topic Re: Google TV Streamer and HDMI Audio Passthrough in Streaming

Google TV Streamer and HDMI Audio Passthrough

StargazerUK — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 16:02:44 GMT

I got my Google TV Streamer hooked up to my Denon AVR 3600H and it's the only device I can't seem to get Audio Passthrough. It seems to decode all the formats on the device and pass everything as PCM.

Was this intentional? Can this be changed can we get like in the Chromecast an option for Dolby-encoded audio (HDMI pass-through) as I rather my receiver handle it rather then the Google TV Streamer. This seems like a bit of an oversite on Google's part to have missed that.

Re: Google TV Streamer and HDMI Audio Passthrough

whtnoise256 — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 22:52:00 GMT

For a device that's meant to be an upgrade from the Nvidia Shield Pro, this seems like a huge oversight by Google. Lack of audio passthrough/bitstreaming is going to be a deterrent for users looking for an alternative streaming device solution. Really dissapointed to see this missing from the Google TV Streamer...

Edit: relevant Reddit thread with confirmation: https://www.reddit.com/r/AndroidTV/comments/1fom4zy/google_tv_streamer/

Re: Google TV Streamer and HDMI Audio Passthrough

StargazerUK — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 07:51:52 GMT

Given the Chromecast with Google TV had passthrough I was expecting it to have it and disappointed it did not. The Dolby Atmos is not being passed through on my device but it's doing the same as the Apple TV and decoding on the box and using Dolby MAT to send the signal as it just shows Dolby Atmos. If it was bit-streaming it would show Dolby Atmos - DD+ like the shield pro does.

Re: Google TV Streamer and HDMI Audio Passthrough

kevv2288 — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 14:42:51 GMT

Yeah I just got mine yesterday and was really excited but now I just wanna return the thing and go back to CCwGTV. I don't think it can do audio passthrough at all. I want my soundbar to decode the audio as I have the streamer connected directly to soundbar HDMI in port. I noticed that manually selecting and turning off the audio formats in the streamer settings does nothing. Is this a bug? Everything shows as DTHD on my TV now where before it would show in the status bar either DD, DD+ or nothing if it was PCM. Also by the streamer doing the decoding it messes up my soundbar volume control when switching between apps and channels. The I can change the volume for a bit but then it won't work. It shows it's changing on the soundbar but only way to get it to change volume level is to press mute and then unmute after changing it. So annoying. Had 0 audio issues with CCwGTV. Hopefully this is just a software bug, otherwise I am going back to CCwGTV.

Oh also I can no longer have my soundbar make PCM audio into 5.1. Previously when connected to soundbar it would play PCM 2.0 and make it "fake" 5.1 and use all 5 speakers, which I like better then it only using the 2 left and right speakers, which is what happens using the streamer now.

Re: Google TV Streamer and HDMI Audio Passthrough

a214n — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 19:14:00 GMT

+1 For audio pass-through. Repeating @whtnoise256 - https://www.reddit.com/r/AndroidTV/comments/1fom4zy/google_tv_streamer/

Re: Google TV Streamer and HDMI Audio Passthrough

kevv2288 — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 19:21:42 GMT

It might be an android 14 thing and fixable via a software update. I read a post somewhere else today that a user said their android TV was recently updated to android 14 and lost the ability to use passthrough when it worked prior. So hopefully the Google streamer is capable of it and Google fixes it with a future update after everyone keeps complaining to them!?

Re: Google TV Streamer and HDMI Audio Passthrough

Sava333 — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 04:14:49 GMT

I'd like to add that on my sound bar all content played shows up as Multichannel PCM rather than the actual codec (DD, DD+, Atmos, etc). Even sending stereo will say Multichannel PCM. The only app that I can get to show as Atmos is Disney Plus for some reason. This worked perfectly fine on the CCwGTV that this replaced, my TV is set to passthrough which should let the soundbar do the decoding, not the Streamer.

Re: Google TV Streamer and HDMI Audio Passthrough

ianken — Sat, 28 Sep 2024 04:43:03 GMT

Audio is kind of a mess on it.

YouTube stereo is output such that it's 5.1 with no center channel. So no surrounded processing into the center.

Really disappointing.

Re: Google TV Streamer and HDMI Audio Passthrough

Ghome2024 — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 02:01:44 GMT

My Google TV Streamer 2024, is not out put Dolby Atmos on Sonos Arc. The setup is Samsung TV and Sonos Arc. I have had the smaller G.TV 4K and Roku. And Atmos worked just fine. The cable box also streams Dolby Atmos with no problems. The only issue that I have is the new 2024 G.Tv streamer. No Dolby Atmos. Please help.

Re: Google TV Streamer and HDMI Audio Passthrough

pikatoste — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 20:11:41 GMT

I have the same problem. Google TV Streamer connected to LG G4 television with bitstream and sound bar Sonos ARC connected to eARC port. All sound appears as a multichannel PCM except for Dolby Atmos.

Previously I used Chromecast with Google TV 4K and the sound came unprocessed to the sound bar.

I have also noticed that the overall volume of the sound with GTVS is higher than the one sent by CwGTV. And there are problems homogeneity of volume between television channels or applications. This did not happen with CwGTV. I guess Sonos Arc better regulates the volume of sound when it does not arrive as a PCM.

I consulted and found that some CWGTV users did not allow bitstream at the beginning. I hope Google soon enables an option that allows passthrough.

Re: Google TV Streamer and HDMI Audio Passthrough

DelicateDonkey — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 04:23:30 GMT

No Google TV Streamer for me if bitstream/audio passthrough isn't supported properly.

Re: Google TV Streamer and HDMI Audio Passthrough

MuntedMouse — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 10:49:12 GMT

Same issue here with Denon Receiver CCWGTV 4K works fine. Taking it back, others can do the beta testing.

Re: Google TV Streamer and HDMI Audio Passthrough

D58 — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 18:09:05 GMT

DENON DHT-S216 recognizes YouTube videos as Dolby Digital.
If you put the DHT-S216 in Movie mode in this state, the volume will drop and you can barely hear the dialogue. (Sounds correct in Pure mode)

Re: Google TV Streamer and HDMI Audio Passthrough

MuntedMouse — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 01:10:42 GMT

Tested again last night. Netflix has surround, but not being able to change Spotify from stereo sucks. Packed it up and it will go back today.

Re: Google TV Streamer and HDMI Audio Passthrough

pikatoste — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 07:53:53 GMT

I have contacted Google TV Streamer and Chromecast technical support. They have told me: "I can tell you that I know this issue is already an incident that is being worked on, since it is not new."

I recommend that all possible users communicate the problem to accelerate the resolution.

Re: Google TV Streamer and HDMI Audio Passthrough

moi1 — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 08:36:00 GMT

Same issue with a Marantz AVR. My excitement to use the new streamer was really thrown under the bus with this.

Re: Google TV Streamer and HDMI Audio Passthrough

moi1 — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 08:36:54 GMT

Communicate here?

Re: Google TV Streamer and HDMI Audio Passthrough

pikatoste — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 09:09:04 GMT

No. This is a simple community forum that I doubt has some impact.

The official Google Support Center must be used.

I have used the option of message, chat and email. It depends on the country you select.

Re: Google TV Streamer and HDMI Audio Passthrough

moi1 — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 12:55:48 GMT

I just reported the same to Google Support Center as suggested by @pikatoste above. Got the following reply: "After reviewing my resources, it appears this is a known issue that our higher technical engineers are currently working to resolve. I assure you that this issue has been documented and is actively being addressed. Our team is working on a resolution, and an update should be provided soon. While we don’t have an estimated timeline for when this will be resolved, I can assure you that it’s being prioritized for a solution as quickly as possible."

Re: Google TV Streamer and HDMI Audio Passthrough

QuantumRand — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 08:14:30 GMT

+1 for this issue. Without TrueHD/DTS audio passthrough, the Google TV Streamer is just a Chromecast, but at twice the cost.