TOPIC:

I cannot figure out how to get commercial movies to play surround sound as LPCM over HDMI or over USB.  Has anyone figured out how to do either?  Does any equipment exist that can do this? 

I tried for 2 hours to see if Nvidea Shield Pro can do this, and it seems it can only do stereo to LPCM. I am not sure.

Thanks.

The Flex HT description says "Eight-channel audio input is via eARC linear PCM over HDMI, or USB Audio." 
If one plays a movie stream with Dolby surround sound, how does one then make PCM so it can go to the Flex?

I assume Flex HT is for Home Theatre (HT), which would need to play movies with surround sound.  So how can this be achieved?

You'll need a player that has on board decoding and a multi-channel out or a av processor.


edit: sorry that multi-channel out need to be LPCM via the HDMI. Was thinking there was a version of the flex with multi-channel analogue inputs like the DDRC88A. 

By "player" I think you mean Blue Ray disk player.  That seems like a good combination - Blue ray player and Flex HT.

I cannot use a player since all my movies are stored on a hard drive, so I guess I would need an AVR (or AVP).  If I got and AVR I think it may already do what the Flex HT does.  So that combo does not seem to make as much sense.

Hey! How did you get your hands on a FLEX HT!?

I thought it wasn't released yet. The product page has said "Out of stock" for the last few months along with "STOCK UPDATE: This product is currently in final stages of manufacturing. We expect shipments to start in the coming Q2 2023. Thanks for your patience!"

xrqp wrote:

By "player" I think you mean Blue Ray disk player.  That seems like a good combination - Blue ray player and Flex HT.

I cannot use a player since all my movies are stored on a hard drive, so I guess I would need an AVR (or AVP).  If I got and AVR I think it may already do what the Flex HT does.  So that combo does not seem to make as much sense.

A normal AV setup would use eARC from a TV not a disc player. I suspect the answer to your question is that you need to change your TV's settings such that it sends the appropriate signal type via its eARC connection, assuming it has one and that the option you need is available on your specific TV model.

I do not think any TV can decode movies to play surround sound as LPCM over HDMI or eARC or over USB, as HT Flex requires.

I do not have an HT Flex.  I am trying to plan my creation of a home theatre surround sound system.  So far it seems I would not benefit from an HT Flex.  Surround sound is new for me.  I have never done it, but I want to. I posted here to see if I am thinking correctly about it and the HT Flex.  

xrqp wrote:

I do not think any TV can decode movies to play surround sound as LPCM over HDMI or eARC or over USB, as HT Flex requires.

From a very quick Google you may be right. All I was finding was people asking for this sort of functionality, or even just LPCM pass-through, to be added.

Ah sorry my mistake.

How are you playing the movies from your shield? I am also waiting on the FLEX HT and I use a nvidia shield with plex. The plex app allows you to select what audio formats to decode and which to pass through. I haven't exactly tested it but maybe I'll have a look tonight and report back.

I use the Shield to play tv and movies as 2 channel (stereo).  If the movie has only surround, it converts it to stereo.  It cannot do more than 2 channels of output.  LG tv's do not support DTS.  The Shield allows me to play DTS by converting it to stereo PCM so it works with LG TV.   I think the HT Flex is similar in that it will only output stereo when fed with surround Dolby or surround DTS. 

I think asx777 is correct.  I will need an AVR or AVP.  So I will pick an AVR and see what features it has.  Maybe the features will eliminate the need for HT Flex.  

A processor won’t have the same functionality as the flex. In my HT I use an Oppo blu-ray player which has on board decoding and analogue outs. These go into a DDRC88A with BM. From there the signal is passed into an AVR that has 7channel input. So the BRP decodes, the 88A does bass management (allowing me to use MSO to integrate 3 subs with the 5 mains) and adds Dirac. The AVR controls volume and powers the speakers. All old devices now but sounds great. Pinpoint accuracy on surround sound and everything is more crisp. 

if I was doing this again I’d be looking at a flex model though they seem to be lacking the bass management offered by the DDRC88A. I only hope the reason for this is that Dirac ARC is on its way for the flex. 
 

Just realised my earlier comment in this thread wasn’t right. I’ve added a note above.

I was thinking the flex had a multi-channel analogue input like the 88A which it doesn’t. Still the option would be to use a BRP, Processor or with a TV that has onboard decoding but rather than the source output these channels via analogue outputs it’s as PCM on HDMI. 

asx77 wrote:

if I was doing this again I’d be looking at a flex model though they seem to be lacking the bass management offered by the DDRC88A.

 

Isn’t the bass management module the same as the one you purchase for the DDRC88A, I would be surprised if MiniDSP removed what is a common module in many of their devices. 

Spec sheet lists: miniDSP DSP toolbox (routing, bass management, parametric EQ, crossover, gain/delay)

nicklaslett wrote:

Spec sheet lists: miniDSP DSP toolbox (routing, bass management, parametric EQ, crossover, gain/delay)

Hi, You might be right! I missed that. I’d want to confirm it was the same once the manual is released but if it works the same way then that actually makes it even more appealing (though how appealing depends on the price!!). Thanks.