Nobody at HP can answer this!

I've talked to seven different HP Laptop Support agents today and not one of them can answer this seemingly simple question. I'm seriously frustrated and borderline pissed off.


Does the dv5-1017nr have an SPDIF auido output jack, which will allow me to connect it to my Digital Surround Sound Receiver? Is one of the headphone jacks actually an SPDIF ouput as some HP users in this very forum have said about other HP models?

One of the seven agents said the middle 3.5mm jack on the front outputs SPDIF, even though the jack is not labeled "SPDIF" as it is on other HP models with this feature. However, she didn't know what type of 3.5mm adapter I would need to connect it to my Reciever, optical or coaxial.

My receiver has both optical and coaxial inputs, but before I buy two adapters from monoprice.com (because the HP Support Staff has no **** clue about their own machines) I want to be sure the dv5-1017nr really does output SPDIF through one of the unlabeled 3.5mm jacks on the front.

Sheesh. You'd think I asked them if the world is flat!

If you can help, I'd really appreciate it. I'm seriously starting to consider a SONY, even though they're overpriced. The HP Support Staff can't answer basic questions about their laptops.

I have an HDMI plasma TV, but my Denon receiver is a few years old and doesn't have HDMI inputs. I love my receiver and don't want to replace it. If the dv5-1017nr doesn't have SPDIF output, I know I can get the Turtle Beach Audio Advantage Micro for around 30 bucks, which would seemingly solve the problem, but I just like clear cut answers. Can you imagine trying to sell somebody a car, and you couldn't even tell them if it had a CD player.

Make it eight agents. I just got another email telling me to consult the on-line manual for the third time, which of course makes no mention of SPDIF.

 

It will output SPDIF through HDMI. It's too bad they don't say so specifically, but that's how it's done. Older models used to do it VIA one of the headphone jacks.

 

Good question.. I wondered something similar in the case of the Hp HDX. Since my receiver is also older and does not have HDMI inputs on it. Hopefully one of the great NBR people can help .


EDIT: You answered as soon as I hit submit . Is there no way to hook up to surround sound without hdmi??

I figured it out on mine.. Can hook up the red and white audio cables through the jack on the front and into the reciever.

Good luck with yours!!

 

SPDIF and HDMI are 2 different animals. There is no such thing as SPDIF over HDMI as these are 2 different protocols. On laptops SPDIF is typically being implemented as mini-toslink (3.5mm headphone output jack) or add-on adapter that plugs into multi pin mini-jack with RCA out (digital coax, e.g. Dell Vostro line).
I have DV5 HP laptop and also have the option to enable SPDIF in audio driver (which is available with docking station). I'll try to look into this tonight.
BTW HDMI doesn't output DD nor DTS, only 2 channel PCM. I started a thread on this topic in case anyone is intrested http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=287228

 

God knows that HP support would be of no help to you whatsoever in solving this problem.

I'm going to order the Turtle Beach Audio Advantage Micro from BUY.com for 27$. It doesn't offer Vista 64-bit support yet, but they say a driver for this OS will be available soon. As soon as I get the TBAAM and the 64-bit driver, I'll let everybody know how it works. It looks like we're all going to have to help each other because HP could care less about us!

I would be super pissed off if my new laptop had an HDMI out, but it wouldn't bitstream 5.1 surround to my receiver, tpax!

 

Weird because it works on the HDX. With support for DTS and Dolby digital via the HDMI port seeing as the HDX doesn't have any other Digital output for sound. It's termed Digital output device (SPDIF). Outputs 5.1.

The DV5 and HDX use the same sound driver. IDT high definition audio.

 

That statement is just not true.

I can't answer what is output on a laptop HDMI but the HDMI interface such as on a DVD player is as follows:

Q. What is HDMI?
HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is the first and only industry-supported, uncompressed, all-digital audio/video interface. By delivering crystal-clear, all-digital audio and video via a single cable, HDMI dramatically simplifies cabling and helps provide consumers with the highest-quality home theater experience. HDMI provides an interface between any audio/video source, such as a set-top box, DVD player, or A/V receiver and an audio and/or video monitor, such as a digital television (DTV), over a single cable.

HDMI supports standard, enhanced, or high-definition video, plus multi-channel digital audio on a single cable. It transmits all ATSC HDTV standards and supports 8-channel, 192kHz, uncompressed digital audio and all currently-available compressed formats (such as Dolby Digital and DTS), HDMI 1.3 adds additional support for new lossless digital audio formats Dolby® TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio™ with bandwidth to spare to accommodate future enhancements and requirements.

 

I don't know about notebooks but I do know if Optical can support DD and DTS, then certainly HDMI can as well. Otherwise people would not be spending a grand here, two grand there, for HDMI receivers with lossless processing capabilities.

 

why do you waste your time copying and pasting? Just look at the other thread I started. This laptop doesn't output neither DTS nor DD over HDMI. If you figure out how let us know. I won't even mentioned new DTS HD-Master or Dolby Digital True HD/Dolby Digital +. They claim it's HDMI 1.3. Sony generated a lot of angry customers when they claimed PS3 is HDMI 1.3 that discovered later on the hardware doesn't support new DTS/DD audio codecs in bistream.

 

BTW I verified that front ports on DV5Z are not compatible with mini toslink. Also the driver Controls IDT Audio Settings says SPDIF (Optical Out via HP Dock) which is self explained... I will either return this laptop or use my old trusty M-Audio Transit for sound... So much for integration with HDMI.

 

There is no need to be sarcastic!

You made a statement that simply was not true. Your remark "BTW HDMI doesn't output DD nor DTS, only 2 channel PCM."

You did not direct that remark to the HDMI output on the HP laptop in your post, you may have meant to, but it was a general statement about HDMI. The very next person to post also made a comment that HDMI infact did support DD and DTS outputs so he/she also had an issue with your statement.

I provided the factual information about the HDMI standard to inform that it does indeed output multi-channel sound formats. There are many reading this forum who might take your statement as written as fact.

 

The HDMI on the DV5 outputs 5.1 DD and DTS. I know you were looking for SPDIF optical via one of the headphone jacks. But...

Try this:

Right click the speaker icon in the tray.
Click playback device tab

CLICK Digital Output Device(SPDIF)
Set as default.
Click properties.
Click the supported formats tab.

If the above was missing, you might want to try to reinstall your audio driver. You'll find it in the SWsetup folder. Sometimes what happens is that windows update installs an audio driver it deems is an update. You can stop windows update from automatically installing drivers by setting windows update to "download but let me choose what and when to install."