5.1 Audio Out via HDMI Help

[Ratboy]

My Mac mini is connected to my Vizio M-Series TV using an HDMI cable, and the TV is connected to a Vizio 5.1 sound bar with an optical cable. Since the TV (which has stereo speakers) is first in the chain, the Mac downgrades a 5.1 signal to 2.0 despite the fact that the TV is passing the signal on to a surround sound-capable system.

I have been on the phone for a long time with both Apple and Vizio, and there isn't a solution to the problem that either of them can offer. The TV can't report that it is capable of handling a 5.1 signal, and there's no way to force the computer to send one.

Are there any method for getting 5.1 audio to play?

 

[MagicBoy]

Toslink cable out of the audio socket of the mac?

That's what I'm using for the 2009 mini as it doesn't support audio over HDMI.

 

[Ratboy]

Toslink cable out of the audio socket of the mac?

That's what I'm using for the 2009 mini as it doesn't support audio over HDMI.

Should a cable like this work? I'm surprised that the computer can output a 5.1 signal through the 3.5mm stereo jack.

 

[Julien]

Should a cable like this work? I'm surprised that the computer can output a 5.1 signal through the 3.5mm stereo jack.

Yes that is it. Also it's not just a 3.5mm Stereo jack. It is a combination jack that supports 3.5mm stereo analog out and optical S/PDIF digital out.

 

[Ratboy]

I have the TosLink cable, and in the Sound preference pane, the name of the device for sound output is now "Digital Out". However, when I go into Audio Midi Setup, the Built-In Output shows "0 in/2 out", and if I click the Configure Speakers button, I only have the option to choose "Stereo" from the Multichannel pull-down menu (regardless of the Format I choose).

Is there something else I should be doing?

Thanks for the help.

 

[MagicBoy]

You'll need to enable passthrough/bitstreaming for the digital out in the application. I'm not aware of a system wide setting.

I mainly use XBMC (now Kodi) and VLC also supports it.

 

[Ratboy]

You'll need to enable passthrough/bitstreaming for the digital out in the application. I'm not aware of a system wide setting.

I mainly use XBMC (now Kodi) and VLC also supports it.

Would you explain this in a bit more depth? I use Plex and VLC, and I don't see any passthrough/bitstreaming option.

It also seems to me that despite a specific application setting, the Mac thinks the receiver is only 2.0 and downgrades any audio regardless of the application.

Thanks.

 

[MagicBoy]

VLC - Audio Menu, then Audio Device. Select Built in Output (Encoded Output).

Plex will do it, but I uninstalled it a while back.

 

[Ratboy]

VLC - Audio Menu, then Audio Device. Select Built in Output (Encoded Output).

Plex will do it, but I uninstalled it a while back.

Thank you. It works.