[mythtv-users] PCI (or USB) soundcard that can passthrough SPDIF to surround sound amp

[Kevin Kuphal]

On Thu, Mar 20, 2008 at 9:58 PM, Phil Bridges <gravityhammer at gmail.com>
wrote:

>  On Thu, Mar 20, 2008 at 10:50 PM, Kevin Kuphal <kkuphal at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >
> > On Thu, Mar 20, 2008 at 8:03 PM, Phil Bridges <gravityhammer at gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > On Mon, Mar 10, 2008 at 10:00 AM, Kevin Kuphal <kkuphal at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > On Sun, Mar 9, 2008 at 12:54 PM, Rob Beard <rob at esdelle.co.uk>
> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > Hi folks,
> > > > >
> > > > > I'm hoping someone might be able to advise me on an issue I have
> > trying
> > > > > to find a sound card.
> > > > >
> > > > > Basically I've upgraded my PC to a new Phenom 9600 with MSI K9A2
> > > > > motherboard (the cheap version).  Now my old motherboard (an MSI
> P35
> > > > > Neo2 with Pentium Dual Core E2160) had SPDIF output on the
> motherboard
> > > > > which I was able to use an SPDIF header with to output AC3 and DTS
> > audio
> > > > > to my surround sound amp.
> > > > >
> > > > > The new board does have an SPDIF header on the board but it is
> only
> > > > > 2-pin rather than a 3-pin header.  I have tried enabling the SPDIF
> > > > > output in the Alsa mixer and sending the DVD audio to SPDIF using
> the
> > > > > passthrough but I don't get anything (despite trying different
> > > > > combinations of the 3 pins).
> > > > >
> > > > > So, after giving up on that I decided to look for a sound card
> that
> > > > > would enable SPDIF passthrough.
> > > > >
> > > > > I've bought an external Sweex USB 5.1 Sound Card which has TOSLINK
> > > > > in/out.  It's supposedly based on the CMedia CM106 chip.  This
> works
> > in
> > > > > Windows perfectly well as far as Windows sounds are sent over the
> > > > > TOSLINK connection to my amp.  So far so good.
> > > > >
> > > > > I then reboot into Ubuntu 7.10 and although I can play sounds
> through
> > > > > the analogue outputs on the card I can't get anything through the
> > > > > TOSLINK connection, if I try SPDIF passthrough I get what sounds
> like
> > > > > noise (a bit like if I was going to play a data CD in a CD
> player).
> > > > >
> > > > > I've also got a SoundBlaster Live 5.1 Digital (I think it's from
> an
> > old
> > > > > Dell) which I've tried connecting the digital out to my amp using
> a
> > > > > 3.5mm to 2 x Phono cable and this doesn't seem to work either
> (I've
> > > > > tried all sorts but from what I can tell it needs some specific
> > commands
> > > > > sending to the EMU chip?).  The analogue connection works but the
> > > > > digital connection doesn't do anything.  I wasn't able to try this
> in
> > > > > Windows as I can't seem to download a driver, just a driver update
> > which
> > > > > won't install!!!
> > > > >
> > > > > So I'm on the lookout for a new sound card which is supported by
> > Ubuntu
> > > > > 7.10 (or 8.04) AMD64.  I have an coax SPDIF to optical TOSLINK
> adaptor
> > > > > (which does work - my amp has optical input) so either with
> optical
> > > > > TOSLINK, coax SPDIF outputs or both would be ideal.
> > > > >
> > > > > Would something on the CMI8768+8CH chip (such as this:
> > > > > http://www.ebuyer.com/product/106539) be suitable?
> > > > >
> > > > > If anyone has got any suggestions, or even knows how to get the
> SPDIF
> > > > > output on a SB Live 5.1 Digital working then that would be ideal.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > I can *strongly* recommend two cards:
> > > >
> > > > TurtleBeach Riviera:
> > > > http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829118105
> > > > AOpen Cobra AW870LP
> > > >
> > > > The first is a 5.1 with optical that *just works* out of the box
> with
> > ALSA
> > > > and passthrough (no crazy asoundrc files) and the second is a low
> > profile
> > > > card that works just as well in case you have a smaller case and are
> > looking
> > > > for that.  I cannot recommend the Riviera strongly enough for
> optical
> > > > passthrough.
> > > >
> > > > Kevin
> > >
> > > Kevin -
> > >
> > > I also have one of the AOpen Cobra cards, and use the cmipci module.
> > > I had this card working fine for AC3 and DTS files in a previous box.
> > > I updated a frontend the other day to digital output (and 0.21) , and
> > > put in this card.  I have digital audio working, but it's in stereo.
> > > I have tried speaker-test, but I only get audio from the front left
> > > and front right channels.  Is there any direction you can point me in
> > > to get multi-channel working over the SPDIF?
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >  I never had to do much more than put in the card, set ALSA:default in
> the
> > Myth config, make sure the IEC958 or whatever is unmuted in alsa-mixer
> and
> > set Myth to AC3 passthrough.
> >
> > Kevin
>
> That's what I seem to remember, as well.  Argh.
>
>
Try to upgrade/downgrade your ALSA drivers.  Maybe it's an issue with them.
Also, in 0.21, check the upmix settings and be sure it is set to Stereo and
Passive.  On mine, setting it to anything else was a disaster.

Kevin
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