs on the sound card. Check the game configuration, and it might also be worth a trip to the games website. Typiclly you'll find forums there as well, with people who have already done the same research that you are currently going through.

Good luck!