No digital audio output with Asus Xonar DG

Question

I've purchased an Asus Xonar DG as replacement for faulty onboard audio in a Medion 8822 as it has an optical output which is all I really need to feed my HTPC.

I uninstalled the previous drivers/devices, switched the PC off, inserted the Asus card, powered up, disabled the onboard audio in the BIOS, then installed the driver that came on the CD (same version as on Asus' website as of today) and everything went perfectly - no errors.

I set the audio devices up in Windows and in the Asus utility (SPDIF enabled, 6-ch audio) as I would expect to see them work, but the only thing is I have no digital audio from test tones within Windows/the Asus utility, PCM audio or Dolby Digital from DVD. Analogue audio is fine.

I've uninstalled things and reinstalled a couple of times now, as well as trying almost all combinations of analogue/digital outputs but can't get it sorted.

Does anyone have any tips on how to get this working? This card has just been released so there isn't much out there to go on.

Notes:

• The light on the toslink port is lit.
• OS is Vista 32-bit SP2 and all up to date, pretty much a fresh install with almost no 3rd party applications installed
• This page seems to suggest that a digital output device in Windows is not needed with Xonar cards as it was with the previous Realtek so I have it set to Analog. The only other output device is S/PDIF pass-thru

Solution 1

Had the same issue, solved it;

In the Xonar Audio Center, under 'Main', make sure SPDIF Out is TICKED and PCM is selected.

Hope this helps.

Solution 2

I had no digital signal but got spdif pass through activated and a peak while playing music or audio. I then opened the DG audio center. In the main area I clicked on "spdif off" located beneath this dropdown menu. After a second I got sound back.

I had a Xonar DG with Logitech z5500.

Comments

[M_R_K]

I'm having the same issue, no SPDIF audio out at all. Don't know what to do. Tried everything possible. Tested cables and everything with my other device. Still no luck.

[Lunatik]

"..I have no digital audio from test tones within Windows/the Asus utility, PCM audio or Dolby Digital from DVD." :(

[Lunatik]

v As I mentioned in my finalnote, the Xonar cards seem to work differently to most other cards. Instead of having a digital output listed within Windows, they only have an analogue output but this is 'mirrored' to the S/PDIF based on the number of channels you select in the Asus utility. Cable is fine, tested with an Xbox, as is receiver.

[Lunatik]

The card is new to market (mid-August) and there is only one version of the unified Asus driver that supports the DG. The unofficial driver fails to recognise the DG during install and forces the installation to exit.

[harrymc]

For a new card, why don't you get help from Asus Support (support.asus.com) ?

[Lunatik]

Have done that, they're as stumped as I am and suggest it might be faulty, but gave no assurance that another wouldn't be exactly the same.

[harrymc]

It wouldn't hurt exchanging the card, unless that means that you can't be reimbursed.

[William Hilsum]

I would suggest still just double checking, in the playback devices, right click on a empty space and choose "show disabled devices", however, I have never dealt with one of these so cannot help you further - sorry.

[Lunatik]

Tried card in another PC, working fine. Given up now tbh.

[Eddified]

Thank you thank you thank you!!!! This is exactly what fixed it for me as well!

[Dani]

that helped me out as well but I can't get sound on my 5.1. I think because SPDIF is only mono/stereo (correct me if I'm wrong). I could have reproduce the sound using my 5.1 home cinema then?