Z series Why HDMI audio out shows only 2 speakers?

hi all

i just noticed when i play movies via HDMI cable from my Z750 to my TV sound is only stereo - 2 speakers !!
There is not even possibility to chose 4 or 5.1 speakers in device settings!! only 2 !!

I tought ANY HDMI is capable do transfer also HIGH QUALITY sound (including 5.1 speakers) other then High quallity picture!

Do i need to download something ( like realtek high definition audio) ?
When i use HDMI connection from my desktop computer trough my TV im always able to change number of speakers in settings.

 

Has your TV more than 2 speakers?!

So what is the use to change the speaker settup?

TDO

 

YOu will see 5.1 or 7.1 only if you connect it to equipment that is capable of it (such as an A/V receiver).

 

My A/V is capable for 7.1 and im using it with my HDMI from my desktop computer! With no problem!

I cant understand why my VAIO HDMI audio options show only 2 speakers!
It very anoying....
I will install WIN 7 today and see if i have same problem!

Im wondering if i need to install aditional realtek software, but i dont think thats a problem.

Anyone here using HDMI and getting more speakers in settings option?

 

Have you tried moninfo?

It will show you what EDID information your receiver sends to your notebook.
(one part of the information are the supported speakers)

TDO

 

It is normal that you only see 2 speakers for HDMI Settings in Audio Settings. In VLC you can set the audio device from 2 Speakers to digital out (I think the name is A25/SPDIF) and afterwards you have surround sound. Windows Media Player do it automatically if the movie has an audio track with more than 2 chanels.

But it is not possible to use more than 2 speakers for gaming etc - multi channel over HDMI is only for movies.

 

thank you guys but i still have a problem! no luck!

i would really like to hear from someone here that he is getting more then 2 speakers option on VAIO notebook when connected trough HDMI!
So i can know its not just my computer!

This is how i find it:

audio settings-sound-playback devices-right click on HDMI output-configure speakers------ i shows only ONE option,and thats 2 speakers!

moninfo shows 5.1 speakers !
Im using HDMI only for high quality movies, and they are all 5.1 or 6.1!

But my VAIO still shows 2 speakers out.

Anyway, im now at work and trying to find any settings in my computer where it shows HDMI 2 speakers.
And i can not find it. So i presume that speakers option in HDMI is only available when HDMI is connected to A/V.
As i said earlier i will install win7 soon and will see how it goes....

EDIT... hmmmm... I was trying to thing something, maybe HDMI is only capable to transfer 5.1 if movie is played from DVD disc directly, and not from movie that is on hard drive! can this be a issue?

 

DARIO-G

EDIT... hmmmm... I was trying to thing something, maybe HDMI is only capable to transfer 5.1 if movie is played from DVD disc directly, and not from movie that is on hard drive!

of course u have 2 channels in hdmi ...
everywhere is 2channel that is the base or basic in the world ..
and when u using av receivers and other audio video equipments they are capable to multiply channels ...
and then you have technologies (now digital) which multiplying 2 channels to more
dolby digital and dts is to make from ''basic'' two channels more channels ..
so get installed your latest as possible Win dvd player or power dvd .. latest! where you can set dolby/DTS pass through .. (LPC /or BITStream ) <<--- dont know which is right one now still swapping to make sure ...
connect HDMI to vaio then to av receiver set properly WINdvd-v10 -power dvd
Notice : you will never get DOLBY TrueHD or DTS-HD because its not implemented in vaio laptops or maybe I don't know in new laptops there is already HDMI 1.3 b support .. ? dont know ..

Now dolby have new thing !! 9.1 pro logic IIz

 

AGAIN:

You cannot edit the Windows Audio Settings to more than 2 Speakers!

Please make a test:

Download this Movie: click me

Choose the one with surround sound (MP4). Connect your Z with your AV-Receiver and play this movie with windows media player. Do you have Dolby Digital enabled (look at your AV-Receiver)?

 

oh come on ..
it's long time that games support dolby ..
I'll check this out over HDMI and will let know ..

 

Do you really mean Dolby Digital in games or do you mean multi channel support with is possible with eg. EAX?

EDIT: Dolby Pro Logic support is possible (eg Wii/Ps2 does this) but this is transmited within a stereo channel and has to be decoded (eg an AV-Receiver).

 

no no am not talking about any EAX that is notyhing to do with channels that is ONLY effect nothing else ... what creative have ..
am just wondering if I will connect HDMI cable to AV receiver and start the game if I will get Dolby digital in av receiver from game ...
of course via digital optical cable will work ...

 

ok guys,when i get home tonight i will try again what you said....

All this confusion is because HDMI sound via my VAIO to my A/V honestly suck! ( and shows 2 speakers OUT) .

And using HDMI from my desktop computer sound is 10x better!
In desktop computer audio HDMI settings im able to choose 5.1 or even 7.1 speakers, and there is BIG BIG difference then when i select only 2 speakers. (in this case sound is identical to my VAIO).

I will play with this tonight and will post here results

 

istall that WinDVD 10 and power 9 and try some blu-rays ..
do you have av receiver supports dts-hd and dolby true hd ?

 

Base
there is another new technology for games made from dolby ..
it's called AXON
http://www.dolby.com/professional/technology/games/dolby-axon.html

 

VS.

I must admit I dont know anything about Axon but as far as I see it was announced at September the 17th 2009. Its a bit far away from "long time"

BTT: @dario8787

Please try the movie which I mentioned before and play it with windows media player. If you have surround then you config with winDVD is wrong.

One thing (dont know if already mentioned) - do you have installed the latest audio driver from Realtek directly?

 

To be honest, i dont! I will instal Realtek directly from website today!
That could be a problem!

I will post here results.......

 

Having the same problem.. and I can't seem to get 5.1 surround from my HDMI port on my Z. I've played a 5.1 channel test audio and it's only coming through as stereo.

Now, I never did download the drivers from Sony's site.. I let Windows7 do it's automatic detection and installation for my sound. I also don't remember if I had dolby digital when I was using Vista (can someone confirm?).

Jay

 

@ all

Download the latest "High Definition Audio Codecs (Software)" from realtek - http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/

Be aware - when you want to use VLC to play movies Dolby Digital (DD) then you have to change the device in VLC directly (Audio -> Audio Device -> ...SPDIF). But in VLC I get some sound errors.

Windows Media Player (WMP) should select the right settings automatically. On my Z4 (european model) I was able to play movies with DD - it was decoded through my AV-receiver.

 

jeez everyone here is having problems... and NONE of them bothered to install the realtek driver, MADE for our HDMI ports?

=P

 

ok guys here is the thing
my A/V shows DTS and Dolby signs while playing movie from vaio HDMI.
Vaio settings still shows 2 speakers out.
Sound is still waaaay far (worse) from sound im getting from my desktop computer!
i installed latest drivers from realtek

ps i will try to post picture here latter which shows my desktop HDMI settings allowing me to select 5.1 speakers and my VAIO settings with ONLY 2 speakers

 

dario
dont expect from vaio z mega great HDMI ...
that wasn't priority to manuf. laptop ..
anyway you don't need realtek to use HDMI ...
on vaio Z you need --->> Intel® High Definition Audio Compatible but on my vaio -AW I need to install nVIDIA high definition because HDMI is nvidia audio driver
so find it on intel web ... and do not downl. realtek drivers from realtek because you might encounter issues .. you need to install realtek only from sony web they are tested ..
I had one version of realtek and my laptop crashed because of sound driver .
and please stop checking that you see 2 channels hdmi you CANNOT see more ...
look here on playstation .. pic :
you sending 2 channels to your receiver and receiver generating from 2 channels more .. you have to select correct kHz format what your receiver support and what DTS and DD supports they DO NOT support 96 kHz

 

The HDMI multi channel audio support depends upon your sound card. Your sound card might support only 2-channel audio whether it's line out or HDMI out. Also desktop sound cards are more powerful than laptop cards and support multi channel audio.

 

thanx guys
i think that is the issue

Not only i can see more speakers (7.1) trough my desktop sound card HDMI but i can test all speakers one by one from computer to A/V!

Im very disappointed with vaio HDMI, playing high quallity video with crapy sound is not for me!

 

Anyone got any confirmation on the surround situation?

I've got a CW on order, but now I’m worried it won't do surround after all. Even though when I called up support they said it could.

With regards to the sound card supporting multichannel I’m not sure if it is necessarily an issue:
To output analogue surround the sound card must have a DAC for each channel and corresponding connectors. However outputting surround via hdmi is pure digital so at least for films all it realy needs to do is stream the audio data though the hdmi port. Surround in games may require more effort on the part of the sound card.

My experience with a samsung laptop (hdmi, only stereo analogue out, nvidia 105m, win 7) was the hdmi audio and analogue audio showed as separate audio devices. The realtek analogue one only had stereo options but the nvida hdmi device had surround speaker setup.

Has anyone looked at this support link yet?
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/support-info.pl?template=&info_id=23
It has some stuff about hdmi surround setup at the bottom.


If when my CW arrives it doesn't do surround I will be sending it back. My cheap 4 year old acer can do surround via optical out so it seems ridiculous that a brand new sony sold as a multimedia notebook with hdmi and blu-ray couldn't.

Sadly I don't expect True-HD and DTS master to work since these reqiure the sound card to support PAP (protected audio path) which is still quite rare even in desktops.

 

what motherboard you have (desktop )
thnx

 

Anybody know what version is the HDMI connector on the Sony Z Vaio system: v1.2, v1.3, v1.3a, v1.3b, v1.3c or the latest v1.4 ?

And is it possible to update 1.3 to 1.4 by a firmware update? or can this only be done by changing hardware?

 

haha you funny ...
how you want change version of hdmi ??
You can't change it ..
Version is 1.3 you cannot change it to any newer version ...
and that what you said about 1.4 . haha
that totally u will never have it ..
1.4 that is or will be new type of HDMI which will support network/LAN connection

 

Information About Vaio Hdmi!

 

Thank you.

After talking to a Sony UK sales representative, he told me it was possible to upgrade it, which I found strange, from there the question.
And because I am aware that the bandwith and speed of hdmi on both 1.4 and 1.3 versions are the same, maybe it was possible. Also the fact that Sony limit their HD up to max 1920x1200, maybe anything is possible with Sony.

I found this as well:
http://www.hdmi.org/manufacturer/hdmi_1_4/hdmi_1_4_faq.aspx#7

Can older HDMI (v.1.0 - 1.3) devices be firmware-upgraded to take advantage of the new features introduced in HDMI 1.4?
Probably not. Most of the new features introduced in HDMI 1.4 will require a new HDMI chip to enable, and cannot be upgraded via firmware.


+ I just phoned Sony US, and there the sales representative looked at various Sony Vaio Z890 systems, on which she said v1.2 was present! so beware for those that believe it to be v1.3 from US!

I am just about to cancel my order in which I purchased a SonyZ890 from US, after knowing it is v1.2. WWAN + GPS not working in Europe. Only advantage on the US would be price on SSD.

 

Yes I was little bit surprised that Sony claiming there is 1.3 but you right there is 1.2 or 1.2a but why they saying there ''although'' ?
I have seen new updated chart of progressing HDMI technology on wiki .. picture below ...

You have to wait and wait ..for new things
and when new thing will arrive you will ask your self : should i wait for those another new better things ? Hmm , I will wait wait and wait and buy NEVER ..
There will be always limits ..
People will never be satisfied ..

 

I will find out tomorrow, for 5th time, whether Sony UK sells the v1.3 or a fake v1.3 (i.e. "...features such as 'Deep Color' and support for Dolby TrueHD® and DTS-HD™ Master Audio bitstreams are not currently implemented") which is actually equivalent to v1.2 which has a max throughput of 1920x1200 @ 60Hz - what use is this on TVs which are able to hold 120Hz and up).

This time I'll ask them to check the specs on recent shippings, just how the US representative checked them. I think we will be in for a suprise.

 

"Most Blu-ray movie disc video is encoded at about 24 frames per second. This is the frame rate for film. Some standalone Blu-ray players can output video at that framerate as long as the HDTV can handle the signal (a 120 Hz set is required). The display components' output frequency of current HDMI-equipped VAIO computer systems cannot be changed to support this frame rate."


Think about it for a second...

-We are being sold a laptop by Sony stating it has full HD, yet we cannot experience the full HD experience.
-Computers namely have 32bit, this hdmi connector only sends out 24bit (loss in colour depth).
-Blu-ray enabled computer, yet... if 24fps is the framerate in which an average HD film is encoded and outputs, 120Hz is required. What is the point of having a Blu-ray drive if your hdmi connector only transmits up to max. 60Hz.

*Perhaps the Blu-ray models have hdmi v1.3 ?

I may be wrong, but this is the way I have come to understand it.

 

yeah
When i select 24fps in my HDMI Nvidia options picture is very chopy and almost unwatchable!

Sony Vaio HDMI is joke!

 

I assume you are watchinga BluRay.

Than 24p works perfectly.

Must be your tv or monitor.

TDO

 

Surely you know that only 24 bit are realy use (8bit per colour).
So you loose nothing.

NO - a 24fps film has to be outputted at 24p!!
Than the tv can display it at 24fps (recommended) or with 48fps, 72fps, 96fps, 120fps, ...

TDO

 

@ TDO - when increasing resolution; colour depth is more important. And at end of day 120Hz is required to handle the 24fps.

perhaps you are outputting at 192kHz/24bit, hdmi v1.2 can only output 2 channels at this value. And only 96kHz/24bit at 5.1 surround sound.
I suggest you to try and change the ...kHz/...bit values in windows and receiver.

Hdmi v1.3 can output at 192kHz/24bit (2 channels) or 96kHz/24bit (8channels).

 

@ dario8787 - To give you an idea...

I use a SPDIF (optical), outputs at 5.1.

I can only output at max. 96kHz/24bit (2channels) and 48kHz/24bit (6channels). The higher the ...kHz/...bit the lower the channels.
I can test this out under Control Panel > Audio > properties > Advanced (for SPDIF in Vista that is).
You can test this out under Control Panel > Digital Audio (HDMI) properties > Advanced (for HDMI)
You're receiver should then automatically detect how many channels it can pick up and remember to choose the right sound field, e.g. Dolby Pro Logic II and not 2Ch. stereo.

Suprise suprise

 

I could have sworn people reported 5.1 Dolby Digital/DTS playback via HDMI on the Vaio Z under Vista in older posts. Maybe this issue is due to Win7 at the moment until manufacturers update the drivers?

 

I can little bit describe that I can send 1080p and 1080/24p signals through my AW series laptop (should be same on Vaio Z) and some important settings

1.First picture shows that graphic and ext. display (TV) is HDCP
2.Second says do not resize ext. display (TV) so autom. make on full pixel
3.Third; selecting HDMI in WinDVD
4.Fourth; in here is setting audio/video options as you can see there is :
Disable audio bypass to ext. processor so that CANNOT be disabled that
mean basic audio 2-ch with 24 bit/16 bit and 48 kHz (pic 10) will be sent to
receiver.
Then advanced video options that everybody knows ..
5.Fifth; here I have set Blu-ray playing in 1080p mode so you can see it on
pic 6
6. actual picture
7. sevnth; Here I selected blu-ray play in 1080/24p mode result is on pic 8.
8. picture
9. ninth; On this picture you can see HDCP is supported and what sample
rates support as you can see in encoded format there are no compressed
formats found dts dd ... that means when you playing blu-ray or dvd via
HDMI these formats MUST GO straight from disc through nVidia HDMI hi def
audio to the A/V receiver and it must be properly set even in player
software how I explained in 4 point .. In Power DVD 9 there is HDMI option
to select DD and DTS pass through and bitstream I think don't remember
10.Tenth; last pic says which samlpe rates should be selected You can select
16 bit depth or 24 (new receivers support up to 192 so that is no prob .
but dts and dd might not or might yes.. support 24bit this is important it might support
16 bit only .. I tried on digital optical 96 kHz and dts and dd didn't work but on old receiver

So that's it I hope this will be a bit helpful
I know I didn't try dts or dd becaue I don't use AV receiver I have logitech and using optical cable
I have old receiver but it doesn't support HDMI audio (so strange sony made av receiver with HDMI and with no audio stupid hm ?
I am planing to buy STR-DH800 AV receiver it supports all formats includ. DTS-HD and DD TrueHD

 

Here is rest of pics ..

To be honest I don't like 1080/24p mode because I can see my TV picture is blinking there is low hertz so for this mode you need good or quite new big screen TV with motion flow 100 or 200 hertz
Actually this signal means that film will be played exactly same speed as in cinema so same speed ..
I have older KDL-40V3000 TV so I prefer 1080p 60 hertz the difference of speed is about 4% - 5%

 

I have no clue what you want to say.

Colour depth has nothing to do with resolution.
Your grafik driver only shows 32bit as modern cpus perform better with word-aligned memory access - only 24 bits are realy used (independent what resolution you choose)

My tv runs with 240Hz - nevertheless a 24fps movie (independend of pc or bluray player) has to be transfered at 24p.

TDO

 

True! However what I previously said is if you increased the resolution, so for example to 2560×1600 or 4096×2160, then your colour depth becomes more important when viewing. And Yes! These resolutions are used for bigger screeens.


Sony states:
"Most Blu-ray movie disc video is encoded at about 24 frames per second. This is the frame rate for film. Some standalone Blu-ray players can output video at that framerate as long as the HDTV can handle the signal (a 120 Hz set is required)."

This suggests that HDTVs that are 120Hz or above can handle the 24fps. So people will have to buy new HDTVs which are 120Hz or above.

 

Helllo guys
I just got one laptop ACER 6920G to repair reinstall win etc
and ..
when I finished installing realtek h.def audio and ATI HDMI audio I couldn't belive my EYES !!! honestly .. nVIDIA HDMI is C-R-A-P !!!
Take a look at THIS !!! (I actually don't know why there are 2x HDMI ...)
pictures ...

 

Rest of pics HDMI

 

Read it again. ..

"Most Blu-ray movie disc video is encoded at about 24 frames per second. This is the frame rate for film. Some standalone Blu-ray players can output video at that framerate as long as the HDTV can handle the signal (a 120 Hz set is required)."

They are writing about 24p output!

So it seems that in the US only 120Hz tvs can display that corretly. (with 60 Hz you will get horrible judder)

TDO

 

I have just tested it.

Under Vista it also shows only 2 speakers.

But 5.1 Dolby and DTS pass through works like a charme. Perfect sound.


TDO

 

When you finally get it that you will NEVER see more than 2 ch of HDMI ??

So you tried DTS/Dolby under vista via HDMI , so it works ..
And in Win7 is not working ?

 

That's something you have to ask dario8787 - he has problems.

I have only answered Diversion and told him that under Vista it also shows only 2 channles, but everything works as it should and the sound is great.

TDO

 

Hey Guys
I just sold fat ps3 and bought slim ps3 for the same price
and decoding/encoding TrueHD and DTS-HD nice
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10314795-1.html