topic Re: MediaTek again screwed up with Nougat concerning audio passthrough in Android TV

MediaTek again screwed up with Nougat concerning audio passthrough

Kuschelmonschter — Fri, 02 Jun 2017 18:06:17 GMT

According to the Kodi community, audio passthrough is broken completely in Sony Nougat firmware. Nougat introduces the new IEC API for audio passthrough which Kodi uses. Neither Dolby AC3 nor DTS works on Sony. So MediaTek again failed to properly implement the new API.

Some apps use the older raw API for passthrough. DTS raw API, which has been introduced by Google in Marshmallow, is also still broken with the MediaTek driver that ships with new Nougat firmware.

Only the Video player can do proper passthrough for all formats as it has access to some private APIs.

This is a total shame!!! When you think it can't get any worse... Keep in mind that Dolby and DTS have been a standard for 2 decades and Sony/MediaTek still can't properly handle those formats.

Re: MediaTek again screwed up with Nougat concerning audio passthrough

kinggo01 — Fri, 02 Jun 2017 18:25:34 GMT

maybe we should actually start bothering google about this............ I mean, sony and philips are like 90% of Android TV platform. So if google really has any intention to keep this alive they have to sort this mess out because I'm not gonna buy another anything with Android TV sticker on it.

Re: MediaTek again screwed up with Nougat concerning audio passthrough

walander5 — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 21:39:09 GMT

Can't believe Sony didn't issue a big warning sign about this. If I'd known I would have stayed with Marshmallow. Nougat will feel like a major downgrade until it's fixed

Re: MediaTek again screwed up with Nougat concerning audio passthrough

DonFrancesco — Thu, 22 Jun 2017 14:20:31 GMT

Agree, it's annoying and embarrassing!

Re: MediaTek again screwed up with Nougat concerning audio passthrough

migube — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 13:37:31 GMT

hi guys

following the thread with interest, planning to buy a XE90 but makes me hesitate now...

Can you confirm if the issue is just with Kodi, or are other Android apps also not working to pass through DTS and AC3 via SDPIF/ARC ?

E.g does Netflix app sends the mutlichannel audio through?

can I cast 4K via google cast?

Could I use other Android apps to stream x265 (with DTS/AC3) from my Synology and get both video & audio to receiver without issues?

what does Sony support says? should we all open tickets?

tx!

migube

Re: MediaTek again screwed up with Nougat concerning audio passthrough

Anonymous — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 16:38:01 GMT

Hi there @migube

Multi-channel audio can be streamed from Netflix on this TV through the use of DD+ audio codec.

In regards to casting 4K via Googlecast, Sony released a firmware update to these TVs on the 30-05-2017 that enables this. See: https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/support/lcd-tvs-android-xe90xx_x90xxe-series/kd-55xe9005/downloads/00014700

In regards to your other questions, unfortuately I cannot answer. Unless another forum member does, contact Sony and see

Cheers

Re: MediaTek again screwed up with Nougat concerning audio passthrough

TWLeebo — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 17:54:55 GMT

Hi Migube, the stock video app does passthrough both Dolby Digital and DTS, but has a stretching issue with 2.35:1 aspect ratio films. Kodi plays the video without stretching, but will only passthrough Dolby not DTS. Maddeningly frustrating!

Hope that helps

Re: MediaTek again screwed up with Nougat concerning audio passthrough

migube — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 18:51:47 GMT

Tx guys

Does the Stock app allows to stream from a synology & play mkv H265 with no issues?

Do you confirm Netflix DD+ is working after the upgrade to Nougat 7.0?

cheers

Re: MediaTek again screwed up with Nougat concerning audio passthrough

Kuschelmonschter — Tue, 27 Jun 2017 09:12:44 GMT

migube schrieb:

Can you confirm if the issue is just with Kodi, or are other Android apps also not working to pass through DTS and AC3 via SDPIF/ARC ?

Could I use other Android apps to stream x265 (with DTS/AC3) from my Synology and get both video & audio to receiver without issues?

Any 3rd party app is broken for one or the other multichannel format, depending on the used format. Official Kodi in the Play Store uses IEC API. This is broken for both, Dolby and DTS. Most other apps use the RAW API which at least works for Dolby (Lollipop up to 448kbps, > Marshmallow up to 640kbps).

The only possibility to have Dolby and DTS working is by sideloading a Kodi custom build which uses the old PCM hack (so-called [Profanity removed by moderator] builds). I won't go into detail as I don't recommend using those. It might only give you some high-pitched noise which can destroy hardware or even harm your ears.

migube schrieb:
E.g does Netflix app sends the mutlichannel audio through?

Netflix uses the RAW API and a bitrate < 640kbps. So this app is safe with any firmware.

can I cast 4K via google cast?

I was able to cast in 4K even before the mentioned update. Google Cast Receiver would pick the 4K stream...

what does Sony support says? should we all open tickets?

I gave up talking to the support a long time ago. They won't understand you or forward anything to the development department.

I have much more trust in @Anonymous in that regard...

Does the Stock app allows to stream from a synology & play mkv H265 with no issues?

Stock app supports UPnP/DLNA only, but is not very good. It for example won't play MPEG-TS from the Synology certified DLNA server...

Re: MediaTek again screwed up with Nougat concerning audio passthrough

migube — Tue, 27 Jun 2017 09:50:56 GMT

Danke Kuschemonschter.

Another Dumb question, in case you connect an external 4K device via HDMI to the TV, will it then send the sound (DTS+AC3) back via SPID/ARC to the Amplifier? (as I don't have a 4K ampli yet...)

Re: MediaTek again screwed up with Nougat concerning audio passthrough

Kuschelmonschter — Tue, 27 Jun 2017 09:54:37 GMT

Another Dumb question, in case you connect an external 4K device via HDMI to the TV, will it then send the sound (DTS+AC3) back via SPID/ARC to the Amplifier? (as I don't have a 4K ampli yet...)

Yes. I tested that by connecting a PC to the TV. AVR received AC3 via ARC. That should all be done in HW...

Re: MediaTek again screwed up with Nougat concerning audio passthrough

burn2shine — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 06:37:09 GMT

Hi,

so just to say that same issue here. Just Kodi *****ty version works (with hack).

Re: MediaTek again screwed up with Nougat concerning audio passthrough

rooobb — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 12:19:41 GMT

Just to add some more experience: Archos Mediaplayer too is able to passthrough DD and DTS on Android Nougat (XD83 ATV2). It has the player UI I like most even if it is stuttering a bit on fast pan.

Re: MediaTek again screwed up with Nougat concerning audio passthrough

Kuschelmonschter — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 12:41:02 GMT

Archos supports passthrough via the PCM hack ("passthrough mode 1"). The reason is that it had been around long before passthrough was standardized, so before APIs like ENCODING_DTS and ENCODING_IEC61937 existed on Android, both of which the Sony TV does not support anyway.

I don't recommend using the PCM hack. If something in the system performs an audio operation (e.g. mixing with some other audio), you end up with a garbled bitstream which can destroy your audio hardware and even harm your ears as there will only be some high pitched noise then.

I really hate to read those recommendations from people who don't really know what they are actually recommending. Sony needs to support the official public Android APIs for passthrough!!! Kodi *****ty and Archos are not real solutions!

Re: MediaTek again screwed up with Nougat concerning audio passthrough

KrK4ri — Mon, 14 Aug 2017 11:01:27 GMT

To overcome this issue, I found a workaround using KODI's external player feature. I made a configuration xml file to force play .mkv videos with the Android TV's stock video player.

See the details here.

And here is the code (playercorefactory.xml) I use on my KD-55XD7005:

<playercorefactory>
        <players>
                <player name="SonyVideoPlayer" type="ExternalPlayer" audio="false" video="true">
                        <filename>com.sony.dtv.osat.video</filename>
                        <hidexbmc>true</hidexbmc>
			<hideconsole>true</hideconsole>
                        <playcountminimumtime>120</playcountminimumtime>
                </player>
        </players>
        <rules action="prepend">
<!---
**********                   **********
********** EDIT THIS SECTION **********
**********                   **********
-->
                <rule filetypes="mkv" player="SonyVideoPlayer" />
<!--            <rule video="true" player="CHOOSE PLAYER NAME HERE"/> <!-- Default for anything else not listed -->
        </rules>
</playercorefactory>

You can create your own rules based on your needs, you can find many examples and deatailed description on KODI wiki.

Hope this can help someone.

Re: MediaTek again screwed up with Nougat concerning audio passthrough

Kuschelmonschter — Mon, 14 Aug 2017 12:24:47 GMT

This way you can only access USB and DLNA/UPnP media, no NFS or SMB. There is no good solution apart from Sony/MediaTek fixing passthrough bugs...

Re: MediaTek again screwed up with Nougat concerning audio passthrough

rooobb — Mon, 14 Aug 2017 13:28:21 GMT

I do not know about this kodi workaround but configuring Archos player to run an external player (I.e. video) it actually allows to stream a movie from smb directly to the receiving player.

Re: MediaTek again screwed up with Nougat concerning audio passthrough

Kuschelmonschter — Mon, 14 Aug 2017 13:42:05 GMT

Kuschelmonschter schrieb:
Archos supports passthrough via the PCM hack ("passthrough mode 1"). The reason is that it had been around long before passthrough was standardized, so before APIs like ENCODING_DTS and ENCODING_IEC61937 existed on Android, both of which the Sony TV does not support anyway.

I don't recommend using the PCM hack. If something in the system performs an audio operation (e.g. mixing with some other audio), you end up with a garbled bitstream which can destroy your audio hardware and even harm your ears as there will only be some high pitched noise then.

I really hate to read those recommendations from people who don't really know what they are actually recommending. Sony needs to support the official public Android APIs for passthrough!!! Kodi *****ty and Archos are not real solutions!

Re: MediaTek again screwed up with Nougat concerning audio passthrough

rooobb — Mon, 14 Aug 2017 14:30:59 GMT

I was not suggesting to use again the pcm hack. Just that you can configure Archos to pass the streaming directly to video app that works in the right way. Only issue afaik is that in this way you cannot stop that playing and restart at the same point. It lose control of how much of the streaming you have already seen on the external player.

Re: MediaTek again screwed up with Nougat concerning audio passthrough

chfauc — Mon, 14 Aug 2017 15:42:17 GMT

I guess yo ualso loose the plugin functionality like subtitle downloads?

now if there is subtitle next to the file will in then work?

(other small Q if I can, once u install *****ty build, how do u upgrade? Sideload again ? will it erase settings?)