EggXpert

I have a HTPC running 5.1 sound via optical cable to my 7.1 capable ONKYO audio receiver.  It seems to work well enough, I run a test through Vista Media Center and all of the speakers are singled out (except for the 2 back ones of course).  Blu-Ray movies sound great.

However, since I play blu-rays on it, I would like to take advantage of 7.1, instead of just 5.1.  What is the best way to achieve this?  My ONKYO is around 3 or 4 years old I think, the inputs are similar to this except it doesn't have any HDMI inputs: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ShowImage.aspx?CurImage=82-120-068-04.jpg&Image=82-120-068-01.jpg%2c82-120-068-04.jpg%2c82-120-068-03.jpg&S7ImageFlag=0&WaterMark=1&Item=N82E16882120068&Depa=10&Description=ONKYO%20TXSR506B%20Black%207.1%20Channel%20Receiver

Since my receiver doesn't have HDMI inputs, how would I get 7.1 sound working from my HTPC (or any device for that matter?)  I know optical and coaxle are only capable of 5.1.  I'm using Gigabyte S2H with the 780g chipset: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128090

I was also wondering if it is at all possible to hook speakers up to the PC without the use of a receiver.  Can I somehow get the speakers with their speaker wire to plug into the analog outs of my onboard audio?

Probably get 4 of these cables and connect them to your ONKYO.

mrjspeed:

I have a HTPC running 5.1 sound via optical cable to my 7.1 capable ONKYO audio receiver.  It seems to work well enough, I run a test through Vista Media Center and all of the speakers are singled out (except for the 2 back ones of course).  Blu-Ray movies sound great.

However, since I play blu-rays on it, I would like to take advantage of 7.1, instead of just 5.1.  What is the best way to achieve this?  My ONKYO is around 3 or 4 years old I think, the inputs are similar to this except it doesn't have any HDMI inputs: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ShowImage.aspx?CurImage=82-120-068-04.jpg&Image=82-120-068-01.jpg%2c82-120-068-04.jpg%2c82-120-068-03.jpg&S7ImageFlag=0&WaterMark=1&Item=N82E16882120068&Depa=10&Description=ONKYO%20TXSR506B%20Black%207.1%20Channel%20Receiver

Since my receiver doesn't have HDMI inputs, how would I get 7.1 sound working from my HTPC (or any device for that matter?)  I know optical and coaxle are only capable of 5.1.  I'm using Gigabyte S2H with the 780g chipset: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128090

I was also wondering if it is at all possible to hook speakers up to the PC without the use of a receiver.  Can I somehow get the speakers with their speaker wire to plug into the analog outs of my onboard audio?

 

Hold on a second there. Optical and coaxial are not only capable of 5.1. These are simply connection types, not formats. Optical can output any number of channels so long as its encoded properly from the start. If your blu-ray movies are encoded in 7.1 (Dolby Digital EX or DTS-S), then an optical connection will still provide you 7.1 surround. Most movies are still only encoded in 5.1 because the general standard is 5.1.

You cannot hook up speakers to the PC without the use of a receiver, because the receiver also serves as the amplifier. Speakers need power to run, and can handle up to a certian wattage level. Your PC will only output the signal, and your receiver/amplifier serves to amplify that signal. There's no way in the world your little tiny sound card will have enough power to power your surround speakers. 

Using the method SergieV suggested will output 7.1 discrete channels to your receiver. However, the sound quality will be less for a number of reasons. First of all, the signal needs to be converted from digital to analog and then back to digital, instead of using digital all the way through. This conversion reduces sound quality. In addition, your cables are more susceptible to intereference. Lastly, you will get 7.1 discrete channels to your receiver, but your sound card will need to be able to decode Dolby Digital EX or DTS-S in order for you to get the true experience, *AND* the DVD/Blu-ray player you're using has to support your sound card's converstion method from the movie's Dolby Digital EX or DTS-S to discrete analog connections or they will otherwise be absolutely nothing more than the front left and right channels duplicated for the center and rear. That's not surround sound, regardless of whether the speakers are placed. Last I checked most sound cards (especially not those off a $80 motherboard) don't decode Dolby Digital EX or DTS-S into 5.1 or 7.1 discrete channels as well as dedicated sound cards do.

In short, stick with optical/coax even if you only have 5.1 channels.

ah, very informative.  I just need to do some more research on my current hardware then.

I have that same motherboard hooked up to a 5.1 system. My question is, in Media Center setup did you set your speaker setup to 7.1 or 5.1? When media center plays DVDs, in my setup at least, it outputs the digital audio untouched over the optical to the receiver which then does all the decoding work. I would look into your media center settings to double check that you have 7.1 as your speaker set up.

i have it as 5.1.  When I play a DVD, it sends the audio in pass-through so I have to control the volume at the receiver.  I can set it to 7.1.  What is strange is that there isn't a sound check for 7.1, only 5.1.

I use ArcSoft's TotalMedia Theatre plugin for Blu-Rays.  If I set that up to be passthrough, would it be capable of passing through 7.1 audio if the BD was encoded with it?

I would set it at 7.1 although if it is truly passing the audio through that setting shouldn't matter. However, I would definitely set the blu ray plugin to pass through the audio. Optical is more than capable of carrying a 7.1 audio signal and in fact its your best option since as said before the audio will stay digital until it reaches your receiver.

 Hopefully, if you set the plugin to pass through you will get the 7.1 audio out of your reciever. On my receiver there is a display to show what speakers are active that changes depending on the audio it is receiving so if yours has that it may give you an indication that 7.1 is enabled.

Why would you want 7.1?  5.1 will serve all your purposes.  You don't need an extra set of speakers or amps.   Your ears can only hear so much, and Dolby pretty much covers it all.  Save some money, and get a better CPU. Or just a decent subwoofer.

Umm, GV3, he is asking how to get 7.1 audio to his 7.1 setup and would like to be able to use it with his Blu-ray discs. True your ears can only hear so much but they can tell position quite well and the extra speakers of a 7.1 setup are there to immerse you deeper into a movie. Regardless, he wasn't asking about the merits of 7.1 vs. 5.1 and I don't know where you got the notion he was asking for input on a new CPU.

PP - I was merely questioning his underlying assumption - except for those lucky few that have an unlimited budget, 7.1 requires two more speakers and two more channels of amplification, neither of which are free.  I don't believe that any 7.1 system sold on NewEgg is worth it.  The only way it makes sense is if you have a budget approaching 5 figures, otherwise you will suffer from inadequate power, limited frequency response and brutal levels of THD.  How many 7.1 systems on NewEgg list RMS power at a stated THD or IM?  Personally, I'll take a better 5.1 system, or a better CPU, or a decent sound card for the additional money - its just the law of decreasing marginal returns.  BTW, you should check out the new 9.1 systems...   : )

I ain't got 'golden ears'(which likely is a good thing)  and my 7.1 setup is nowhere near 5-digits.   Most living rooms are not that large to require hundreds of watts either.   No, my system likely won't render in crystal clarity the snoring of a cockoach behind the stage on which Santana performed, and my ears probably won't hear it anyway, but I can tell you for sure that I hea a DEFINITE difference between 7.1 and 5.1 when someone comes up behind me in a game.

 OP: get an X-Fi card, like an XtremeGamer, (don't get XtremeAudio if you game - it got no EAX) and they all sport 7.1 channel support, which you can send via coax or optical to your receiver.