Encoded Digital Audio Output problems

Question

Encoded Digital Audio Output problems

I recently got a set of Creative GD580 speakers for my Dual 2.3 G5. In case anyone is wondering, the speakers sound like tin cans, but the set comes with an amazing Digital Decoder box that works like a charm. I have a Digital Optical cable running from the G5 to the decoder, which then splits it into 5.1 analog stereo for the speakers. I have no problem getting sound to play, but when I go into the Audio MIDI Setup utility, I can't set the output option to Encoded Digital Audio. When I select this, all sound stops, and if I try to play a song in iTunes, no sound and the progress bar doesn't even move on iTunes! It's not that big a deal, because I can output 2 channel sound to the box, which then upmixes it to 5.1, but it just doesn't sound the same after being remixed twice, a little muddy IMHO. Anyone have any suggestions? I'm hoping to get away with not having to do a clean reinstall of Tiger, which is what I'm thinking probably ought to be done anyways.

Posted on Jun 30, 2006 8:44 PM

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Answer 1

ds store

Level 7

30,855 points

Jun 30, 2006 9:30 PM in response to Mike Plummer1

In case anyone is wondering, the speakers sound like tin cans

No wonder:

Satellites: 6 Watts RMS per channel (5 channels)
SubWoofer: 17 Watts

but it just doesn't sound the same after being remixed twice, a little muddy IMHO

You really can't expect much for what you paid for, under $70 right?

I can't set the output option to Encoded Digital Audio. When I select this, all sound stops, and if I try to play a song in iTunes, no sound and the progress bar doesn't even move on iTunes!

In Audio MIDI Setup set the Format back to 2 ch-16 bit and quit.

Quit and restart iTunes and you should be fine.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Get a better quality 5.1-7.1 surround sound setup.

I got a HK DPR 2005 with matching HKS-14 5.1 speakers. 125 Watts PER channel with 200 watt Subwoofer. You can find this online for about $1200. Be the last system you may ever need and the sound is wonderful. Remote control and everything.

I hear no "muddy" sound on my rig, so it must be your system.

Also if you install the iTunes Volume Logic plug-in, your music will sound professionally engineered and volume controlled.

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Answer 2

Jun 30, 2006 9:50 PM in response to ds store

Sorry, I ought to clarify: I bought the GD580 strictly for the decoder box, I have a much higher quality Logitech system (somewhere in the $450 range) of speakers I actually use. I just threw in the review of the speakers in case anyone was seriously contemplating buying the set to use. The "muddy-ness" I was referring to is that due to the decoder having to take a 2 channel signal and somehow turn it into a 5.1 sound. It just can't be done perfectly. This is why I want to figure out how to get the Digital Encoded Audio signal from the G5 to the decoder box. Then it'd have more data to work with, and the G5 would pass though Dolby signals from DVD's played in VLC and such without mixing them down to 2 channel, transmitting to the box, then mixing back up to 5.1. Thanks for the tip on the Volume Logic plug-in though. Music sounds great now.....in 2.1.

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Answer 3

ds store

Level 7

30,855 points

Jun 30, 2006 10:17 PM in response to Mike Plummer1

The "muddy-ness" I was referring to is that due to the decoder having to take a 2 channel signal and somehow turn it into a 5.1 sound. It just can't be done perfectly.

Perhaps it's the quality of the decoder box, I get nothing but crystal clear sound from the 2 channel iTMS music and my receiver does the same 5.1 conversion thing. You can't expect much for that price and you don't have the wattage either is my point. 🙂

Then it'd have more data to work with, and the G5 would pass though Dolby signals from DVD's played in VLC and such without mixing them down to 2 channel, transmitting to the box, then mixing back up to 5.1

I believe DVD movies with surround sound formats are passed through the digital optical port, encoded, for the receiver to decode. I have to match the decode format on the receiver with the one used on the DVD movie. Of course I use DVD player, perhaps it's VLC or the files giving you 2.0 instead of the encoded surround sound.

Because to decode the various SS formats on the PowerMac requires a M-Audio card and software which uses the CPU's to do the decoding. The card then passes 5 channels of SS out to a powered PC speaker system.

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Answer 4

Jul 2, 2006 10:19 PM in response to Mike Plummer1

Is the decoder box a creative DDTS 100? I am trying to get mine to receive/ decode 5.1 audio from the DVD player for a home theater system, but like you I am getting 2 channel sound from the digital out toslink port.

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Answer 5

Jul 14, 2006 9:52 AM in response to nevadabil

Sorry for the delayed reply. No, mine came with the GD580 speaker set. It is almost exactly the same as the DDTS-100 (same form factor and functions), but doesn't have the switch box and has fewer input ports. Basically, what I've figured out is that pretty much the best thing to do is open up Audio MIDI Setup and make sure that your Toslink is set up as the default output and all that jazz, then press the Mode button on your DDTS to the Music or Movie option (depending on what you're doing. Music works well for normal usage, movie exaggerates voice wavelengths so you can hear dialouge better), and the DDTS will take the 2 channel sound and turn it into 5.1 virtual surround, so it'll play through all the speakers. Unfortunately, I can find no way to pass sound straight to the decoder without it being mixed down to 2 channel stereo. Exceptions to this come from DVD Player and VLC, which pass Dolby audio straight to the Decoder if you set the preferences correctly. Open up DVD Player, go to prefs, Disc Setup, and select Digital Out as the Audio Output. Also, check the Disable Dolby range compression box, because the decoder is hardware so there won't be any slowdown from this. Once you do this, the DDTS will switch to Dolby Digital Playback when you play a DVD with Dolby Audio in DVD Player. Same thing if you hook up an external DVD player using a Digital Coax cable or Optical. I'll try to keep a closer eye on this post if you have any other questions.

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