Unable to configure surround sound in Windows 8.1 64-bit fresh install

[v3rk]

My new motherboard has onboard Realtek 7.1 surround (Realtek ALC892 Audio Codec) which I've connected to my 5.1 receiver with S/PDIF optical.

When I view my playback devices, the "Configure" button is greyed out. I can open Properties of my HD Audio Device and run sound tests for Dolby etc, which plays 5.1 sounds properly. But again, I have no way of configuring the speakers through Windows or the Realtek HD Audio Manager program.

I honestly haven't tried playing a DVD or other media to test if it plays proper surround, but I'm worried about not being able to access the setting. Any ideas are greatly appreciated!

 

[v3rk]

So after some more reading it seems like S/PDIF will only carry encoded Dolby/DTS signals. Maybe the audio manager is picking up on this fact?

Anyway, I plan to connect my graphics card to my receiver via HDMI in order to bypass this limitation. I should have read a bit more before building this HTPC; could've saved 6 bucks on an optical cable!

 

[Abhishek Bhattacharya]

So after some more reading it seems like S/PDIF will only carry encoded Dolby/DTS signals. Maybe the audio manager is picking up on this fact?

Anyway, I plan to connect my graphics card to my receiver via HDMI in order to bypass this limitation. I should have read a bit more before building this HTPC; could've saved 6 bucks on an optical cable!

IMHO I always use analog O/P or HDMI. Phillips/SPDIF has been too much of pain. Plus a lot of legacy devices don't work with it. You could use HDMI for surround audio too. But make sure you get the correct HD audio drivers first for your graphics card.