Streaming a movie from a computer via HDMI into an AVR the other day when the computer (Windows 11) experienced difficulties. I switched to another computer (Chrome OS) and played movie using the same movie source, HDMI cable, AVR etc. so everything the same except the computer and operating system. Noticed immediately after the switch that the audio quality degraded substantially most noticeably in speech intelligibility. Any idea what might be responsible for the change? Thanks for replies.
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HDMI audio quality
- Thread starter Brab
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Chrome OS computers are cheap. Can't expect the same quality, they are built to be "good enough". May be components, may be settings... but if you hear a clear degradation, solve the difficulties on the Win11 computer.
DVDdoug
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Normally you should be getting "perfect" digital audio data. When I play a movie I get surround sound which means it's being decoded by the AVR.
I assume your AVR shows the format?
But I'm not sure about other formats... MP3 might be decoded by Windows first. I would expect PCM to be passed-straight through but maybe there is some sample rate conversion... I should try some crazy-high sample rate and it plays through the AVR it's probably being down-sampled.
I assume your AVR shows the format?
But I'm not sure about other formats... MP3 might be decoded by Windows first. I would expect PCM to be passed-straight through but maybe there is some sample rate conversion... I should try some crazy-high sample rate and it plays through the AVR it's probably being down-sampled.
Littletycoon
Active Member
1st step to know in both scenarios is where decoding takes place, on the computer or the avr. In case of avr (audio pass through computer = bitstreaming) there should be no difference as decoding is done in AVR.
If decoding is done on computer it depends on how its done. Windows e.g. WDM, Wasapi, aiso, exclusive or not. Same goes for chrome os. Various system settings may then impact sound perception depending on how its done. It may depend on the media player on the computer which options are available (also pass through or not). Start comparing settings, both media player and system (re sound off course)
In my experience (as long as not more than 7.1 channels) nuanced differences may exist (i seem to hear it, but still question myself if the difference is real), e.g. channel separation, between bitstreaming vs. computer decoding, but not really degradation.
If decoding is done on computer it depends on how its done. Windows e.g. WDM, Wasapi, aiso, exclusive or not. Same goes for chrome os. Various system settings may then impact sound perception depending on how its done. It may depend on the media player on the computer which options are available (also pass through or not). Start comparing settings, both media player and system (re sound off course)
In my experience (as long as not more than 7.1 channels) nuanced differences may exist (i seem to hear it, but still question myself if the difference is real), e.g. channel separation, between bitstreaming vs. computer decoding, but not really degradation.
I know this not likely, but in my recent experience setting up my new avr I had a bad HDMI cable that allowed most features to work but not others. Switching it made all the difference and setting functions in both the sending and receiving devices (both) setup menus was necessary.
- Thread Starter
- #6
Thanks for the replies, everyone. My apologies but I should have given a bit more detail in my original post. I have a simple two channel system with the HDMI cable feeding an external DAC in turn feeding the two channel inputs of the AVR. The HDMI video signal is split off and wanders separately to a projector. So the AVR is not doing any audio processing but rather simply acting as an amplifier. So I assume the substantial sound quality differences there are originate with the computers. I had thought that the computers would emit the same digital audio data as was suggested above, but apparently not and I was wondering why not.
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There are a few variables here. Cable; settings in the audio output of each PC; drivers. I would troubleshoot in that order.
Is the error repeatable? ie. the you switch back to the original PC is the audio back to where you want it?
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One computer might output 5.1, the other 2.0
You need to find out what they are both doing. I would start by connecting directly into the AVR - why are you using an external DAC?
There are cheap Chromebooks and very good ones labeled Chromebook Plus with higher specs and performance.
- Thread Starter
- #13
Yes. When I switched back after I fixed the Windows PC issues speech became much more intelligible for me and my wife.
Chrome has no available audio resolution settings.
I checked. the movie streaming source is only outputting stereo.
Since subjective reports are so very appreciated here on ASR *sarcasm* I can report that my best subjective audio results are what I currently run in spite of using an off brand, optical no less, HDMI cable.
That being said, I had a hell of a time with channel mapping issues using an intel NUC and windows own audio output. Switching it to a different retired gaming PC with a Geforce GTX1060 graphics card HDMI output resolved that issue. Don’t know why windows audio couldn’t handle HDMI output through the NUC’s default sound card.
That being said, I had a hell of a time with channel mapping issues using an intel NUC and windows own audio output. Switching it to a different retired gaming PC with a Geforce GTX1060 graphics card HDMI output resolved that issue. Don’t know why windows audio couldn’t handle HDMI output through the NUC’s default sound card.
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that was just one example of what could be going wrong - Again - try direct into the AVR - it will give you a better insight into what is going on. And eliminates compatibility issues between one of the computers and the DAC.
