Windows 10 and Realtek Optical Output 5.1 DTS - How to Enable

There are many forum threads around the web about Windows 10 breaking Surround Sound / 5.1 DTS / 5.1 Dolby, etc... However there appear to be a few different possibilities, and while some noted to fix it using unlocked Realtek drivers, I have tested this myself with the following results.

BACKGROUND See screenshots below of all of my settings screens:

Windows 10, PC coected HDMI to my Samsung TV, and digital optical out through a Realtek soundcard to my Pioneer receiver (DD and DTS capable).

PC is a SHUTTLE SH67H3 PC

I have tried Realtek's R2.79 drivers Win10 x64. I have also tried the WIN10 x64 drivers from Shuttle's site (linked above). Both don't actually show the DTS/DD output option. The unlocked R2.79 drivers DO show that option, but more info on that below.

This worked in WIN7 without any headache, and using the built in drivers WIN7 applied to the soundcard. Didn't even need the realtek drivers.

Just use HDMI to your TV, and back to the receiver you idiot

Wouldn't that be nice! HDMI goes through the Samsung TV in full 5.1 glory, but the Samsung TV will not output it back out to the receiver in the same format it got it! It sends it back to the receiver as 2 chael.

Just use HDMI switching on your receiver instead you idiot

The receiver does NOT like the samsung TV as a single output. I get resolution issues, flicker, refresh rate problems, the list goes on. It is a far bigger headache to try and get the video to work right when putting all inputs in the receiver, and I decided it was time to let the TV handle all video itself.

And again, this DID work on WIN7.

TEST

My tests are always using a test DTS 5.1 file which plays sound in each speaker one at a time when DTS 5.1 is active and working properly. I have an MKV version which is also on PLEX (which plays through a browser).

PROBLEM

The below is true for either official Realtek driver file, and the built in windows 10 drivers (before realtek was even installed).

• Windows Movie and TV player, and Windows Media Player output NOTHING. No sound. Likely due to a codec issue though...
• VLC, with S/PDIF pass through disabled, output is 2 chael only. It is not DTS 5.1 or DD 5.1. The test file plays sounds only in the front L/R speakers one at a time as it cycles through all 5 speakers. When it gets to LTE chael, nothing plays at all, silence.
• VLC, using S/PDIF pass through option, works flawlessly and outputs DTS or Dolby Digital 5.1 sound through the optical output on my PC, to my receiver. Each speaker has it's own chael and the test file works flawlessly.
• Plex, in Chrome, IE, or FF, is never outputting DTS or DD 5.1. I can confirm that it is playing "original" file and there is zero transcoding taking place. I've tried tons of plex settings, nothing seems to work. This is just like VLC with S/PDIF pass through DISABLED. I get 2 chaels only and LTE doesn't work at all in the test file.
• Websites in Chrome, IE, FF are just like the above, no change. I caot get DD or DTS to be output.

The below is true for the unlocked realtek R2.79 driver.

• I can go into the Realtek settings screen and now from the dropdown select DTS or DD. All of the sudden my receiver is showing DTS or DD on the front panel, SUCCESS!?!? NO.
• In fact, it is outputting DTS/DD. But it's not treating the files right. Just like in all the tests above, I caot hear the LTE chael in the test file in any test, and the rear/center speakers are made only accross the L/R front speakers.
• What's worse, the S/PDIF passthrough in VLC now does the same thing, it no longer functions properly!!! So even though it says DTS, and it very well may be outputting that, it is downmixing everything it gets into 2 chaels only!

So this is the problem, and I have found no solution to date. I am all ears. My goal is to get at least one browser capable of outputting 5.1 in DD or DTS in its true form. From Xfinity TV webapp, Plex, HBO Go, and Netflix at a minimum.

Thank you smart people!