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NoPantsBatman
Contributor I
Jul 15, 2024 5:24 PM UTC
Answered

Beam gen 2 only gets PCM 2.0

Hello,

I recently bought a Beam gen 2 and a sub mini and I managed to connect them directly to my PC. It took a while but I did it.

The problem with that is that the sound output is only PCM 2.0, and I'd very much like to be able to fully use the soundbar with PCM 5.0 and Dolby.

Does someone know how I can "unleash" its potential when connected directly to a PC?

Thank you.

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    controlav
    controlavAnswer
    Lead Maestro
    Jul 16, 2024 1:46 AM UTC

    You can’t get PCM 5.0 over optical.

    You can get DD 5.1 if you have the codec.

    I tried searching for that codec but couldn’t find it anywhere. Do you know where I can get it?

    Dolby licenses often come with HDMI video cards, if the vendor has paid Dolby for the privilege. You are using optical, so I’m not sure about codec use, and also Kodi of which I know nothing.

    Author of the leading independent Sonos apps for Android, MacOS, iOS, Windows and Xbox.
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    13 replies

    nik9669a
    Senior Virtuoso
    Jul 15, 2024 5:30 PM UTC

    Any home theatre device is dependent on the signal being sent to it. Is your pc producing a 5.1 signal? How are you connected?

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      nik9669a
      Senior Virtuoso
      Jul 15, 2024 5:33 PM UTC

      Also, have you looked at this: 

       

       

      Translate
      NoPantsBatmanAuthor
      Contributor I
      Jul 15, 2024 5:33 PM UTC

      It’s connected via SPDIF, with an adapter connected to the HDMI cable that connects to the Beam. It was the only way I found to make the soundbar to “stream” my PC’s sounds.
      My GPU is a RTX 4080, so it is capable of producing a 5.1 signal. But neither in the app nor in the PC I can change successfully the signal for 5.1, it just remains on 2.0/2.1

      Translate
      NoPantsBatmanAuthor
      Contributor I
      Jul 15, 2024 5:35 PM UTC

      That was the tutorial I followed, yes. It fixed the connection with computer, but created another “problem”, which is the signal

      Translate
      nik9669a
      Senior Virtuoso
      Jul 15, 2024 5:38 PM UTC

      And as asked already: what is your source? If what you’re watching is only 2.0 that’s all the Beam can reproduce. 

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      nik9669a
      Senior Virtuoso
      Jul 15, 2024 5:39 PM UTC

      That was the tutorial I followed, yes. It fixed the connection with computer, but created another “problem”, which is the signal

      It didn’t create a problem; it may have identified one. 😜

      Translate
      NoPantsBatmanAuthor
      Contributor I
      Jul 15, 2024 5:40 PM UTC

      Sorry, I understood something else from the question.

      I tried multiple movies and series with 5.1 sound. I watch them via Kodi

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      controlav
      controlav
      Lead Maestro
      Jul 15, 2024 11:35 PM UTC

      You can’t get PCM 5.0 over optical.

      You can get DD 5.1 if you have the codec.

      Translate
      Author of the leading independent Sonos apps for Android, MacOS, iOS, Windows and Xbox.
      NoPantsBatmanAuthor
      Contributor I
      Jul 15, 2024 11:36 PM UTC

      You can’t get PCM 5.0 over optical.

      You can get DD 5.1 if you have the codec.

      I tried searching for that codec but couldn’t find it anywhere. Do you know where I can get it?

      Translate
      controlav
      controlavAnswer
      Lead Maestro
      Jul 16, 2024 1:46 AM UTC

      You can’t get PCM 5.0 over optical.

      You can get DD 5.1 if you have the codec.

      I tried searching for that codec but couldn’t find it anywhere. Do you know where I can get it?

      Dolby licenses often come with HDMI video cards, if the vendor has paid Dolby for the privilege. You are using optical, so I’m not sure about codec use, and also Kodi of which I know nothing.

      Translate
      Author of the leading independent Sonos apps for Android, MacOS, iOS, Windows and Xbox.
      Show more replies
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