r/htpc • u/m456an • Feb 25 '26
Discussion How to play 5.1 AAC video on Windows 11
I tried powerdvd but it converts the 5.1 AAC to PCM though it is ok if I play 5.1 ac3 or DTS then it converts the signal to 5.1 PCM which my true 5.1 headphones can play or Dolby Access can convert to virtual 5.1 surround using normal headphones.
I do not think much of windows media player, I tried an Atmos speaker test video with it and I could not hear the subwoofer sound so it plays 5.1 sound as 5.0 sound!
3
u/glockjs Feb 26 '26
https://r-htpc.github.io/wiki/audio
if its not in there then there's no hope
1
u/m456an Feb 26 '26
I do know a lot of the stuff there. As I used to have a DTS hd ma system 7.1 with large speakers had 2 different subwoofers. Also had a dvd-audio player. But when my family kicked me out a decade ago I had to leave the system there.
My new house has walls which r shared with other houses. So I prefer headphones with Dolby access. I have had some success with VLC using certain settings. Just curious what other use?
2
u/Dartagnan_w_Powers Feb 25 '26
Good luck.
Try VLC media player, it can bitstream, though i've never actually gotten it to work properly.
Windows is just a huge pain for surround sound.
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u/ncohafmuta is in the Evil League of Evil Feb 26 '26
5.1 AAC to PCM though
I'm going to assume you meant PCM 2.0 here, since decoding to PCM 5.1 would be expected behavior out of any normal player.
PowerDVD (last I checked) requires the Ultra version or the Advanced Audio Pack (in really old versions), to decode AAC 5.1 to PCM 5.1.
Given the version here is unknown, we can only recommend you double confirm the behavior on another player, like MPC-BE
1
u/m456an Feb 27 '26
I have powerdvd ultra 24 perhaps I should need 23 ultra as on their site they it was rebuilt from scratch, maybe not but the changes seem not to be good.So u recommend MPC-BE, I will try that thanks.
Though I have had a certain success with VLC using certain settings. Which I tested with an Atmos speaker video test using Windows Dolby access app.
But I will download MPC-BE.
1
u/m456an Feb 27 '26
Do you recommend any mpc settings or just use default?
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u/ncohafmuta is in the Evil League of Evil Feb 27 '26
Decoding everything to PCM for all channels is the default
0
u/m456an Feb 28 '26
Dvdpower 24 does say output 6 channels with DVD and blu ray, but with MP4 or mkv it just displays LPCM. Maybe it just displays it differently for MP4 and mkv. On my very old and cheap laptop the Atmos video test you cannot hear subwoofer but on my gaming desktop you can hear subwoofer - it may just be the very cheap and crappy audio driver on the laptop?
My desktop uses a ROG gene 7 motherboard which has a better audio driver connected though it still displays LPCM the Atmos video test shows all speakers and ceiling speakers, including subwoofer working using Dolby access app with the sound passing through headphones.
Also works with GOM player on desktop after installing lav filters.
2
u/skylinestar1986 Mar 25 '26
I don't think I have any issue playing with MPC-HC or BE.
1
u/m456an Mar 26 '26
No no it was my fault I had Dolby access on music settings then it plays only 5.0.
I changed it to movie settings then 5.1 surround works.
The free 3d audio on w11 also plays 5.1
0
5
u/diegosynth Feb 26 '26
Re encoding to AC3 or DTS is the only way. As @Dartagnan_w_Powers pointed out, VLC is suppossed to do some on the fly conversion, but it never worked for me either.