HTPC Audio Question. - X-Meridian 7.1 sound card

[vanstone]

HTPC Audio Question.

Ok this may sound like a stupid question but where does the sound come from? What I mean is how and where is the sound handled / decoded on my system?

This is my HTPC sound setup

Pioneer BDC-202 Blu-ray drive using PowerDVD Ultra

Azurentech X-Meridian 7.1 sound card
I started off using both Optical and 7.1 analog out but have since gone solely with the 7.1 analog out.

Onkyo S-790 7.1 system – setup using 7.1 (analog in) on Multi-channel

OK, Cyberlink’s PowerDVD ultra states it supports all of these audio formats..

http://www.cyberlink.com/english/pro...ltra/audio.jsp

DTS-ES Discrete
DTS 96/24
DTS Neo:6
DTS 5.1
Dolby Digital Plus
Dolby TrueHD (5.1)
Dolby Digital (5.1)
Dolby Digital EX
Dolby Pro Logic IIx
Dolby Virtual Speaker
Dolby Headphone
MLP Lossless
LPCM audio support
MP3
WAV
AAC decoding
DVD-Audio

Now when I select different audio formats from the Blu-ray movie, PCM, Dolby Digital EX, Dolby TrueHD etc…etc they all play sound with no problem. They all sound very good with PCM sounding the best to me (PCM also has the highest Kb/s at around 4800 avg). Does this mean that the PowerDVD Ultra is decoding the sound?

Also on a side note does anyone know is the Pioneer BDC-202 Blu-ray drive has upgradeable firmware, or if it will be able to read 3 or 4 layer disc's?

[rarredoa]

nice setup, i have powerDVD 7.3 Delux which has HDDVD and Blu ray playback, i don't think i have ultra, but anyway, my understanding is that Power DVD does the decoding and outputs as analog, not necessarily the sound card. By the way does ULTRA decode DTS-HD master audio? if it does, then i'll buy the ultra version... but do u know this?

[vanstone]

Originally Posted by rarredoa

nice setup, i have powerDVD 7.3 Delux which has HDDVD and Blu ray playback, i don't think i have ultra, but anyway, my understanding is that Power DVD does the decoding and outputs as analog, not necessarily the sound card. By the way does ULTRA decode DTS-HD master audio? if it does, then i'll buy the ultra version... but do u know this?

Good Question, Do you know any movies that are using DTS-HD master audio? I would like to test this out. I will also send cyberlink an email.

[rarredoa]

Yes, Xmen Last stand, i think the fantastic 4 movies have it too, pretty much every Fox movie release on Blu-Ray if i'm not mistaken

[saljr]

Yes, It support. http://www.cyberlink.com/multi/produ...e_112_ENU.html

* Dolby Digital Plus
* Dolby TrueHD
* DTS-HD

Your sound card don't support Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD. At this moment there is no card that support TrueHD or DTS-HD.
Thats the only thing thats holding me back.

[vanstone]

Saljr

Why would'nt my sound card support it? I am using 7.1 analog out from the card. As long as Power DVD Ultra can decode the TrueHD or DTS-HD the sound card has nothing to decode right?

I have played TrueHD on my system without a problem.