DVI audio to speakers - not working.

[Rob Allen]

A few months ago the audio on my tv stopped working. I have a computer connected to the tv which I use for TV-related things (Netflix, Youtube, etc.). When the audio died I decided to just hook up a pair of speakers I had lying around since that was cheaper than paying ~$200 to fix the tv. However, the computer is connected to the tv via a DVI to HDMI cable. So I picked up a DVI with 3.5mm audio splitter (this is what the speakers need). This is what I got: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...gclid=CLKvmpfbqcQCFYOSfgodbCMAWQ&gclsrc=aw.ds

I plugged the speakers into the 3.5mm audio cable but the computer is still trying to send the audio to the tv. I have tested the speakers and they work just fine with other equipment. So I have to conclude that the problem is that the cable isn't actually sending anything on the 3.5mm line, even though it seems like that's what it should do. Anyone know why? Did I get the wrong cable or is there something I need to set in the system?

 

[Jetster]

So your trying to use the speakers on your PC?

 

[Ebo]

As far as I remember, DVI dosent send audio, thats only HDMI

 

[TrainingDummy]

Are you sure the playback device is set to whatever you're connecting that 3.5mm jack to?

 

[Rob Allen]

In the windows sound dialog, it shows the TV as the playback device via the video card, the TV is connected to the video card via the DVI/3.5mm splitter cable. I assumed that this cable would send the audio through the 3.5mm split, which is connected to the speakers. Unfortunately the PC itself does not have a sound card, though if I can't make this work I may just buy a cheap sound card. I was hoping to avoid doing that though. There is no option in the windows sound dialog to send the audio to the speakers.

 

[Aquinus]

DVI doesn't carry audio. It won't work.

 

[Rob Allen]

DVI doesn't carry audio. It won't work.

Actually it does. My old DVI cable did, and it does on the TV PC in another room in my house as well. If it didn't, this cable wouldn't even exist since it is supposedly specifically designed to carry audio from a dvi port through the splitter.

Also, in case it helps the video card I am using is a GTX 460, which uses dual-link ports, according to Nvidia's product specifications, so it's not a compatibility issue.

 

[imnotcrazy777]

Just connect the speakers directly to the computer, that should work.

 

[Aquinus]

Actually it does. My old DVI cable did, and it does on the TV PC in another room in my house as well. If it didn't, this cable wouldn't even exist since it is supposedly specifically designed to carry audio from a dvi port through the splitter.

Also, in case it helps the video card I am using is a GTX 460, which uses dual-link ports, according to Nvidia's product specifications, so it's not a compatibility issue.

That cable you linked to in the first post is DVI plus a separate audio cable in the same jacket, probably with different shielding to reduce EMI. That's not the same as digital audio over DVI which isn't a thing. Some older video cards supported HDMI audio over HDMI by using a special kind of DVI to HDMI adapter. I have a Radeon 2600 XT that works this way but, it doesn't mean audio is sent over DVI. If you're connecting both ends with the 3.5mm headphone jack, then it really has nothing to do with DVI and will be using the audio card, not the GPU, as an audio device.

The simple fact remains that audio over DVI is not a thing in the DVI spec. Only weird revisions of the DVI spec support things like that and support for those kinds. More often than not, you don't find devices that deviate from your typical DVI port, so I suspect you're confusing two different things.

So back to that cable: Both ends of the 3.5mm need to be plugged in. DVI doesn't carry audio.

 

[Jetster]

DVI does has audio. Unfortunately many adapters do not work. Do not use adapters. You're spending more $ and time then it would have taken to do it right. Get a sound card. That motherboard does not have sound? It been a long time sense Ive seen a MB with no sound

 

[Ja.KooLit]

DVI carries audio signal

"A DVI-D source can output HDMI signals including audio (e.g. ATI 3000-series and NVIDIA GTX 200-series).[9] Some multimedia displays use a DVI to HDMI adapter to input the HDMI signal with audio. Exact capabilities vary by video card specifications."

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Visual_Interface

DVI and HDMI compatibility
HDMI is a newer digital audio/video interface developed and promoted by the consumer electronics industry. DVI and HDMI have the same electrical specifications for their TMDS and VESA/DDC links. However HDMI and DVI differ in several key ways.

• HDMI lacks VGA compatibility and does not include analog signals.
• DVI is limited to the RGB color model while HDMI also supports YCbCr 4:4:4 and YCbCr 4:2:2 color spaces which are generally not used for computer graphics.
• In addition to digital video, HDMI supports the transport of packets used for digital audio.
• HDMI sources differentiate between legacy DVI displays and HDMI-capable displays by reading the display's EDID block.

To promote interoperability between DVI-D and HDMI devices, HDMI source components and displays support DVI-D signalling. For example, an HDMI display can be driven by a DVI-D source because HDMI and DVI-D both define an overlapping minimum set of supported resolutions and frame buffer formats.

A DVI-D source can output HDMI signals including audio (e.g. ATI 3000-series and NVIDIA GTX 200-series).[9] Some multimedia displays use a DVI to HDMI adapter to input the HDMI signal with audio. Exact capabilities vary by video card specifications.

In the reverse scenario, a DVI display that lacks optional support for HDCP might be unable to display protected content even though it is otherwise compatible with the HDMI source. Features specific to HDMI such as remote control, audio transport, xvYCC and deep color are not usable in devices that support only DVI signals. HDCP compatibility between source and destination devices is subject to manufacturer specifications for each device.

to OP: you need to make sure you connect it to DVI-D

 

[CounterZeus]

Audio works on DVI because you can send a HDMI signal over it (which carries an audio signal). However the cable OP linked will not work because the audio jack does not use this signal, it uses the input jack. He should try to use the speakers directly on the tv.

 

[MrGenius]

O.k., but his TV speakers don't work. Do you mean like plug the speakers into the TV? He can't have missed anything that obvious...right?

EDIT: I just wanted to add my $.02 on the DVI audio theory. My 280X has HDMI/audio output through the DVI port. I found that out when I connected a HDMI(F) to DVI(M) adapter to it, ran HDMI cable to my TV/monitor, and low and behold...let there be light AND sound!


This is the one I used to conjure up the miraculous.

 

[Batou1986]

To answer OP's question you do need to buy a sound card and hook the computer end of the DVI cable 3.5mm jack to it to make this setup work.

Basicly the cable is just a DVI-D with a separate 3.5mm audio cable in the same sleeve.

 

[Rob Allen]

DVI does has audio. Unfortunately many adapters do not work. Do not use adapters. You're spending more $ and time then it would have taken to do it right. Get a sound card. That motherboard does not have sound? It been a long time sense Ive seen a MB with no sound

It's a repurposed custom-built gaming pc. The motherboard does not have onboard audio. It did have an audio card in it, but that was removed and put into my main system. I figured the old gaming comp would make a decent TV comp, it was better than throwing it out. It worked just fine until the TV speakers died. I'm a real stingy bastard, I won't spend money if I don't think I have to - so knowing that the GTX 460 in the comp supported audio over DVI, I couldn't justify buying an audio card when the video card did the same job. But I guess now it's not that simple.

Audio works on DVI because you can send a HDMI signal over it (which carries an audio signal). However the cable OP linked will not work because the audio jack does not use this signal, it uses the input jack. He should try to use the speakers directly on the tv.

I did try plugging the speakers into the tv but this did not work either. I suspect it's not the tv's speakers that are the problem but rather the audio controller on the tv's motherboard. Replacing that would cost over $200, but I'm not an expert when it comes to tv tech. I probably will have to get it fixed at some point, but I'm putting that off until I have to. It's sure to be more expensive than an audio card.

To answer OP's question you do need to buy a sound card and hook the computer end of the DVI cable 3.5mm jack to it to make this setup work.

Basicly the cable is just a DVI-D with a separate 3.5mm audio cable in the same sleeve.

It seems that way. Well, thanks for clarifying it. I won't even need this cable when I get the audio card. I can just plug the speakers directly into the pc at that point. I guess the lesson here is that sometimes when you try to save money, you end up spending more than you would have otherwise. If I had just bought a cheap audio card to begin with, I could have saved myself $25.

 

[Dent1]

It's a repurposed custom-built gaming pc. The motherboard does not have onboard audio. It did have an audio card in it, but that was removed and put into my main system. I figured the old gaming comp would make a decent TV comp, it was better than throwing it out. It worked just fine until the TV speakers died. I'm a real stingy bastard, I won't spend money if I don't think I have to - so knowing that the GTX 460 in the comp supported audio over DVI, I couldn't justify buying an audio card when the video card did the same job. But I guess now it's not that simple.



I did try plugging the speakers into the tv but this did not work either. I suspect it's not the tv's speakers that are the problem but rather the audio controller on the tv's motherboard. Replacing that would cost over $200, but I'm not an expert when it comes to tv tech. I probably will have to get it fixed at some point, but I'm putting that off until I have to. It's sure to be more expensive than an audio card.



It seems that way. Well, thanks for clarifying it. I won't even need this cable when I get the audio card. I can just plug the speakers directly into the pc at that point. I guess the lesson here is that sometimes when you try to save money, you end up spending more than you would have otherwise. If I had just bought a cheap audio card to begin with, I could have saved myself $25.

I have not encounter a motherboard that doesn't have on-board audio. What model is the motherboard?

Forget the entire DVI thing. As others have pointed out DVI isn't designed to carry audio. There has been some crazy work around in the past, namely by NVidia where they use a special preparatory cable. These cables are not really even DVI, they were a work around, and getting it to work has always been hit or miss.

You said your TV has HDMI, I swear the GTX 460 has HDMI-out too. You should be able to get audio working via HDMI.

 

[Mussels]

that particular cable in the OP is basically DVI and a 3.5mm cable taped together to look neater. it does not add the audio to the DVI.
the only way that adaptor could work, is if your TV is like mine - my HDMI4 has a 3.5mm analogue port.

As said, DVI does not carry audio, if you ever think you had audio over DVI then you were simply mistake about what you were using. why not use HDMI?

 

[MrGenius]

I have not encounter a motherboard that doesn't have on-board audio. What model is the motherboard?

I was wondering the same thing. I've owned a couple motherboards with no on-board audio. But they were manufactured in the late 90s. I've not seen one since 2000 or so that didn't have on-board audio. That's definitely very unusual.

 

[Dent1]

I was wondering the same thing. I've owned a couple motherboards with no on-board audio. But they were manufactured in the late 90s. I've not seen one since 2000 or so that didn't have on-board audio. That's definitely very unusual.

I'm 100% certain your motherboard has on-board audio. It's like saying your motherboard doesn't have a PS/2 port for mouse and keyboard, it's a basic standard.

Download CPU-Z. It will tell you the motherboard's model.

http://www.cpuid.com/downloads/cpu-z/cpu-z_1.72-en.exe

 

[Jetster]

You have to go back to ISA slots to not have sound on a main board

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Most server boards don't have onboard audio.

 

[CounterZeus]

I did try plugging the speakers into the tv but this did not work either. I suspect it's not the tv's speakers that are the problem but rather the audio controller on the tv's motherboard. Replacing that would cost over $200, but I'm not an expert when it comes to tv tech. I probably will have to get it fixed at some point, but I'm putting that off until I have to. It's sure to be more expensive than an audio card.

Yeah, I was afraid that would happen. A cheap USB soundcard will probably do the trick and reusable if ever needed.

 

[MrGenius]

It's like saying your motherboard doesn't have a PS/2 port for mouse and keyboard, it's a basic standard.

My motherboard doesn't have a PS/2 port. That I'm 100% sure of. And I've seen many others like it lately. It kinda seems like they're phasing that out to me. Since you can plug both into a USB port, with an adapter.

I could be wrong about the motherboard(s) I had with no on-board sound. I could swear I had at least one(maybe not 2) that needed a card though. But it were a long time ago.

 

[BiggieShady]

I believe you are missing one of these (female 3.5mm jack) to connect the 3.5mm male jack from the speakers to that male 3.5mm jack on your new DVI cable. Just be careful not to amplify much on the sound card at the same time you are amplifying on the speakers (if they are not passive).

 

[Rob Allen]

I'm 100% certain your motherboard has on-board audio. It's like saying your motherboard doesn't have a PS/2 port for mouse and keyboard, it's a basic standard.

Download CPU-Z. It will tell you the motherboard's model.

http://www.cpuid.com/downloads/cpu-z/cpu-z_1.72-en.exe

This is what I have: http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/M3N72D/

The case does have audio ports but they dont appear to connect to anything, and Windows does not show a playback device for any onboard sound. Also, you can see on the Asus page that it only mentions having built-in support for Realtek codecs. That seemed odd to me too, but I already discussed this on another forum and they told me (specifically another M3N72 owner) that the mb doesn't actually have an onboard sound card, despite the way it's advertised, because if it did, Windows would be able to use it.