I bought a cheap media player with HDMI output capability, and it works perfectly with the Auzentech X-Fi HomeTheater HD. Without you would have to provide the dummy signal from you graphics card, and that meant having an emtpy screen area your mouse could dissapear to. Since the hdmi signal is always on, this solution has the added benefit that you hear the Windows startup and logon sounds. I have not yet tested DTS, DD or DTS Master HD.
The media player I used is a BaiYuYi Mini Hdmi Media Player. An Altona AT-HDVIEW should work and the Raspberry Pi. The BaiYuYi does not turn off the display or shut down after a certain time, it is on all the time.
Warning: this media player does not support HDCP so you won’t be able to pass-through DTS-MA or DD TrueHD, but you can decode the audio with the player and send uncompressed 8 channel PCM through.
Preliminary tests are successful
The power supply is 5v, so I can use the PC’s powersupply by soldering on a molex plug
Testing the cable, it works well so far!
The box is small enough to snuggle up under the X-Fi HomeTheater soundcard
Done, now lets see if it works
It works!
Now a desktop with dummy has become…
…a desktop without
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