Supercool Stability Update: Realtek ALC892 user here on ASUS P9X79 LE mobo output SPDIF to Sony Receiver and Micro 5.1 speakers still enjoying the longest stability with zero hangs or crashes, amazing sound. In fact, I haven't done a clean install with SSD because I am so happy it all works. The Optimus mod can breath new life into hardware that isn't officially supported and may provide a major upgrade in terms of audio quality. At least that has been my experience in playing music and movies from my PC. I had been using outdated package that was over fours years old since last update just kind of disappointed with quality. I have experimented with many different attempts to make Realtek work as intended with varying degrees of success. Not sure what the secret sauce is here but I will never forget hearing the dramatic leap forward when the digital signal was properly processed by the receiver.
For other users whose hardware predates Windows 10 at least part of the difficulty I was having getting the drivers to "stick" was related to folder permissions and dialing back the MS store auto-updates and other device/driver management things that will manipulate the audio device. I was constantly having to select which driver or device was default until i started making changes as admin but only using a user account. My mobo required the "manual" activation of DTS 5.1 Interavtive and I was having crashes requiring running the fix after very crash. Unselecting "allow apps to take exclusive control" may have been one of the final settings that I was able to change. I never figured out exactly what it was I just went through I took back all other redundant or disabled audio related stuff that wasn't the latest AAF Optimus (is that what to call it now?)
Critical steps: I actually had to jot down notes so I wouldn't rush or skips steps.
This worked for me but only after lots of crashes. Nothing is gospel here just my opinion and this is merely n effort to track my progress or possibly help someone else who wants HD Audio to work period or enable full potential. The location of the speakers front, rear and center matter and have corresponding settings in receiver. Thick braided copper wire, grounded outlets and caution to avoid loose wires shorting at terminals are basic stuff. I found the manual for the Sony STR-DE545 Receiver and SSV230 5.1 micro speakers online. The bass response is surprisingly good. I use VLC for movies, Foobar2K for music and play PC games without problems. I even tried changing settings to see if it would break so at least from this user exp is STABLE - Thank you Alan!
Create Admin account (Enterprise edition) and new User account with password (no Admin privileges)
I installed as admin but use in user account. I have disable most if not all of the Asus AI Suite 2 as its was not functioning by Windows tries to run if I reboot. I just respond no. Windows 10 is able to use some of the critical drivers off Asus driver support page but I have also installed newest Realtek LAN drivers, Intel Chipset (2019) and AsRock SATA controllers directly from the manufacturer. Nothing from Asus P9X79 LE support/driver page has been updated after 2016, the BIOS is 2014. My point being that relying of Asus Update, Microsoft Sore, Windows Updates or anything other than cheery picking and install it yourself is a bad idea. It is a pain the ass, trial and error process that was totally worth it. At one point I had virtually every store feature and security check enabled in effort to use the "native" RT apps. Going though all the settings that affect audio and removing or disable anything you are certain you don't need and isnt integral sucks. It was a long pain i the butt but the "problem" is Windows trying to ensure a better plug and play functionality. Nothing new its just there is so much more than ever, nothing I needed or installed by choice. I am holding off on updates installing until I know if it will wreck everything like the Oct 2019 package did.
Realtek HD Audio ALC892 circa 2012 - clean driver install, DDU now supports Realtek driver removal! Uninstall as instructed by DDU (carefully, RTFM)
I have old AMD/Nvidia/HDMI and other crap in registry and driver depository folders in windows. It took a while to smoke these out but DDU did it. Just back up and read warning so you dont create new problems as the Realtek function is still beta but that rule is always true. You may need to check BIOS setting to confirm audio device or HDMI settings. The only thing I had before that is now gone is my analog inpt device for microphone doesnt work now and I used to be able to play music analog out to headphone front panel jack. It may still work just noting change. I dont really need it now but will try again in future.
Rebooting and installing in safe boot, then use "recovery" reboot options to bypass signed drivers. Reboot and enable DTS Interactive. Reboot and open Windows Audio Device. Set default device (Digital S/PDIF Optical Out) Right click and select Properties.
TABS:
General (make mental note of driver location and ensure AAF is active) I have more than one RT driver folder before DDU
Supported formats: ALL not sure if WMA works or how to use it but the receiver supports all these rates. Dolby, DTS/AFD/PCM etc but no HDMI though
Levels: N/A
Enhancements: Disable! Uncheck immediate mode. This constantly enabling itself and I have no idea what was doing it. It might have been ATI HDMI audio.
Dolby: Nope I wish I understood what Dolby offers that adds to improves over DTS. Is ProLogic still used?
Advanced: DTS Interactive (5.1 surround) yeah hell Unselect "Exclusive Mode"
Spacial Sound: Negative (one thing nice with using a receiver connected to PC is quickly switching off speakers and having headphones connected to receiver.
I have really bad surfers ear and I can't use headphones for long. That is probably what started this process. DTS 5.1 can amazing done right and with the Optimus tweaks. All of the gear was old, cheap and easy to find. I think older speakers and other components can sound better than newer, more cheaply produced "modern" products. Instead of getting suckered into buying "monstrous" cables basic lamp wires work great. The thicker the guage the better especially for longer run. I had some unused 12 gauge braided wire for landscape lighting. You can buy it by foot at hardware stores. I hope people try to get the most of what they got. At least in my case its been fun and educational. My next goal is a Raspberry PI/KODI box.
At this point the values you need to choose or configure may vary but my mission was SPDIF out of DTS signal to home theater receiver from 2007ish. There are 7 tabs here but I need is DTS Interactive. I ended up not selecting Dolby Home Theater and that could have been what stopped the manager crashing. No noticeable change to sound and seemed redundant. Not sure of both can even work conjunctively. Movies sound amazing just using VLC as the receiver is doing the work. The "ear" check matters most then stability. Sound quality varies so much with content, format and setting- nothing is static but learning how to dial it in has been best part of this deal.
Someone mentioned github and a problem but it appears to have been resolved. I think its wrong to throw out hardware that is still useful and consumers have a right to use home brewed software in the absence of an alternative. These companies make so much money it does not them anything, particularly when the device suite and functionality has been "sunset" by its manufacturer. At least in my case it was a really sore subject to see Asus so quick to essentially abandon a motherboard described (later) as Windows 10 supported when the AI Suite 2 is broken and there was no attempt to migrate the native Win8.1 drivers that the MS store was constantly installing for me without asking. But that is just MS being MS. Keep being awesome. If anything I hope Asus/ROG/Realtek puts you on retainer or help to support customers. My new thing has been using the Foobar2000 music player. It has been around for a long time and the open source community around it of artists and programmers has allowed people use media as they choose when I see more and more people who gravitate to Spotify or other services that charge more and offer very limited controls. Privacy laws in California now more closely resemble the standard in the EU requiring companies get permission to harvest data or use your system resources for their gain and offer nothing in return. Some people dont care or bother. That is fine, I guess but after actually reading what you are allowing I just can't imagine why I would want or need to surrender all that info without benefit. Ok no more ranting. Wage peace and stay safe, humans.