USB audio support (USB DAC) for Sony Bravia Android TV (KD-49XH8096)

[djtetei]

I own a Sony Bravia Android TV model KD-49XH8096 and it is connected to a digital to analog converter (Topping E50 DAC) with USB, optical and digital coaxial inputs.

When the TV is connected to the DAC via optical audio output the sound is rendered without issues or artifacts.

When the TV is connected to the DAC via the USB port, the audio signal is full of clicks and pops artifacts and in TV mode the sound sometimes is not rendered at all.

Furthermore, when the DAC is connected to the TV USB port, the "headphones connected" message is displayed on the screen, which is weird.

On the TV settings the Developer Options menu is enabled and "Disable automatic audio routing to USB devices" is unchecked.

Is there anyone having similar issues with USB DACs connected to Bravia Android TVs?

I opened a support case on Sony support service describing the issues mentioned above.

It seems that the USB audio rendering feature is eligible for a future software update.

Thank you kindly!

Update:

Initially, the TV USB ports had two devices connected (a portable HDD on USB port 2 (blue) and the DAC on the USB port 1).

I disconnected the portable HDD and switched USB ports, connecting the DAC to the blue super speed USB port where the HDD was connected. I didn't reconnect the HDD.

This time, the sound was routed correctly to the DAC via USB and there are no audio artifacts present. The sound is flawless.

It seems that the Sony KD-49XH8096 Android software has a bug when there are both the HDD and the DAC connected.

In conclusion, Sony has to investigate the problem and release an update to the operating system to fix the bug and improve USB audio connectivity.

An USB DAC may or may not have a built-in preamplifier functionality and therefore when it is connected to an Android TV the operating system has to be able to take full control over the volume function in order to offer the user the possibility to use the TV remote control to adjust the output signal level going into the DAC.

[djtetei]

Is it just me or there is nobody from Sony support staff active on this community?

[LightFoot]

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@djtetei wrote:

Is it just me or there is nobody from Sony support staff active on this community?

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Hi @djtetei   I'm sorry, but this is a community of customers. Basically customers trying to help other customers. If you need help from Sony Support staff then you need to contact them direct for your country or region.

In the UK it is https://services.sony.co.uk/supportmvc/en/Contact/Email?cat=televisions-projectors1&tab=Tips

[djtetei]

Any community hosted by an equipment manufacturer should have staff able to provide support and feedback regarding their own products.

Users can help only with general information and advice available at the user level, not at the hardware or software developer level.

Furthermore, being a community there may be many other users experiencing the same issues with the same TV model or different TV modeis made by Sony, in which case a localized issue may become a hole product line issue.

[HannahEd01]

Hi djtetei, I understand that you found a workaround, what was Sony support's reply? 

[HannahEd01]

@djtetei, by the way, it's a user based community as @LightFoot told  you, and you've been already in contact with Sony support as you said. ^^

[djtetei]

Sony support staff answer was pretty much the same, although I explained the fact that USB audio output is working on the Sony smart TV, but with some limitatiions, like USB high speed port rendering the signal with "click and pop" audio artifacts and inability to control the output volume în TV broadcast mode. USB Super Speed port is working, rendering the signal flawlessly, without any audio artifacts, but with lack with volume control în TV broadcast mode.

Sony support staff answer was that, officially, the Sony 49XH8096 Android TV, can be connected to external audio devices via HDMI ARC, digital optical Toslink and analog audio output jack only.

This lead me to the conclusion that Sony doesn't give too much importance to USB audio output capabilities on its Android TVs.

[HannahEd01]

Hey djtetei, the USB port on all of Sony TVs are mainly for USB sticks, or recording. So they won't guarantee its functionality for audio. 

Anyway, I don't think I have anything else to add here. Good luck!