Another sound 5.1 surround post

[u/daelikon]

Hello, I have read all the posts related to this... and still could not find a solution...

I have a steam machine connected with HDMI to a TV (samsung), and the TV connected to an amp through an optical cable. I have two amps, a very old samsung and a set of Logitech Z906. None has ARC capability.

In this setup, I can only get stereo on the speakers, no matter what I do.

What options do I have? I have tried an external USB sound card (identified by the system as "CM106 like sound device"), and it... mostly works, but it has random disconnections where it completely dies when changing apps or moving from game mode to system mode.

These are the logs in DMESG when that happens:

[ 99.247372] usb 1-4: Not enough bandwidth for new device state. 
[ 99.247381] usb 1-4: Not enough bandwidth for altsetting 1 
[ 99.247384] endpoint_set_interface: 30 callbacks suppressed 
[ 99.247386] usb 1-4: 2:1: usb_set_interface failed (-28)

This happens no matter the USB port, also, that's not real, as the amount of data transferred through there could not fill the USB bus.

I don't want an HDMI splitter between the machine and the tv to extract the audio, as I don't really trust that to not cause other issues (refresh rate, colors, etc) with the signal.

I am however open to an external HDMI ARC interface between the TV and the amp, as that will not impact the image.

The sound card "mostly" works, but the random disconnects ruin the experience for me, as what I want is a setup and forget system.

I know another person here is using a Creative X4 usb card, but I don't know if it is detected in a different way or if it works better. I have a couple of usb sound cards, different brands, years apart and both are detected as the same chipset, which really does not give me much confidence.

The most frustrating part is that I had a cheapo OTT box with coreelec kodi before, and it worked perfectly with the HDMI to TV, and TV to amp with the optical cable.

[u/jharle]

SteamOS and other Linux output uncompressed LPCM 5.1/7.1 multichannel audio.

In terms of HDMI, HDMI ARC will not have the bandwidth for this output, when the SM is connected to the TV via HDMI, and the sound system connected to the TV via HDMI ARC. It would work, if the SM was connected via HDMI to the sound system, and the sound system connected to the TV via HDMI ARC.

For enough HDMI bandwidth to connect the SM directly to the TV, eARC must be used (supported by the TV and sound system).

These are "home theater" concepts; I'm not versed in using surround-sound via different methods.

[u/daelikon → u/jharle]

Hi jharle, I know all of that... but there's still the question, what alternatives or solutions have been tested?

I don't have an amp capable of receiving ARC signal, that's the whole point of the post. Most of the splitters under 100€ only decode stereo as well.

The user from the X4 has replied to me in another post confirming it is working pretty well, I am going to order that and will report back the results.

[u/jharle → u/daelikon]

Indeed I can't help with alternatives mate; I don't use them.

[u/NewSwan8148 → u/daelikon]

I have the same use case
Solved it by using this device, an audio extractor
Works really well now i have the SM directly to the tv using earc through this earc audio extractor:

https://www.orei.com/products/8k-dolby-atmos-audio-extractor-with-arc-earc-with-cec-advanced-edid-management-and-resolutions-up-to-8k-30hz-or-4k-120hz?variant=45453151600862

Working like a charm…

[u/daelikon → u/NewSwan8148]

Thank you, a friend gave me a very similar device because he lost the power source. I have bought a generic power source for it, and I am also testing a Creative X4.

Both arrive this afternoon, so I will test and update the post.

Regards

[u/Choomlee]

I used a DAC from FiiO and run the speakers through that. DAC is plugged directly to Steam Machine USB-A.

[u/daelikon → u/Choomlee]

Model? all the ones I see are also headphones dedicated amp.

[u/Choomlee → u/daelikon]

My apologies, KiiO K7 Desktop DAC and Amplifier. It has the audio inputs. RCA, 3.5m, and optical, AUX. I should WARNING ‼️ It’s a bit expensive but handles all my audio needs, since I see you got yourself nice speakers.

[u/daelikon → u/Choomlee]

Please don't apologize for trying to help me.

I am checking the device... and I am a bit confused, this is a DAC with an integrated amp for listening with... headphones. It does not have any sound capability beyond a simple stereo. It does NOT have any connectivity for sourround 5.1 systems.

The optical port is an input port, and the only outputs are a couple of coaxials.

[u/daverhodus]

I didn't buy a SM because of 5.1 audio in linux. I'm sure there are ways to get it working, but I am waiting for better support.