I have a Windows 7 HTPC connected to my UE55ES7000 TV, with the HDMI out from the HTPC going directly to the TV and the SPDIF output going to my Onkyo TX-NR515 receiver. I also have the HDMI output from the TV going to the Onkyo receiver, for TV viewing. I use my HTPC for music as well as video, so want my connections optimised for both, as far as possible.

My problem is that I frequently get loud "white noise" when I turn on the receiver and wake the HTPC from sleep. I can often only get rid of it by rebooting the HTPC.

I have 2 questions:
1. Does anyone know why the white noise problem might be happening?
2. If I switch the HTPC to using HDMI for audio output (hence routing the audio from HTPC->TV->Receiver will I lose 5.1 channel output?
Last edited by itm : 03-03-2015 at 21:52

Try.....

HDMI out HTPC to HDMI in Onkyo...

HDMI out Onkyo to HDMI in TV.

Optical out TV to Optical in Onkyo.

You will need to assign the HDMI on the Onkyo for the HTPC.

There's a problem when I connect the HTPC to the Onkyo via HDMI. When I do this I frequently get no video on the TV when resuming the HTPC from sleep. It's as if the Onkyo does not recognise the video signal from the HTPC when it resumes from sleep.

Try firing up the pc first before selecting the input, or switching the tv off then on again, or switching inputs on the amp then back again. It sounds like a handshake issue, receivers can be tempremental, especially with pc's.

I invariably have to switch components on/off to get the video back (and frequently have no option but to reboot the PC), so it's a royal pain in the neck, which is why I have the HDMI going straight from the HTPC to the TV.

There's normally a sequence where you switch the components on in a certain order that works best, I found if everything was turned on switching works perfectly. Will be difficult for you if the pc is in sleep mode and it's that which is not playing ball.

Yes I'm resigned to the fact that if I want to use sleep mode on the HTPC then I need to connect the HDMI directly from HTPC to TV. Hence now I need to address the original two questions - why the white noise, and can I get 5.1 audio via HDMI (from HTPC->TV->Onkyo)
???

I was going to say it's worth persevering with the HTPC to the amp as you will be able to get all audio formats available to you, DD5.1/DTS/True HD/DTS HD MA depending on your files/player. I very much doubt your TV will pass those formats from HDMI to its optical output.

As for the white noise, this could be something to do with the HTPC conneted to the TV and the optical output to the amp - Is the HTPC connected to an active ARC output? If it is remove the optical cable. Have you tried a different HDMI input on the TV, do you get this when the HTPC is connected to the amp?