Mac mini optical audio output stuck on 96 kHz, Help please

[Erijen1985]

Hey guys

I've all of the sudden experienced this issue with the audio output of my mac mini mid 2009, and my 5.1 dolby surround reciever.

Usualy the sound worked perfectly, but now i'm only able to playback sound from the mac mini in 2.1 96 kHz stereo through an optical cable.

I don't see that I am able to do changes to the audio output from the Mac (screenshot of settings is attached)

Anybody tried the same, or know how to resolve it?

 

[fa8362]

I don't know your language, but that's the wrong dialog box for changing output. You must use the Audio Midi setup utility.

 

[Erijen1985]

Found the midi and it has more options thank you. So since I have never used this, can you please let me know the best output settings?

Is it 44100, 48000, or 96000 khz? And I suppose the audio chanel has to be set to "codet digital sound" as showed on this print screen right?

 

[Erijen1985]

Ok, after testing some different settings I've narrowed the problem down to this:

The problem is only in iTunes. If I put the setting in the Midi controller to codet digital sound, the song will simply not play. Only way to get it to play is by putting the Midi setting to 2.1 channel output.

But if I playback movies and stuff from Plex, it can do DTS and 5.1. I'm a bit confused by this, as I recall being able to play my music in 5.1 stereo too...??

 

[blanka]

Just put it on 96/24 stereo (that is 2.0, not 2.1), and you're set. There is not enough bandwidth for 5 channel PCM on optical out.
XBMC and co will take care of switching to DTS/AAC streams when needed, your receiver will respond correctly to the change in data streams.
If you want to fancy up your stereo music with surround effects, set up the receiver to make 5.1 surround from stereo PCM signals. Things like DTS Neo do this.

 

[BigMa]

Optical audio output limitations

I understand optical out is restricted to 24 bit / 96 kHz PCM.
► Could somebody please explain if it is hardware or software related limitation?
► Any way to play 24 bit / 192 kHz PCM without using external DAC (something like Vox will probably downsample from 192 to 96)?