AC3, DTS, DD5.1 - which firmware and kernel to use?

[hoborg]

Hi,
I still have problem with sound through SPDIF.
I've been trying to use latest Lewy's firmware 2.0.4 and even path kernel from Wasser.
I've checked every option in sound settings.
I have tested movies in MX Player, ES Player and default player, and still no full dd5.1, DTS, AC3 support.
Once DTS is working, but DD5.1 is broken. My aplituner displays incomming DD 3/2 stream, but there is silent in speakers.
Another time (different passthrough settings at sound settings) DTS and DD5.1 not working.
I've try to use MX Player software codecs, and aplituner displays DD5.1 but sound are chopped and skipping just like it was broken stream.

Without surround sound this Android Box (at this price) is useless.

Please help.

[hoborg]

None of you have this problem?

I found, that DTS is working with checked "ROCKCHIP-SPDIF PASSTHROUGH".
Sometimes I have to turn volume full up in android box, because at one level below max volume there is no sound in speakers but the amplifier gets DTS stream.
Unfortunately this options (passthrough and max volume) do not work for DD5.1
The amplifier gets DD stream, but there is silent in speakers.

What to do?

[gjurriens]

None of you have this problem?

I found, that DTS is working with checked "ROCKCHIP-SPDIF PASSTHROUGH".
Sometimes I have to turn volume full up in android box, because at one level below max volume there is no sound in speakers but the amplifier gets DTS stream.
Unfortunately this options (passthrough and max volume) do not work for DD5.1
The amplifier gets DD stream, but there is silent in speakers.

What to do?

I've got those problems as well.
It's rather annoying like this cause most of my content is either DTS or DD5.1.
I hope they can get this working, but I'm really in doubt...

[alibasbas]

Is this not yet fixed using lewy20041's latest K-R42 Hybrid Firmware (HFW) Beta v2.0.4? I'm planning as well to buy this unit mainly to watch HD H.264 movies in a USB drive with 5.1 AC3 / AAC audio.

[hoborg]

I found something interesting.
When sound settings are set to PASSTHROUGH and MX Player uses HW decoding with SW audio decoding the amplituner gets DD5.1 stream and there is sound in speakers but the stream is corrupted. It's chopping and hissing. Is this means any hope?

DTS works perfect, but there is more AC3/DD5.1 movies than DTS and I'm still searching solution for this.
I tested Lewy's firmware 2.0.2, 2.0.4, justXBMC and wasser's kernel (I don't know if I flashed this kernel right over lewy's 2.0.2 firmware).

I have no chance to test HDMI passthrough with surround sound. I'm using SPDIF.

[alibasbas]

I found something interesting.
When sound settings are set to PASSTHROUGH and MX Player uses HW decoding with SW audio decoding the amplituner gets DD5.1 stream and there is sound in speakers but the stream is corrupted. It's chopping and hissing. Is this means any hope?

DTS works perfect, but there is more AC3/DD5.1 movies than DTS and I'm still searching solution for this.
I tested Lewy's firmware 2.0.2, 2.0.4, justXBMC and wasser's kernel (I don't know if I flashed this kernel right over lewy's 2.0.2 firmware).

I have no chance to test HDMI passthrough with surround sound. I'm using SPDIF.

Thanks for the observations! I myself intent to purchase such unit to be used in conjunction with SPDIF audio out to my Home Theater Receiver in the hopes of being able to decode 5.1 AC3 / AAC audio.

I hope somebody knowledgeable with this hardware will be able to assist in this issue.

[gjurriens]

Try the wasser 1.2.3 firmware.
I've installed it yesterday and so far it played everything smoothly with passthrough (using SPDIF)

[hoborg]

Try the wasser 1.2.3 firmware.
I've installed it yesterday and so far it played everything smoothly with passthrough (using SPDIF)

Same issue - Receiver gets DD stream but the speakers are silent. On other device (not android box) I'm playing the same file with success.
What configuration do you have? Maybe I forgot to set something? Maybe there is an order to load and configure firmware?

[gjurriens]

Same issue - Receiver gets DD stream but the speakers are silent. On other device (not android box) I'm playing the same file with success.
What configuration do you have? Maybe I forgot to set something? Maybe there is an order to load and configure firmware?

I don't have any special configuration.
I've changed the audio output settings in the android settings to passthrough-spdif.
In XBMC I've let everything at it's default... (it's showing that it doesn't have a passthrough device, but I figured that would be normal).

[hoborg]

I found on Boxee forum that there is group of people who has the same problem with XBMC. The problem is with "old" Sony amp and DD5.1 via SPDIF. The amp recognizes DD5.1 stream but the stream is corrupted on some way and amp (probably) is muting speakers. So the passthrough isn't one-to-one passthrough. The software has to do some recalculation on stream or drop valuable frames.
There are some topic about this so I'll try to find solution or workaround.
I'll test android box on my friend's amp.

[hoborg]

I read that this problem exists with "old" receivers, specially Sony. At Boxee forum I've have read that they fix the problem, but I don't know how. They release new software with new Audio Engine. Problably this is problem with AC3 "handshake" or synch. Some receivers detecting DD stream but they cannot correctly decode stream searching for missing data.

Do our "android gurus" could face with this problem? I hope so.

[hoborg]

I've checked android box with my friend's receiver (3 years old Onkyo). AC3 via SPDIF passthroigh works perfectly (Wasser's firmware 1.2.3).

I only could have hope, that someone fix android libs to stream "more" valid AC3 stream so "old" receivers can decode this.

The topic is to be closed.