I'm not seeing any Dolby Digital 5.1 signal when running the Hopper's HDMI video out to Audio Receiver. Can someone please confirm or deny my observation so that I can ensure this is not an operator error? Using the optical out is a non preferential option.
Dolby 5.1 over HDMI
- Thread starter vidwiz
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Make sure the audio output setting on the Hopper is set to Dolby Digital. The setting gives you a choice of DD or PCM only.
I'm getting DD5.1 from the optical out of one of my Joeys so it should work. I checked ESPN, ESPN2, and HBO2E.
I also get DD 5.1 on my Onkyo for most HD channels. Keep in mind that some HD channels such as MLB Network are only DD 2.0. SD channels are only PCM stereo.
Edit: by the way I am using HDMI from my hopper to the Onlyo AVR.
Edit: by the way I am using HDMI from my hopper to the Onlyo AVR.
Thanks for the responses everyone. Yes I have Dolby enabled on the Hopper and yes I am using HDNET to test as they always seem to consistently output Dolby on all their programming. (I have confirmed Dolby delivered via optical btw but to reiterate, I need it via HDMI) I still cant get it to work despite going thru all the settings. My PS3 works fine, HDMI only, on the same amp. (a yamaha) I did find the following in the hopper owners manual, page 92, that supports my observations, however I don't dispute you guys saying it works. It just confuses me more.
TIPS
• To take full advantage of Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound, you need a digital optical
audio cable and audio equipment that supports this feature.
TIPS
• To take full advantage of Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound, you need a digital optical
audio cable and audio equipment that supports this feature.
vidwiz said:
You aren't by any chance using the Logitech Revue Google tv are you? It doesn't pass it through.
I'm using the red and white rca jacks to my surround sound system and it works just fine. (I know, I know, ancient technology ... so spank me)
Have you configured the input on your AVR to Dolby 5.1. Unless you have that inout configured for 5.1 it will convert to stereo.
Dolby Digital 5.1 over HDMI works just fine using 2 RCA cables from the analog stereo output of your Hopper? I'm impressed.
I do get 5.1 Dolby Surround Sound. I know it's not supposed to be possible, but it works just fine. It's input to a cheap Phillips Surround system, watching anything that is output to 5.1 comes out perfect.
Perhaps I just let the cat out of the box saying that. Maybe I don't really know what is happening, but when I watch anything that is supposed to be in surround sound it is exactly that. Nascar cars go from speaker to speaker front to rear or side to side. Any thing listed as having Dolby 5.1 sounds just like in theater ... people moving, cars passing, everything (and I don't mean just left to right or right to left ... also from left back to right front, etc). If that's not surround, then what am I listening to that has that characteristic?
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If you are just using the red/white RCA outputs, what you're hearing is a kind of simulated surround where the low parts are sent to the sub and the difference between the L and R are sent to the rears. I used to do that by connecting the + from both L and R to the rear channels and made by own low pass filter for my sub back in the early 80's before I could afford Dolby. It's a fairly convincing effect, but to get the real deal you need to bitstream optical to your stereo or use HDMI if possible.
Edit: Yep, Pro Logic is what it's called, as the poster below said.
Edit: Yep, Pro Logic is what it's called, as the poster below said.
