PC with HDMI video and 7.1 analog audio out

[soothsayer]

Does anyone know of a video card and audio card that I can send the video to the TV (HDMI) and decode the new lossless modes in the pc and use 5.1 or 7.1 analog out to my Lexicon MC-12BEQ. Also which Bluray drive is recommended.

[ryoohki]

Originally Posted by soothsayer

Does anyone know of a video card and audio card that I can send the video to the TV (HDMI) and decode the new lossless modes in the pc and use 5.1 or 7.1 analog out to my Lexicon MC-12BEQ. Also which Bluray drive is recommended.

Decode i don't know. I know that the new ATI 57XX and 58XX Bitstream all codecs now and transmit PCM in 7.1 directly from the videocard...

[soothsayer]

Thanks for the reply. I've got this older state-of-the-art home theater system (Lexicon MC12BEQ, 2 Rotel RB-1090's 380x2 biamping 2 B&W Matrix 801's for fronts, 2 Rotel RB-1080's 200x2 biamping B&W Matrix 802"s for rears, a Rotel RB-1080 biamping the Matrix center channel, a Sunfire True Sub, an Exact Power AC conditioner, a JVC 61" D-ILA 1080i rear pro with only one HDMI in coming from my Media Center PC with 4 HD tuners, 1200 movies on hard drives and in 2 Sony ES 400dvd changers). So with all that I was hoping to put a Bluray drive in the pc and use analog outs going to the Lex's 5.1 ins to get the new formats. By the way ryoohki, you didn't list your subwoofer in your signature. I sell Paradigm and B&W, just curious?

[soothsayer]

I found this card

[url]http://www.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=QY0Ud4MG0DMfXNiQ
http://ca.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID...NiQ&templete=2

Has anyone had any experience with it? It says its an "A/V enhancement board "? Is it a video card and a audio card? It seems to say it outputs DTS-HD through it's analog outs. Does it work in conjunction with my EVGA 8600GT or by itself? Lots of questions??????

[soothsayer]

I'm sorry the link above wasn't working, so I changed it. Has anyone had any experience with this Asus card? It would be so nice to not have to get rid of my Lexicon.

[Blu-Dog]

Originally Posted by soothsayer

I'm sorry the link above wasn't working, so I changed it. Has anyone had any experience with this Asus card? It would be so nice to not have to get rid of my Lexicon.

My son just got this one...

http://www.auzentech.com/site/produc...theater_hd.php

He'll spin it up next week, I'll let you know. They sell at Best Buy for about $250, way too much in my opinion. Decoding is done by the Blu software you use for your player. It's HDMI.

[prerich]

Originally Posted by soothsayer

Thanks for the reply. I've got this older state-of-the-art home theater system (Lexicon MC12BEQ, 2 Rotel RB-1090's 380x2 biamping 2 B&W Matrix 801's for fronts, 2 Rotel RB-1080's 200x2 biamping B&W Matrix 802"s for rears, a Rotel RB-1080 biamping the Matrix center channel, a Sunfire True Sub, an Exact Power AC conditioner, a JVC 61" D-ILA 1080i rear pro with only one HDMI in coming from my Media Center PC with 4 HD tuners, 1200 movies on hard drives and in 2 Sony ES 400dvd changers). So with all that I was hoping to put a Bluray drive in the pc and use analog outs going to the Lex's 5.1 ins to get the new formats. By the way ryoohki, you didn't list your subwoofer in your signature. I sell Paradigm and B&W, just curious?

That would work for you or you would have to use a particular Via audio chipset(that would mean a motherboard change) in conjunction with TMT http://www.arcsoft.com/en-us/press_detail.asp?prID=397 I know how you feel about not wanting to get rid of you Lexicon! Very nice system indeed!

[Blacklac]

the decoding is done in the software, not the sound card. I wouldn't even bother with sending the audio via bitstream. There are only like 2 cards that currently are able and that is with specific playback software. Example: the ASUS HDMI card needs TMT to bitstream, unless updates have recently came out for other options. I know those ATI cards cannot bitstream with PowerDVD9 yet.

Basically, if you want analog audio, just get any decent analog card. Make sure it has good driver support with bass management, if you need it.

Vid card? It doesn't take much. Any newer card should have hardware acceleration capabilities. You won't need a $300 gaming card, unless you also want to game. Although, you may look into the better cards if your concerned with SD deinterlacing and scaling.

[prerich]

Originally Posted by Blacklac

the decoding is done in the software, not the sound card. I wouldn't even bother with sending the audio via bitstream. There are only like 2 cards that currently are able and that is with specific playback software. Example: the ASUS HDMI card needs TMT to bitstream, unless updates have recently came out for other options. I know those ATI cards cannot bitstream with PowerDVD9 yet.

Basically, if you want analog audio, just get any decent analog card. Make sure it has good driver support with bass management, if you need it.

Vid card? It doesn't take much. Any newer card should have hardware acceleration capabilities. You won't need a $300 gaming card, unless you also want to game. Although, you may look into the better cards if your concerned with SD deinterlacing and scaling.

The OP is looking for a sound card that will send the full resolution HD codecs via 5.1 analog out. He's not worried about video or bitstreaming (he's sending video via HDMI and his audio must be analog because of that bad mama jamma called the Lexicon MC12 ). So if he wanted unmolested - unscaled down HD audio through the analog outs - it would be the Asus Deluxe HDAV 1.3 Card or a motherboard witha qualifiying VIA chipset that works with TMT through analog outs.

[Blacklac]

Originally Posted by prerich

The OP is looking for a sound card that will send the full resolution HD codecs via 5.1 analog out. He's not worried about video or bitstreaming (he's sending video via HDMI and his audio must be analog because of that bad mama jamma called the Lexicon MC12 ). So if he wanted unmolested - unscaled down HD audio through the analog outs - it would be the Asus Deluxe HDAV 1.3 Card or a motherboard witha qualifiying VIA chipset that works with TMT through analog outs.

There must be some missing posts cause I didn't read all of those requirements anywhere. Maybe you guys are PM'ing each other more info? He didn't say anything about 16bit vs 24bit. All he said was HD audio codecs. He did indeed ask about his video card and someone else suggested the ATI cards that can bitstream. He did not say what software he would use. He didn't say anything about price. I either totally missed something or you made a bunch of assumptions. He asked for an analog card and what his options were and I gave my 2 cents. That's what forums are for.

[prerich]

Originally Posted by Blacklac

There must be some missing posts cause I didn't read all of those requirements anywhere. Maybe you guys are PM'ing each other more info? He didn't say anything about 16bit vs 24bit. All he said was HD audio codecs. He did indeed ask about his video card and someone else suggested the ATI cards that can bitstream. He did not say what software he would use. He didn't say anything about price. I either totally missed something or you made a bunch of assumptions. He asked for an analog card and what his options were and I gave my 2 cents. That's what forums are for.

It seems that the original message that I read is missing !!!! I remembering the OP having a link to the Xonar and asking if it was a video card and the OP stating that he wanted hdmi for video and analog for audio. No probs here Blacklac - I wasn't downing your suggestion, just supplying further info as far as the ATI cards go - it wouldn't matter - he has a Lex, no HDMI (unless he buys an upgrade board thats supposed to come out).

[prerich]

OK found the message I guess I really need my bifocals - man I hate wearing the progressives !!!!! Gonna get some regular ones with the lines in them!!!!!

[BluTracer]

Personnally I would replace your Nvidia 8600GT for one of the new ATI cards that offer bit stream audio. Like another poster said Power DVD and Arcsoft's Total Media Theater don't support the new ATI cards yet. Chances are they are working on it. Considering the costs of Aus and Auzentech sound cards versus the ATI, I'd go with the new ATI.

[sandtrap]

Hi all

I just build a new machine (AMD P955BE, MSI 790FX-GD70, 8GB OCZ) using 2x HD5850 in crossfire, a LG GGC-H20L Blu ray drive, a Samsung P2370 (DVI) LCD monitor and a Denon DHT-590BA HT-in-a-box (AVR-590 receiver + Boston Acoustics MCS 90 5.1 speakers). The monitor resolution is 1920x1080 @60Hz. Windows 7 x64.

The AVR have three HDMI inputs (DVD, HDP[Bluray], SAT/CAB) and one TV/Monitor HDMI output.

After connect the main card to receiver (HDMI-HDMI [HDP input]) I get the HDMI signal on receiver display, but when I connect the AVR to Monitor (HDMI-DVI cable) to get display video, I loose the HDMI signal and the screen stays black. Take off the HDMI-DVI cable (AVR-monitor) and the AVR indicates HDMI signal again (sound not tested due video problem). I`ve tried everything, others HDMI inputs, last ATI Windows 7 x64 driver (9.12), take off crossfire, rebbot PC, AVR...no result.

According to manual, Denon AVR-590 refuses connection with no-HDCP devices. I suspect the P2370 can be the problem, but the BD-Advisor confirm DVI (with HDCP). I get menu (receiver) texts and the information show HDMI monitor - DVI connection, but no signal in status, no PC boot post or desktop image, only black screen.

I don`t know what to do. Any suggestion?

[crackinhedz]

Check the resolution of your pc, probably sending something your receiver cannot handle...make sure it's 480, 720 or 1080i/p @ 60Hz

[Odin75]

Originally Posted by prerich

The OP is looking for a sound card that will send the full resolution HD codecs via 5.1 analog out. He's not worried about video or bitstreaming (he's sending video via HDMI and his audio must be analog because of that bad mama jamma called the Lexicon MC12 ). So if he wanted unmolested - unscaled down HD audio through the analog outs - it would be the Asus Deluxe HDAV 1.3 Card or a motherboard witha qualifiying VIA chipset that works with TMT through analog outs.

I agree, the Asus HDAV1.3 Deluxe is the best soundcard out there right now for HD audio in analog. It decodes your TrueHD and DTS-HD Master audio using TMT3.

OP:
I have that soundcard actually, and it sounds AWESOME! The DAC on it makes the sound so much cleaner than using my X-FI eXtremeMusic, or the DAC in my TX-SR606 (Direct Mode/No Audyssey). However, I stopped using it because mine had problems of blue-screens when using the HDMI port. Analog blue as well, but it took way longer to happen. The card got extremely hot, because it sat right below my videocard, so that might be it.

You might ask, if Analog sounded so much better, why use digital to the inferior DAC in the Onkyo TX-SR606. The reason is Audyssey. What that does, is basically EQ your speakers in real time depending on volume, and also correct for room imperfections. You just have to heard it to believe it, it's amazing.
So yeah, while hearing plain 2.0 stereo using Direct Mode (no correction), the HDAV1.3 Deluxe sounded better, no doubt. It has Burr-Brown DACs, no wonder. However, when hearing in 7.1, things got complicated and it was better to send it digitally and let Audyssey handle it.

As far as video cards that do both full GPU acceleration and full HD audio, I think only the new ATI HD 58xx Series do it. As I understand it, the 57xx Series does up to 7.1 16-bit LPCM, while the the 58xx Series does 7.1 24-bit LPCM + HD BitStreaming. However, I don't own the cards, so I can't test for you to be 100% sure.

I'm not sure if your lexicon takes LPCM via HDMI, as not all HDMI ports take audio. Your nVidia 8600 already has GPU acceleration, so you can go either way. Soundcard, or video card, as both cost around the same. However, if it doesn't take LPCM, then the HDAV1.3 is your only choice.
I think the Auzentech HTHD also does the job, but I read a lot they are having audio swapping problems. And overall, I think the analog capabilities of the HDAV1.3 are better.

Also, I see that your Lexicon has it's own EQ room and stuff. You might want to check if you can still use those while using analog, but most probably not. If it works like Audyssey, then it only works in digital signals.
My TX-SR606 has an option to convert stereo analog to digital, apply Audyssey, and then spit it back out. My model only does it up to 2.0, but maybe higher end models do 5.1 and higher. You might want to check into that too, if your Lexicon does something similar. However, doing that defeats the purpose to some degree, as you converting the signal extra, if you are a purist.

[mj79]

I think all the hi end asus and dells have digital out and can play 7.1 in hd, but decosing is usually done within the player.. So what you usually get is a discreet 5.1 or 7.1, basically a PL 2 X or Z output

[bad_code]

http://www.auzentech.com/site/produc...theater_hd.php

This dose it all. I have an older one in my theater PC now. I used to have it hooked up to my Home Theater but I didn't like the noise of the PC.

[bad_code]

It handles an HDMI connection too so you do get the discrete channels.

[sandtrap]

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

Check the resolution of your pc, probably sending something your receiver cannot handle...make sure it's 480, 720 or 1080i/p @ 60Hz

Thanks for your help. The monitor resolution is set to 1920x1080@60Hz. When I connect the monitor to receiver, the hdmi signal disappears (receiver panel indicator) and the monitor menu option/information status indicates 720x480@60Hz. I tryed others resolutions, but no success. I`ll contact Samsung support to check the HDCP and, if ok, I`ll contact Denon.
I wait more suggestions. I really need help.