dts-hd-ma over hdmi

[MdMa]

The Nvidia website does say the GT610 can bitstream HD Audio.
http://www.nvidia.in/object/geforce-gt-610-in.html

The question is whether the linux drivers or Audio Engine support this.

I think a different thread title may get you a better response. Something like Nvidia GT610 HD Audio Bitstreaming.

[fritsch]

Yes and Yes.

Everything starting with ION-2 can do DTS-HD / TrueHD on Linux and therefore on OpenELEC. Those bitstream formats are really demanding concerning "lateness" and "timeout". In suboptimal conditions (network delay, late renderer) they drop far more fast than other normal formats.

[Alexandro]

Thank you all for your replies.
I did some "internet research" and acording to the info provided by xbmc Wiki, GT610 is fully capable of bitstreamind HD audio formats.
Just hit the "BUY" button for a GT610 passive.
Will let you know once it arrives.

[Alexandro]

Asus GT610 received. The HD audio works now. It is interesting that the ION1 motherboard didn't detected the AVR in the output and pass through settings, while 610 reports that Onkyo AVR is attached on the HDMI.
Topic closed for me.
Thank you all again.

[stasik]

thanks all for clarifying that!!!
just a few more questions:
1. does it matter who decodes (ion gpu or av receiver) in terms of sound quality? what is superior, dts or lpcm?
2. do all dts-ma consist of dtc core+other stuff? coz i was watching a movie with dts-ma 7.1, ion1 over hdmi, and the av receiver reported dts 5.1. so i presume ion decoded what it could (dts 5.1) and discarded the rest (half of bitrates...).
3. what wold happen if ion2 would decode dts-ma 7.1 but i have only 6 speakers (5.1 setup)? will it merge the 2 channels or discard them. if it discards the 2 channel, does it become a core dts 5.1 or still better quality than standard dts 5.1?
4. if hdts-ma can be decoded on ion1 (dts core), then can TrueHD be played on ion1 over hdmi like dts-ma, or it can not be broken down?
5. if ion1 can not decode, and coax option is selected in setup (lpcm), then it can support max 6 channels (5.1) and the rest 2 channels from 7.1 are discarded?

i just want to understand what is happening behind the scenes.
thanks

[robdeep]

Hi All,

I figured I would bump this thread, since I think I have a similar situation. I believe I have a ION 1 based Zotac box, it's a few years old. I'm running the ION build of OE v3.2.3. I have a Onkyo receiver capable of all the current uncompressed audio formats, but I haven't been able to get the DTS-MA or a variant of the the same audio as PCM into my receiver. I currently have the two options for "True HD" and "DTS-MA" capable receivers unchecked in my OE config. When they are enabled and I play an DTS-MA mkv I just get a buzzing sound. With them disabled, I think I'm just getting the DTS core audio track. Shouldn't I be able to get the PCM stream into the receiver?

Thanks

[chewitt]

1st generation ION hardware does not support passthrough of the HD formats, it was first introduced in the 2nd generation ION chipsets. It's working correctly and as expected. Time for an upgrade

[stasik]

@robdeep
to get the PCM u have to ucheck the "True HD" and "DTS-MA" from the setting and also change audio autput from HDMI to Coaxial. now u ll get pcm. but from my own experience, dts sound better then pcm, especially subwoofer power. so if u have a choice between True HD and DTS-MA, select DTS-MA and it will be downgraded to DTS. True HD can not be downgraded and the only option is PCM.
i also noticed that with 7.1 PCM, i had no sound at my rear right speaker (i have 5.1 system) so i think in PCM the channels a mixed or some other stuff happening.
so my advice, DTS is the best u can get out of ion1 gpu. i had bad experience with PCM.

[robdeep]

Thanks Stasik. I'll stick with the regular DTS, which frankly is more than adequate. I may upgrade to an ION2 system to get the DTS-MA, since my receiver supports it, and it seems like DTS-MA content is becoming a bit more common.