Not able to get 5.1 Channel Sound

[gauravdighe]

Hi, I have 5.1 Speakers attached. but VLC plays audio in 2 channel only. I want to play files with 5.1 and Dolby Surround Technologies. Please let me know the settings to achieve the same.

[VLC_help]

How have you connected your speakers to your computer? (SPDIF, analog cables, HDMI?)

[walterhausen]

I have the same problem...

I am running Mac OSX 10.6.6 with VLC 1.1.7. Playing any AC3-encoded or DTS-encoded file always outputs PCM 2.0 (3 channel L-C-R) to my Bose receiver. I have tried checking "Output to S/PDIF where available", a method which worked perfectly on the same computer running Windows7/WindowsVista however it fails to work under Mac OSX.

Note that:
1. Plex outputs with 5.1 channel audio after I set it to use either SPDIF-out or Digital-out and "force Digital" support for AC3/DTS-capable receiver.
2. Perian with AC3 passthrough also works playing through Quicktime.
Only VLC is giving me problems...

Please help!! I am note sure what I am doing wrong with VLC on the Mac. I would really love my 5.1 channel working under native Mac OSX with VLC through SPDIF or HDMI-Digital output!! Especially as I already bought the VLC Remote SW for my iPhone.

What settings should I use to force behaviour the way I need it? or any other override method to force SPDIF output?