Mac mini hdmi auto detect stereo or surround

Hi,
I have just switched from an windows 7 media center to using a mac mini for my media center.
In my setup I have connected the mini to my Denon surround receiver with an HDMI cable (like I had with my windows media center).
However I have a small problem when playing music. With my windows media center (using iTunes for windows) my receiver could automatically detect that the music was in stereo and only use the front right/left speaker for the sound - and when I turned on Plex to play a movie the sound was automatically surround and I didnt have to change any settings on my receiver.
With the mac however both music and movies is sent to the receiver in 7.1 surround? Can't I get the mac to auto detect if the source is stereo or surround? So when I play music from iTunes only the front speakers should be used?
I know I can just turn my remote - open it and change the speaker setting on my receiver but I fear this is much to complicated for my girlfriend so she will demand that I turn back to windows and I really dont want to do that?
Kind Regards,
Søren Jensen

HDMI audio and Minis can be quirky at times.
Have you changed the order of power-up?
I found in my system, I need to power up the TV,
then the receiver, then boot the Mini.
Also, if using some other source and then switching
back to the Mini, I end up in stereo only and have to
reboot the Mini to get surround pass tthrough capability
back.
HDMI audio in general is at times quirky as I have seen
similar comments around and about for all types of
equipment.

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