I was just wondering if foobar has a plugin (or a way) that I could passthrough the raw ac3 or dts data to my receiver via SPDIF. The foo_ac3 and foo_dts decoders work fine (they are able to decode the six channels), but I only get stereo sound (because I am only using the optical out). I searched but couldn't find a solution. Currently I am stuck using Media Player Classic.

I am using a Creative X-Fi Elite Pro with ASIO out if that helps (I can use either foobar 8.3 or 9.1 beta, either is fine).

If all else fails, I'll have to buy new cords for the analog out, but I would rather avoid that option.

Thanks in advanced!

I have no experience with this, but have you tried Kernel Streaming, with all DSPs disabled, volume set to 0dB?

Yes actually, but foobar still decodes the files to six channels. Perhaps I have some setting tweaked, but I am not sure how to make this work.

Hmmm perhaps a mod could move this to General Discussion to see if I receive better results...

hi, its an old topic, but im interested in it too..
i have audigy2, kernel streaming 32bit (or 16/24), ac3 and dts plugins work great, and a hk235 receiver connected with spdif from my soundcard... so, is there any way with fb2k to play these files (only 48khz dts and ac3) throught spdif, so that nice DTS/AC3 logo apperas on my receiver, not just the pcm48khz? of course these work fine with powerdvd, but i wonder, if its possible?

same here, I can play DTS files via foo_dts plugin but I'd really like option to send signal directly to my receiver without any processing from foobar... is there any plugin that can do that ?

Not sure how this would work exactly, but have you tried setting up foobar for bit-perfect output (as mentioned above) and then renaming the .dts files to .wav, and playing them? You don't want foobar doing any decoding in this instance, as the DTS/AC3 decoder plugins exist so that you don't have to have a A/V receiver in order to listen to music in said formats. What you want to do is have the receiver decode the stuff, and then play it back for you. In this case foobar is simply a passthrough from your hard drive to the receiver.

I tried that but without success. I have audigy2 ZS and AC97 ALC850 (onboard) and apparently both cards resample 44.1KHz to 48KHz internally and so destroying original DTS sound. DTS tracks in movies are originally in 48KHz so they play fine. Receiver picks up signal and decode it...
In my understanding I need a 'bit perfect' soundcard that DO NOT resample audio streams... anyone ?

Problem solved

...


I bought M-Audio 2496 and in 5 min i had bit-perfect playback of everything over S/PDIF including DTS audio files. I should have done that years ago... but better late then never.

I am not that much anymore into creative cards, but from the last audigy I had, I remember that they alter the data internally. I've tried to set up an external connection with some pro-audio gear but it refused cause the chips altered the data. Maybe creative changed it, but I wouldn't bet on that company.

On a side note even though having arrived in 21st century I still prefer analogue connections for a hassle-free playback especially when it comes to multichannel

A bit late, but in case someone would need the same thing. There are bit-perfect C-media 8738/8768 drivers, and the cheapest CMI cards with S/PDIF-out cost as low as ~$15.

The drivers are available for download from this page:
http://cmediadrivers.googlepages.com/home
and do support Windows 2000/XP/Vista x64/x86.