Only getting 2 channels of audio when Plex decodes (PCM)

General Discussions
1

Hi,

I have read the guide on audio settings. I set my Plex Media Player on my windows machine to decode the audio itself and send PCM to my Yamaha receiver. (By unchecking all the audio codec checkboxes) I am noticing something weird though. I’m playing a file that says the audio stream is 5.1 AC3. However my receiver is getting 2.0 channels as PCM. If I go into PMP and check off the Dolby AC3 checkbox under audio settings the My receiver reports getting 5.1 channels as AC3.

Why Is Plex only sending 2 channels when it decides the audio?

Thanks!

Here are screenshots of the info screen on my receiver. One with Dolby Digital (AC3) checked and one without.

2

How is your PC connected to your receiver? Is it sending video and audio over HDMI?

3

It’s connected via HDMI. I’m using PMP 1.3.4 on Windows 10 and PMS 1.7.5.4035 on Windows Server 2012 R2.

4

If you are sending PCM, have you made sure the audio output on the PC is set to multichannel? When you bitstream the number of channels doesn’t matter, but when you send PCM you need to set up your audio card for the maximum number of channels it can support (if I recall correctly - I ditched PCM a long time ago in favor of bitstreaming my HD audio).

5

Yes, that was it! Windows was set to stereo. I set it to 7.1 and now PCM is sending 7.1 to the receiver. Thank you!