The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    R3 connected to Harmon Kardon AVR 2600 Receiver via HDMI

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by LVNeptune, May 3, 2011.

  1. LVNeptune

    LVNeptune Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    648
    Messages:
    2,195
    Likes Received:
    140
    Trophy Points:
    81
    Speaker setup seems kind of....wacky...If I have Windows set to a 5.1 setup in the speaker options all the speakers work except the CENTER speaker, if I set it to Stereo (2 Speaker Only), All the speakers SEEM to activate, including the center channel. I tested Portal 2 and it STILL sounds like I am getting rear sound...

    Can someone else test? I am at a loss, I also tested with the Toy Story 3 Bluray and I get full surround but I don't know....Seems WEIRD.
     
    LVNeptune, May 3, 2011
    #1
  2. Torai

    Torai Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    1,637
    Messages:
    399
    Likes Received:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Dont do that. Dont use HDMI.
    Your R3 has S/PDIF out. The AVR 2600 has OPTICAL IN. That's enough.

    What you need is something similar to this and this only. You'll get 5.1 out to your AV receiver.

    Toslink to Mini Optical Digital SPDIF Audio Cable

    Or you can buy a toslink cable and use the mini adapter that comes with your R3.
     
    Torai, May 3, 2011
    #2
  3. Jestare

    Jestare Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    34
    Messages:
    165
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Why wouldn't he use HDMI? Especially since the AVR 2600 is one of HK newer receivers. What you're suggesting is that he run the HDMI and an SPDIF when the HDMI itself should be sufficient? @Neptune, Is the firmware on your AVR2600 up to date?
     
    Jestare, May 3, 2011
    #3
  4. LVNeptune

    LVNeptune Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    648
    Messages:
    2,195
    Likes Received:
    140
    Trophy Points:
    81
    AVR 2600 is up to date...

    Optical is actually old technology, you can't get true 5.1/7.1 through it especially at higher frequencies/etc.

    It isn't the AVR, everything works fine within a PS3 and 360 for the most part.

    I mean heck, it's working fine right now, I just want to know why it works when technically I am forcing the PC to 2 channel but the receiver decodes properly, this isn't emulated sound, the Toy Story 3 test wouldn't hit the proper channels if that were the case.
     
    LVNeptune, May 3, 2011
    #4
  5. LVNeptune

    LVNeptune Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    648
    Messages:
    2,195
    Likes Received:
    140
    Trophy Points:
    81
    Noone can test? :(
     
    LVNeptune, May 4, 2011
    #5