Configuring SPDIF out for my Sony Amp

[moel]

Hi guys,

Think this is my first post ever asking for help! So here goes and I REALLY hope someone can help.

Basically I've got my mac mini (1.5 core solo) going optical SPDIF into my Sony Surround amp (6.1) But If I play music from itunes i don't get 2.1 I get 2.0

I've been arsing around with Audio Midi Setup all evening to no avail, whatever I do it won't let me do anything other than stereo left and right, which of course is bloody annoying because it means the bass channel is completely missing.

Whats the solution? Or isn't there one....

 

[Cave Man]

iTunes music is only encoded in AAC, not AC3. You will not get 2.1 out of them. Only certain movies and TV shows are encoded with an AC3 track, and those are labeled as "Dolby Digital."

 

[moel]

So effectively I'm limited to mid and treble through two speakers...someone must make a workaround surely?

 

[Cave Man]

There's nothing to work around. The content isn't in AC3.

 

[Alrescha]

Whats the solution?

The 'solution' is to push the AFD button (auto-format-decode) or the equivalent and let the receiver choose an appropriate decoding scheme/sound field. In this case, it should route bass material from your music to your sub (if you have one) or to your left and right speakers if you don't have a sub.

As previously mentioned, music generally has no separate bass 'channel', there's nothing to fix on your Mac.

A.

 

[moel]

How Much of a dummkopf do i feel! It was a sodding lose coax on the sub input!