So on my HTPC I can't get DD to stream from Amazon when I am watching movies. i read about an external soundcard from Asus which can upsample PCM to dolby digital and is the subject of this review: https://www.asus.com/us/Sound-Cards/Xonar_U7/
The drivers from the asus website for windows 10 lack the ability to output Dolby Digital from PCM sources so I needed to follow instructions from a youtube video whicj=h I will post at the end. First it sounds awesome to be able finally stream in Dolby Digital from everything online, Amazon, Youttube, etc. In comparison to the native DD from Netflix the DD upmixer from the sound card sounded better. You can select if you want the stream from the coax digital port to be output in dolby digital or PCM. If you select PCM it allows you to choose the sample rate to stream all the way up to 192/24. I found that movies sound better in DD and most music sounds better in PCM. The software that comes with the card is called dolby theater. It let's you choose whether to leave it on or off and has presets for movies, music, and games to select from. i found whether or not to use them is dependent on the material. pacific rim sounded MUCH better with the software enaged, Star Wars phantom Menace did not. james Taylor at the Beacon sounded better without the software, old live recordings of ella fitzgerald sounded much better with it on. I love the flexibility. The card also has to RCA ports for L and R channels that can be used so that you can use the sound card like a DAC. i have yet to try this feature because I like the digital out so much but will post a follow up later. The card cost less than $100 and sounds absolutely fantastic. If you use a PC as your front end I would recommend to get this card. If you use windows 10 follow these installation instructions:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwEDDp1WNu8
The drivers from the asus website for windows 10 lack the ability to output Dolby Digital from PCM sources so I needed to follow instructions from a youtube video whicj=h I will post at the end. First it sounds awesome to be able finally stream in Dolby Digital from everything online, Amazon, Youttube, etc. In comparison to the native DD from Netflix the DD upmixer from the sound card sounded better. You can select if you want the stream from the coax digital port to be output in dolby digital or PCM. If you select PCM it allows you to choose the sample rate to stream all the way up to 192/24. I found that movies sound better in DD and most music sounds better in PCM. The software that comes with the card is called dolby theater. It let's you choose whether to leave it on or off and has presets for movies, music, and games to select from. i found whether or not to use them is dependent on the material. pacific rim sounded MUCH better with the software enaged, Star Wars phantom Menace did not. james Taylor at the Beacon sounded better without the software, old live recordings of ella fitzgerald sounded much better with it on. I love the flexibility. The card also has to RCA ports for L and R channels that can be used so that you can use the sound card like a DAC. i have yet to try this feature because I like the digital out so much but will post a follow up later. The card cost less than $100 and sounds absolutely fantastic. If you use a PC as your front end I would recommend to get this card. If you use windows 10 follow these installation instructions:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwEDDp1WNu8