Only Stereo (2.0 sound), no Dolby Digital (5.1) or DTS (7.1) from your PC

Only Stereo (2.0 sound), no Dolby Digital (5.1) or DTS (7.1) from your PC

Ligawo 6518840 HDMI Extender / Switch HDMI (Full HD) 50m black (Accessories)

Customer Review

--- The review I reworked from its original form again in order to integrate the results of the attached discussion ---
The wall box --- I have not used for the further tests to exclude them as source of error ---

The following configurations I tested:
- PC with Nvidia GTX 660 Ti | PC with Core i5 (HD4000 Graphics) | PC with Pentium G3250 (HD Graphics) | Notebook with Intel HD4000 Graphics (both Windows 8.1 installed)
- 1 m HDMI cable with gold contacts (HDMI 1.4, 2.0 compatible) to Ligawo Transmitter
- 15m CAT6 SFTP Cable
- 3m HDMI cable with gold contacts (HDMI 1.4, 2.0 compatible) from Ligawo receiver to a Sony STR-DG820 AV Receiver

To The Product:
The image transfer is functioning properly without any noticeable stuttering or interruptions in 1080p (which I can not say with some other devices tested). What is very poorly does the sound: It works despite other expectations exclusively bilingual (stereo) to the 4 tested devices.

What form does the sound problem?
- With iTunes and AC3 audio track you can hear nothing. Stereo audio track is played back as Dolby Pro Logic (2.0 stereo).
- With VLC or Media Player Classic Home Cinema and AC3, DTS or DTS-HD audio track one hears sound but only in Dolby Pro Logic (2.0).

Ie it is not possible Dolby Digital 5.1 or DTS surround sound playback. Of course you can artificially mix at receiver the sound back 2.0 to 5.1, you can hear the difference, but clearly if one actually has a 4.0 or 5.1 setup. Since I wanted to transfer from a media PC in a "technical room" for home movies, this sound problem is obviously very problematic.

Explanation of Tonproblems for tech-savvy:
-> After numerous attempts I have traced the problem to the device Ligawo. All 4 devices tested recognize the Sony AV receiver without problems as 8-channel capable device (as Sony AVAMP in the Windows Audio display) if I do not connect the HDMI cable to the Ligawo transmitter, but the Gereät connect directly to the AV receiver (works with 20 m HDMI cable).
-> 4 All devices tested the Sony AV receiver also recognize as 8-channel capable device if I have a king HDMI Extender CN HDMIREP20 use (has the disadvantage that two and not just one network cable he needs).
-> As soon as I connect the Ligawo transmitter, in the Windows Audio Display Only HDMI TV display and not Sony AVAMP. In addition, only 2-channel support in the display is then seen. When I look at the EDID information of the display, there is something of a Silicon Image chip and 2-channel support. According to Silicon Image datasheet but it supports 6/8-channel sound. It should obviously in the firmware of the transmitter Ligawo an incorrect EDID information to be embedded. I read the EDID information with a direct connection or via HDMI Extender from the king, the EDID information of Sony AV Receiver with 8-channel support appears to me correct.

It is to be manipulated in theory possible display driver so that the EDID information is ignored and so you might get 5.1 sound with the Ligawo Extender. In practice, with Windows 7/8 / 8.1 is very difficult to implement, because you have to use unsigned drivers, which is not possible for the layman.
In support of video Ligawo (admittedly the support of Ligawo are indeed a lot of trouble), an Xbox is set at 5.1 Sound shown indicating the Dolby on a soundbar. Unfortunately this does not help really help:
- Even my Sony receiver displays the Dolby symbol. Dolby Pro Logic 2.0 (stereo) which should be able to mix in 4.0 or 5.1 is of course a purely formal and Dolby sound, but not Dolby Digital or DTS surround sound even.
- It is possible to ignore the Xbox the EDID information of the connected Ligawo Extender and therefore can output 5.1 sound. Lack Xbox I can not test that. Test Equipment I appreciate being ;-)

I have here a non unwrapped Apple TV. With whom I will test the HDMI Extender then again, this should want someone Feedback.

Note: If you only need stereo sound, and otherwise sets only attach importance to 1080p transmission, which I can recommend the device unconditionally. But because I wanted to watch movies about it with 5.1 sound, there is unfortunately a letdown for me.

Office Rank: 5/5
April 24
Dangerous equipped Rank: 5/5
June 8
exercised its functions! 1 Rank: 4/5
January 10
disappointment sony Rank: 3/5
March 14
piggy 2 Rank: 5/5
April 12

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