5.1 from Airport Express possible?

[honglong1976]

Hi. I have an airport extreme and airport express.

I use VLC on an old iPad connected to a projector at one side of the room, which uses airplay to stream the audio across to the other side of the room to the airport express connected to a Sony BDV-E370 via an optical cable.

The best I can get is LPCM Stereo, even with AC3 soundtracks. So, for some reason, VLC is not passing through AC3, or the airport express is converting it to a Stereo LPCM stream.

I tried using an Apple TV HD set to output Dolby Digital 5.1 and a Macbook, but using VLC or any other app, it will only play LPCM stereo over Airplay.

If I connect the Macbook direct using an Optical cable, I can get Dolby Digital, DTS, etc. So the amp does recognise the audio streams.

So, from my investigation, I think airplay is the weakest link.

Any suggestions or apps that may stream 5.1 over Airplay?

Thanks in advance!

 

[honglong1976]

Just tried every option possible on an Apple TV HD, using VLC and a AC3 track enabled or spdif passthrough enabled, no Dolby Digital. I suspect the issue is the Airport express and those who say they have 5.1, actually have pro logic II.

Thoughts?

 

[Dandu]

You can't

AirPlay change every input to ALAC before sending the information to the AirPort.

It will work with DTS, by the way, if you have a DT encapsulated into "WAV" like CD Audio DTS or LaserDisc.

 

[honglong1976]

You can't

AirPlay change every input to ALAC before sending the information to the AirPort.

It will work with DTS, by the way, if you have a DT encapsulated into "WAV" like CD Audio DTS or LaserDisc.

Thanks.

I tried so many audio types and everything is ALAC. I didn’t know about DTS though and have an audio CD I can try.

I wonder if 5.1 is output when using an Apple TV in place of the Airport Express (which also depends on VLC actually streaming the track in 5.1).

Infuse 6 is supposed to airplay 5.1 but it’s a subscription priced app, soI will pass on that.

wonder if any other apps do 5.1?