New Alienware 15 Sound: 7.1 audio using HDMI out and Elite 800 Headphones?

Hey guys,

I've just bought an Alienware 15 and I'm having some trouble getting anything but stereo out of it.

At the moment I'm using the HDMI in/out port in the back and feeding the cable into a HDMI > Optical splitter, and then feeding that Toslink into my Elite 800 Headphone receiver or my Logitech 5.1 speaker receivers. In either case though, the best I can get is 2 channels.

The HDMI is appearing in my Windows device manager under Intel(R) Display Audio and was labeled by default as 'EP-HDMI-RX' when I go into the properties > supported formats tab for the device it reports a Max number of 2 channels, with HDCP support.

Under the Soundblaster Recon 3Di control panel, in the speakers/headphones section my only choices are built in speakers (2 channels) or headphones (2 channels).

I have the latest Creative Malcolm chip drivers installed (1.00.05) and I'm using the newest AO4 bios.

What am I doing wrong guys? My 5 year old destkop uses the same setup and gets 7.1 audio. I'm not much of a PC guy, but when I read that the laptop had "Internal High-Definition Audio with Creative Soundblaster XFi MB3 Software (Standard), 2.0 Audio Speaker configuration Powered by Klipsch® and 7.1 Digtial Audio out using HDMI out" I thought it would at least be able to do the same surround sound my old PC could >.<

The HDMI > Optical splitter I'm using can be seen here: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/HDMI-Aud...=16c9c74054514bf598b5e77deff70b90&pid=100102&

It says that it:

• Extracts Digital Audio From Input HDMI Signal
• Supports Dolby Digital, DTS and LPCM via S/PDIF (Mini Toslink) Output
• Converts Digital Audio (LPCM) to Analogue via 3.5mm Stereo Output

Is it the splitter that's causing the issue, that's all that I can imagine.

 

i had this same issue back when i got the alienware 15. Even though on the site, it clearly states that this computers headphone jack is re- taskable to output surround sound, it does not. I had to file a bbb complaint to finally have dell do something about it. pm me if you have any questions

 

Hey Max, thank you for the reply. I'm new to these boards, I'd like to PM you but I'm not sure how. I had a look at your profile, and my inbox, and I didn't see any options other than to 'follow' you, or look at 'conversations' other people have started with me. Perhaps it's because I'm a new member?

 

I guess this is a bump from the dead....I am having the same issue here, and cant seem to nail it down.
Anyone find a fix for it yet?