Anyone running 2-channel, compressed surround sound successfully?

[GATOxVoS]

Am trying to use my optical out to my Astro A40 mixamp. Can only get stereo :(

[GATOxVoS]

*bump* kind of dissappointing that the PS4 Pro version can tell that 5.1 is sent over the optical cable, while the PC version cannot :(

[iemander]

Errrrrrrrrr, optical as in spdif? Because that never supported multi channel, only stereo. Use HDMI.

[GATOxVoS]

Optical TOSLINK? I've been running 5.1 and 7.1 audio using TOSLINK cables for years now.

[iemander]

I just looked up that amp and it's a headphone amp, why would you want multichannel with that?

[Da5e]

Yes, using 3 analogue cables to a Logitech Z5500. Optical out won't do it.

[iemander]

Originally posted by GATOxVoS:

Optical TOSLINK? I've been running 5.1 and 7.1 audio using TOSLINK cables for years now.

No, optical does not have the bandwidth for multichannel, only stereo. You can use lossy codecs like DTS or Dolby but games don't support that, they want the channels in PCM.

[Marsson]

Yeah I have a pair of A50's Gen 3 Wireless, and the PS4P version works flawlessly there with 5.1. Some headsets are "very" nitpicky with which soundcard it is that you use on your PC. My A50's just run off the USB though.

[GATOxVoS]

@iemander - That's what the amp is used for, its the A/V reciever that decodes the compressed 5.1/7.1 audio, so I can hear surround through my Astro A40 headphones.

Thank you @Da5e, looks like I might have to go the actual 5.1 channel audio route. Other games output 5.1/7.1 to these headphones just fine. Wonder why this doesn't.

[GATOxVoS]

@iemander - sorry, I got confuzed as to how the audio worked. You are correct, it runs 2-channel to then be decoded.

[GATOxVoS]

@Marsson - Thanks for your reply. Now seeing the downside to spending so much for these headphones :( Really want the surround audio to work with all the games.

[Marsson]

Originally posted by GATOxVoS:

@Marsson - Thanks for your reply. Now seeing the downside to spending so much for these headphones :( Really want the surround audio to work with all the games.

If it's an older mixamp you've got there I can't really help you I'm afraid. I got a base station with my A50's since they're wireless, and they work in surround sound on my PC with just a usb cable. When using them with my ps4p I have to plug in both the usb cable and a toslink cable.

[GATOxVoS]

It's the Mixamp that comes with the A40 TR's. Not necessarily old, but not the A50 base station, for sure. Just odd how I can get Nier on my PS4 to recongnize that it can handle surround, but can't get my PC version to. Just tried all the different configurations of audio I could think of with it. Seems like Nier just doesn't want it. Still sounds amazing in stereo though!

[Marsson]

Originally posted by GATOxVoS:

It's the Mixamp that comes with the A40 TR's. Not necessarily old, but not the A50 base station, for sure. Just odd how I can get Nier on my PS4 to recongnize that it can handle surround, but can't get my PC version to. Just tried all the different configurations of audio I could think of with it. Seems like Nier just doesn't want it. Still sounds amazing in stereo though!

I used to have a pair of Turtle Beach Elite 800 that I used both on my PS4 and my PC. To get them to work on my PC in surround sound I had to buy a specific soundcard that supported Dolby Digital Live /DLL. Maybe it's the same for the mixamp? I suppose that it needs a specific digital signal, which your soundcard might not output?

[GATOxVoS]

That may just be the case. It sends the Dolby Digital format just fine while testing, but there seems to be no LinearPCM checkbox or test in the sound properties (which is I think what I have to use on my PS4 for it to work). Sadly, I have to use my Mobo's OpticalOut, because I foolishly bought a soundcard without the traditional optical out. Either way, thank you @Marsson for your help

[Marsson]

Originally posted by GATOxVoS:

That may just be the case. It sends the Dolby Digital format just fine while testing, but there seems to be no LinearPCM checkbox or test in the sound properties (which is I think what I have to use on my PS4 for it to work). Sadly, I have to use my Mobo's OpticalOut, because I foolishly bought a soundcard without the traditional optical out. Either way, thank you @Marsson for your help

No worries, but I can only speak for myself. I have to output Dolby Digital through bitstreaming on my PS4, and on PC it works just fine with USB :) If you think about upgrading I can wholeheartedly recommend the A50 wireless Gen 3 ones. They sound amazing, especially with the modkit.