Advice on getting the best out of my 5.1 Surround System (1 Viewer)

[elsmandino]

Hi there,

After messing around with my HTPC for a couple of years now, I am finally getting it set up exactly how I want it and want to now concentrate and ironing out all the creases.

I have my HTPC running into a Yamaha YHT294 5.1 amplifier via HDMI and then from the amp into my TV.

I would be really grateful for advice on the best possible settings to get the most out of my set up - i.e. settings in both Windows 7 and in Mediaportal itself.

I have read as much as I can on audio setups and have ended up overwhelming myself with options - one thing in particular, I have read, is to make sure that an unadulterated signal is sent to the amp and to let the amp do all the decoding - how do I check that this is indeed happening?

Also, is there any way that I can make sure that the amplifier is the only way of controlling windows/mediaportal volume? (i.e. all the HTPC's outputs are put at 100% all the time)? It can be a bit irritating when I turn the amp up quite a bit and it is still quite low in volume, due to the mediaportal output volume (in windows volume control) being very low.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[HomeY]

Hi elsmandino,

I have read as much as I can on audio setups and have ended up overwhelming myself with options - one thing in particular, I have read, is to make sure that an unadulterated signal is sent to the amp and to let the amp do all the decoding - how do I check that this is indeed happening?

That option is called 'bitstreaming' and needs to be enabled on the codec/filter you use for playback.
I would suggest to use the LAV Filters, which are included in the 1.3 Installs (or you can install them through the MediaPortal Extension Installer) and combine those with the power of the MediaPortal Audio Renderer (which is also included in the 1.3 installs).

You can configure the codecs in MediaPortal Configurator (codec section) by pressing on the 'screwdriver' icon next to the filter. Make sure 'bitstreaming' is DISabled for the audio formats which are supported by your receiver if you're gonna use the MediaPortal Audio Renderer (since enabling bitstreaming breaks the funcionality of the Audio Renderer). With the Default Audio Renderer you can leave the bitstreaming boxes checked.
Additional Codecs & Renderer info: http://wiki.team-mediaportal.com/1_...es/Config_Related_Changes/Codecs_and_Renderer

Also, is there any way that I can make sure that the amplifier is the only way of controlling windows/mediaportal volume? (i.e. all the HTPC's outputs are put at 100% all the time)? It can be a bit irritating when I turn the amp up quite a bit and it is still quite low in volume, due to the mediaportal output volume (in windows volume control) being very low.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I'm using a Harmony remote, so i've got that setup that Volume control is done on the receiver.
If you don't have a universal remote, the trick is to make sure you set the volume in MP to the max (which i've done also) and NEVER touch it again and use the remote from your receiver to adjust the volume.

 

[elsmandino]

Hello Homey,

Thanks for all that - I shall have a quick tinker with my mediaportal settings tonight when I get in from work. I am a little worried as to how many settings there are for audio!

I have managed to find my amp on the Yamaha website http://au.yamaha.com/en/product_archive/audio-visual/yht-294___l/?mode=model
but I cannot find anywhere that states exactly what audio formats, exactly, are supported. Have I missed something?

I have also found out, from another site, that this particular amplifier will no decode HD audio? What exactly does this mean and how will it affect my set up?

 

[HomeY]

I have managed to find my amp on the Yamaha website http://au.yamaha.com/en/product_archive/audio-visual/yht-294___l/?mode=model
but I cannot find anywhere that states exactly what audio formats, exactly, are supported. Have I missed something?

I have also found out, from another site, that this particular amplifier will no decode HD audio? What exactly does this mean and how will it affect my set up?

Dolby Digital / Pro Logic II & DTS are the supported audio formats, so indeed no HD Audio (DTS-HD, TrueHD, LPCM).
This means that when you play a file which has HD audio, it will be 'downscaled' to normal DTS. It probably doesn't affect your setup, but you're limited to the non HD Audio formats (which still sound good).