PC connection to AVR for sound, S/PDIF (Toslink) vs HDMI?

[EliteRetard]

Onkyo TX-NR609 receiver (pretty sure) and I have an older Realtek ALC889A with an optical output, or I can try to use an HDMI from my RX470. I don't know how either works, since I've never used either connection before. Can HDMI from a GPU carry audio? With a DVI cable used for my monitor, will there be conflicts?

I don't have the receiver/speakers yet, it'll be another month or two...but I'm wondering if I'll need to buy anything to get the PC to talk with an AVR.

 

[guidinggod]

Onkyo TX-NR609 receiver (pretty sure) and I have an older Realtek ALC889A with an optical output, or I can try to use an HDMI from my RX470. I don't know how either works, since I've never used either connection before. Can HDMI from a GPU carry audio? With a DVI cable used for my monitor, will there be conflicts?

I don't have the receiver/speakers yet, it'll be another month or two...but I'm wondering if I'll need to buy anything to get the PC to talk with an AVR.

Yea, the HDMI from the RX470 will work. Ideally, if your monitor has HDMI input, you want to do connections like this: PC > HDMI > RECEIVER > HDMI > MONITOR (or TV).

If your monitor only has DVI input you can run the DVI from PC to monitor for video display and the HDMI to Receiver for the audio like you said. Set the monitor as primary # 1 in your video card settings. Then go into manage audio devices and set the receiver as default audio device. That's it.

You could use the optical output but optical cannot carry high bandwidth multi channel audio that's used on most blurays (DTS HD-MA and Dolby TRUEHD) while HDMI and Displayport can.

 

[EliteRetard]

Thank you, just the information I was looking for.

One last question now that I'm thinking about it, what are the practical length limits for the two?
Example: If I wanted to run 30-40 feet with lots of bends (avoiding sharp 90s) to run around obstacles to the other side of a room.

 

[repoman0]

I run almost the same setup -- 1070 routes both audio and video over HDMI to Marantz AVR which then connects via HDMI to a TV (and sends audio to either speakers or headphones). I also run a normal Dell monitor over displayport. The TV and monitor are mirrored (both 4k res) because they are never used at the same time.

As for length limits, it depends on the resolution and quality of the HDMI input ports. I bought a 15 (?) foot Amazon basics cable and it is ridiculously thick -- and when I was hooking the GPU directly to my TV, it was sporadic whether I could get 4k@60Hz with full color bandwidth. It always works with my AVR at full res/refresh/color bandwidth with the same cable which suggests better input electronics.

So if you're running 4k you're probably screwed trying to get 30 feet. In fact you may be screwed anyway, I'm not seeing any cables longer than 25 feet with a preliminary quick search.

 

[guidinggod]

Try a decent signal boosting cable from Amazon like this one https://www.amazon.com/Ultra-High-Supports-Ultra-Bandwidth-Connector/dp/B00GBBSL9Y?th=1 and if it doesn't work you can always return it because > Amazon. The other alternative is to use an HDBaseT Cat5e/6 extender which will work over very long distances even for 4k/60 signals, and it's hdcp 2.2 compliant https://www.amazon.com/AV-Access-Extender-Uncompressed-Bi-directional/dp/B019MADOS8

 

[EliteRetard]

Thanks again, I'm not necessarily planning on 30-40' just wanted to know the limits.

 

[guidinggod]

I think the spec calls for atleast 16ft without signal degradation for DVI cables but most manufacturers have 25ft DVI cables that work fine. HDMI specs don't give a specific minimum length but any decent cables should be ok with your 30-40ft. Like I said earlier, a decent quality HDMI cable with bendable sleeving should work fine.

 

[sdifox]

Hdmi should do it.

 

[queequeg99]

I ran into problems with a 35 foot HDMI run using the best shielded passive cable monoprice sells. Basically, I would get freezing of the screen a couple times a day that required that I turn everything off and on again. Just random (and very annoying). I replaced the cable with a redmere active cable (also purchased through monoprice) and have not had any problems since.

 

[Anubis]

at that distance i would run a toslink personally, you also avoid your computer thinking your AVR is a monitor because of hur durr HDMI and causing display and handshake issues

I run optical out to an AVR, its just easier IMO