Dell 2709W HDMI Audio 5.1 Problem

Can anybody confirm / imfirm this issue cause I'm about to return my monitor and I don't want to do this for the wrong reason ! Please ! Is it possible to be a HDMI cable issue ?

It's your Dell 2709W using all 5.1 speakers ?

No, it's likely not either the cable or the monitor.

The sound card on that motherboard does not transmit dolby digital 5.1 or DTS sound so it's not going to send it through the cable for 5.1, thus the monitor is likely interpreting it correctly, so returning the monitor will not gain you anything.

If you have an HDMI source like a DVD player or BluRay player, try that with the monitor and see if the option to support 5.1 is there. Another option is to try using CyberDVD or another DVD software player that passes through 5.1 sound and try that.

I highly doubt the monitor is the problem in your specific case though.

Good luck.

"For the past two years, only Intel's HDMI audio has had 7.1 channels of lossless, high-def sound."  (on May 12, 2008 )

SO.... I don't see how can this be "The sound card on that motherboard does not transmit dolby digital 5.1 or DTS sound so it's not going to send it through the cable for 5.1, thus the monitor is likely interpreting it correctly, so returning the monitor will not gain you anything."

I agree that it can be defective (but not by design) and the cable it's the most unlikely (=0) to be defective but the monitor has the equal chances to be defective since as I've said before when I connect the HDMI to my TV the no. of channels it's changing from max 4 to just 2 which is my tv's max !

So can anybody (2709W owner) confirm / imfirm the 5.1 working over HDMI ?

My 2709W has been able to take HDMI-transmitted DD5.1 and turn it into 6 analogue channels as it is designed from my PS3 and Xbox 360. I actually wanted this feature, so I'm happy to report that mine specifically works.

The configuration was like this:

- PS3 or Xbox360 connected to the monitor via HDMI. Both set to put out dolby digital 5.1, and PS3 set to send sound through HDMI only.

- 3 Headphone to dual RCA style analogue cables connected to my receiver

The only thing I didn't look for was if the monitor was actually reporting DD5.1 sound. I'll check it again tonight. It was properly sending Bluray sound (from PS3) through the monitor to my receiver in 5.1, based on what I heard.

So I can confirm that mine works, but you need to find somewhere in your OS or Sound card control panel to specifically set Dolby Digital LIVE or DTS-Connect to ON and send that through HDMI. With Vista this is now supported through software so it should be easy in the audio properties to test DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 and see if the monitor shows it. With XP it has to be supported by your sound card and indicated in the control panel.

I will check it again tonight with both my PS3 and my DD5.1 HTPC and see if I can post you a screen shot or further instructions to show you what you should see.

Troubleshooting always involves isolating stuff. If your HDMI cable was busted, you would get NO sound. If your sound card was inoperative, same thing. So now it comes down to finding out if your sound card can transmit 5.1 surround sound through the HDMI cable and if your monitor can properly decode it.

So here's what you should do:

- Go to Vista Control Panel and select "Sound" and ensure that the HDMI sound has the green check mark (and obviously) that your 2709W is connected to it.

- Double Click it and go to the tab labelled "supported formats" and look in the list where it says "encoded formats"

- Check the Dolby Digital or DTS items. Click on one and then click "Test" button on the right with the "play" arrow on it. Check to see if you hear some tones. You should hear the same tone a few times. If you have surround sound speakers connected to the monitor you should hear the tone at least 5 times methinks.

Keep in mind, I'm just trying to help you so you don't send a monitor back for nothing, or end up with a new unit that doesn't work any better and has dead pixels, backlight bleed, etc....

Thanks for your help ! :smileywink:

I've already test all that + PowerDVD's HDMI and it's working ! but with 4 channels max

The problem is I don't see any option in Vista's / Playback Devices / HDMI for 5.1 Speaker setup only Stereo or Quadraphonic  with the monitor connected over HDMI !

Can you test your monitor with your HTPC (connected over HDMI :smileywink: ) and look if you have a 5.1 option in the HDMI's Speaker setup PLEASE ?

Thanks !

Ok, so I did all this with two different sound cards. My nVidia 9600 GT HDMI has a unique feature which allows me to "pass through" an SPDIF to HDMI and play whatever standard is set. I have a couple of Dolby Digital Live sound cards that do this. Both worked fine and I had either 2.0 or 5.1 audio options in the OSD of the 2709W.

Concerning Vista and a speaker settings box with "desktop speakers" or "quadrophonic" option similar to XP, you won't see it if you are using digital sound output. You would only see it if you are using desktop speakers that connect to the analogue ports of your motherboard. Vista auto-senses these and will allow you to switch between Digital and analogue on the fly...

I also hooked up the PS3 and passed through DD 5.1 sound and the same options were available. The 2709W is not very descriptive with what it shows. Just 2.0 and 5.1.

-10e,

Can you post your PS3 settings to get 5.1 working? e.g what audio settings you've selected etc?

I've been unable to get Blu-ray audio to work through my monitor using HDMI but I get no audio. Then when I select 2.0 on the monitor settings the audio comes through but sounds all warped.

I have no idea how to fix this and it's slowly driving me insane!

Any help would be much appreciated.

Cheers,

James

Still checking, results so far -

X DTS 5.1
Y Dolby Digital 5.1
Y Linear PCM 5.1 44.1kHz
Linear PCM 5.1 88.2kHz
Linear PCM 5.1 176.4kHz
Linear PCM 5.1 48kHz
Linear PCM 5.1 96kHz
Linear PCM 5.1 192kHz

Hi,

So DD 5.1 and PCM 5.1 44.1kHz are the only ones that work? I'll give this a try with the logitech setup.

Is there no tech specs on the supported audio for this monitor? Seems a bit crazy that we all have to do guess work just to get these things working!

Cheers,

James