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No dolby digital plus sound

Evertjanus
Community Member

Hi,

Does anyone recognize the problem that I don't get dolby digital plus sound? My chromecast with google tv is directly plugged into a dolby digital plus able AVR (NAD T 747). The sound settings for chromecast indicate that the AVR is Dolby Digital and Dolby Digital Plus supported. But when I play directly or indirectly an Dolby Digital Plus sound stream (Netflix, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime), audio stays silent, until I turn off the Dolby Digital Plus surround option. But then, of course, the audio is downmixed to 2 channel PCM. 

 

Strangely enough, with the Kodi addons for Netflix and Amazon Prime, I am able to play Dolby Digital plus. So there should be no hardware limitations.

 

Does anyone has any idea what is happening, why and might new firmware be the solution in the future?

1 Recommended Answer

djtetei
Bronze
Bronze

Let me put it this way: the Chromecast device (source) supports Dolby Digital Plus passtrough as long as the NAD receiver (sink) supports Dolby Digital Plus decoding and, in your case, the AV receiver has support for Dolby Digital Plus decoding.

The difference is that, when you use Kodi, the audio signal handling is passed to the Kodi internal software. When you use Netflix or Disney applications, the audio signal is handled by the Chromecast device directly.

If both the Chromecast device and the AV receiver meet the requirements for Dolby Digital Plus passtrough and decoding, the reasonable explanation is that we are dealing with a HDMI handshake issue.

My suggestion is to try to send feedback to Google support, with logs enabled, and to contact the NAD support team also. Eventually, both Google and NAD may work together to resolve the issue.

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12 REPLIES 12

djtetei
Bronze
Bronze

Reboot the Chromecast device - unplug it from the main power grid for about 5 minutes then plug it back in.

Force stop the applications in question, clear their cache and try again.

Ideally you would set the Chromecast device surround sound on auto.

Yes, tried that, even factory reset. But no avail!

djtetei
Bronze
Bronze

Seems like a HDMI handshake issue.

Have you tried connecting the Chromecast device to the TV? That is only if the TV supports Dolby Digital Plus.

Thanks for letting thinking with me. Unfortunately the TV doesn’t handle Dolby.

As for your suggestion about the HDMI handshake: that doesn’t account for the fact that the Kodi app handles Dolby Digital Plus just fine in the same setup.

djtetei
Bronze
Bronze

Let me put it this way: the Chromecast device (source) supports Dolby Digital Plus passtrough as long as the NAD receiver (sink) supports Dolby Digital Plus decoding and, in your case, the AV receiver has support for Dolby Digital Plus decoding.

The difference is that, when you use Kodi, the audio signal handling is passed to the Kodi internal software. When you use Netflix or Disney applications, the audio signal is handled by the Chromecast device directly.

If both the Chromecast device and the AV receiver meet the requirements for Dolby Digital Plus passtrough and decoding, the reasonable explanation is that we are dealing with a HDMI handshake issue.

My suggestion is to try to send feedback to Google support, with logs enabled, and to contact the NAD support team also. Eventually, both Google and NAD may work together to resolve the issue.

Evertjanus
Community Member

I did send feedback to google several times, combined with logs. No idea if they are picking it up. NAD support is a good suggestion. Will try that, although I can already imagine their answer: contact google!

djtetei
Bronze
Bronze

Maybe, maybe not, but it won't hurt asking them also.

I didn't noticed many complaints about NAD receivers on this community, but, then again, not many people are using NAD receivers.

It may very well be a Chromecast issue, but I wouldn't want to jump to conclusions.

I can tell you one thing though: the way Chromecast with Google TV is supposed to work, requires the entire system to handle native Dolby Digital Plus decoding. The mindset behind their development is that you should connect the Chromecast to the TV and use the HDMI ARC protocol to communicate with the AV receiver. It is not a very bright and professional thinking, but it is what it is, like most thing on our times.

Have you tried to talk with a Google support representative via the messageboard?

NAD T 747 is an older AV receiver. It doesn't have ARC. Dolby Digital Plus capable though and delivering that stream with my TV Box apps Netflix etc. That box is also directly connected to the AVR.

I did talk to a Google support representative. Friendly guys but not very apt. I was told it was because this edition of chromecast was not officially out in the Netherlands 😉

djtetei
Bronze
Bronze

So, suppose that Google does not have an official store in Romania, which, in fact, it is true, if I buy a Chromecast with Google TV from a Romanian retailer, instead, I should expect the device to not function correctly, by refusing to recognize other devices?

I can tell you one thing. Those Google support guys are full of crap and should be fired.

I did purchased a Chromecast with Google TV from a Romanian retailer and it works correctly. I use it non stop for more than eight months.

Now, suppose you take your Chromecast device and your AVR and make a trip across the border, in Germany, fir example. They would dare to say that your device will recognize the AVR in Germany, because Google have an official store there? You can bet your *rse that this is pure bull****!

I apologize if my comments seem harsh, but I simply cannot aggre with Google representative explanation.

If Google representative would have told you that Chromecast don't support a certain WiFi frequency in Netherlands, because of objective reasons, I would aggre with this, but the ability to passtrough audio signal through HDMI protocol is a must. HDMI is a standard, used internationally, and it is not country specific.

Jeran
Community Specialist
Community Specialist

Hey there,

Did you have any more questions or need any additional help?

Thank you,
Jeran
 

Jeran
Community Specialist
Community Specialist

Hey there,

Did you have any more questions or need any additional help? If not, I'll go ahead and lock up this thread in 24 hours.

Just checking up,
Jeran
 

Jeran
Community Specialist
Community Specialist

Hey there!

We haven't heard back from Evertjanus, and it's been a few days, so I'm locking the thread. As always, feel free to make a new thread if you have any more questions or concerns.

Thank you for your help, djtetei!

Best regards,
Jeran