Trying to connect my PC to my Soundbar and get True 5.1

fromdavidlevine

Prominent
Dec 31, 2017
4
0
510
My PC sound card is an ASUS Xonar DGX PCI-E GX2.5 (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007TMZ1BK/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1). My sound bar is a Vizio 5.1 (https://www.walmart.com/ip/VIZIO-32-5-1-Soundbar-System-SB3251n-E0/817243109). The sound bar takes as possible 5.1 inputs only HDMI Arc or an Optical. The sound card's optical out cannot do true 5.1 on its own, and the sound bar cannot take input from its various 3.5mm surround outputs. I never should have gotten the card, as my motherboard's built in card has similar surround outputs and an optical out but I was convinced (incorrectly) the card could do native 5.1.
Is there some sort of receiver I can get that will take the various 3.5 surround inputs and then provide a true 5.1 output via optical or HDMI Arc? I don't want to go buying something else without being sure I can actually pull off true surround.

Thanks for any input!
 

fromdavidlevine

Prominent
Dec 31, 2017
4
0
510


Because even with all proper drivers installed neither my motherboard nor soundcard's optical outs can be set to send a 5.1 signal. This is true using the Windows settings and the Xonar software, the optical outs can do only stereo... I've had true 5.1 before using these (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003VAK1FA/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1) but they took the multiple 3.5mm inputs and now I really want to set it up on my sound bar....
 

SkyNetRising

Estimable
Jan 4, 2016
372
0
5,210
Can you show screenshot of available output formats in Digital output properties/Advanced section?
Looks like this:
digitalaudioproperties.png
 

fromdavidlevine

Prominent
Dec 31, 2017
4
0
510

I'm brand new to this forum (as a poster... have found many questions answered here previously, y'all rock)... I took a screenshot but can't quickly find a way to post it (without it being hosted at a url?) All the options are 2 channel, of either 16 or 24 bit and various Hz.


 

fromdavidlevine

Prominent
Dec 31, 2017
4
0
510


This is insightful, thanks! Would I be correct to say that a simple solution is to find (like the one you posted previously) a PCIe Soundcard with optical out and a DTS encoder and when I purchased my DGX I failed to ensure it had such an encoder?
 

Niraj_5

Estimable
Jun 4, 2017
6
0
4,510
I am having same issue, i have polk magnifi mini connectred tro my xonar dg via spdif portr, i cannotr getr trrue 5.1 . What should i do next ?

i also have r9 390 gfx card on my pc.