Asus spdif/opt out HELP

[chrispeters]

I built a HTPC...small asus p series with onboard HDMI and optical out.
Using Windows Media Center (Vista ultimate)
HDMI out to panny px70 (mainly MKV files) works a treat !!
OPTICAL out to my cambridge audio azur 340 will NOT work at all....tried everything !!!
I can get line out (jack) to analogue in on the amp to work...but the center speaker and front right do not work !!(rest do) !!
I tried all versions of realtek drivers.i can select spdif in sound options i can also see it working when a mkv is playing.but i hear nothing !!
My amp displays "mode unavailable" when i select optical in from the pc channel !!
Do i need a better soundcard ??
Please help...brfore it goes thru the window !!!
cheers guys ...

[chrispeters]

come on guys.....

[albriscoe]

Hi Chris

daft question mate but is the optical cable ok, looking at the end to see a red light from the pc`s output is not always confirmation that the cable is working as I found out here.

Can you try it somewhere else or do you have another one you can try

cheers Al

PS. how are the missions btw

[chrispeters]

missions are great...ended up buying a cambridge audio azure 340 amp....sounds real good...
pc not though ((
I bought a sound card(SB X-Fi)
Same problem....No sound from the amp..but windows shows me its working (play film Volume green bar moves when films playin )
Drivin me mad now this.....

[albriscoe]

Originally Posted by chrispeters

missions are great...ended up buying a cambridge audio azure 340 amp....sounds real good...
pc not though ((
I bought a sound card(SB X-Fi)
Same problem....No sound from the amp..but windows shows me its working (play film Volume green bar moves when films playin )
Drivin me mad now this.....

sounds like its either a setting in the amps menu or a faulty amp Chris, do you def know that the cable is a good one

[chrispeters]

Al....
You nailed it...
My brand new optical cable...was faulty !!
2 nights messing about with a faulty cable.
Works perfect now

Cheers Al

[albriscoe]

thats good news mate, glad alls well. Sit back and enjoy it now

Are you watching any HD stuff yet ??

[chrispeters]

yeah i got a few HD films......i get them in .MKV format.
Which all have DTS soundtracks and most are 1080P...
Some are 720 though.
They do take a lot of space though (lucky i got a 1000G HD)
they between 8-15 gigg per film !!
Windows media center works a treat with them (as long as you have KLite codec pack installed).
Gonna watch Transformers in 1080 tonight...i hope the neightbours dont want an early night