Xoutpost.com - Rear Entertainment System (RES) Dolby Digital & DTS playback

During my testdrive I tested some of the options of the Rear Entertainment System (RES), especially it's Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 playback possibilities.

I found out that the DVD drive unit perfectly supports Dolby Digital and DTS playback, but that the unit is not digitally connected to the Audio system. It is basically connected though the Aux connection which is simply a 2 channel stereo system.

Even though the most advanced X5 Hifi system presents itself as a Multichannel, digital system, it probably doesn't have a digital input.
(usually referred to as SPDIF). The DVD unit, by it's specifications does have a ditital (SPDIF) output.

Initially I thought that BMW simply put in the wrong cable, but I believe it is a more fundamental design limitation of the Audio system not having a digital input. And as an alternative just use the Aux input. This is probably also why the DVD drive cannot be controlled via the I-drive, it's simply not integrated at all.

Asking BMW about this led to total silence for months and the inability to understand the question or to answer with the real story.
Oh, btw, in the Lexus, with the Mark Levinson setup, this works as expected, so it is not that it doesn't exist on the markt.

So audio enthousiasts, if you want to enjoy 5.1 channel Music DVD's in your X5, this will not work.

Although the DVD system is nicely integrated physically, it certainly is not integrated from a software and connection point of view, but there have been many discussions on the I-drive integration already on this board. I'm mostly focussing on the Digital Audio limitations in this thread.