[orcsab]

Hi everyone,

Just installed Kodi on my Android TV (Sony Bravia). I'm playing a video file off a USB thumb drive with a 5.1 audio channel. Playing this video using the native/default video playing app that comes with Android works fine. My receiver detects multi channel audio and it sounds right. But I've got several reasons to prefer Kodi.

Kodi though is not playing 5.1. The receiver reports PCM and the audio sounds like stereo. I followed this video (https://www.thatsitguys.com/how-to/get-s...rking-kodi) which seemed to provide some very basic guidance on enabling DTS and passthrough. And then this forum discussion (http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=229348) suggested enabling PCM in the Android system settings, which I did. The Kodi app displays AAC 5.1 but still the Onkyo receiver reports PCM and sounds wrong.

I know the setup works because the Android video player works. Any idea why Kodi would not properly get the 5.1 signal to the amp?

[wrxtasy]

Hi there,

We have no idea what Kodi version you are using. There are significant Audio changes between Kodi versions.

Its why the Kodi devs insist on a Debug log (wiki) to stop repetitive, un-needed detailed questions having to be asked every time someone has an issue.

You also NEED to read the Passthrough Audio v17 - Sticky thread at the very top of this forum. There are numerous Sony Bravia owners with non-compliant Android Audio Firmware having the exact same issues. Kodi v17 will not fix it.

Please See Post#2 of that very Sticky thread for a DTS workaround.

The Sony Android Video Player Software likely works as it was coded to work properly with the non-Android Audio compliant Sony Bravia Firmware also commonly known as Shitty Android Audio Firmware.

[Etzi]

There are numerous Sony Bravia owners with non-compliant Android Audio Firmware having the exact same issues. Kodi v17 will not fix it.

Try this build: http://mirrors.kodi.tv/test-builds/andro...bi-v7a.apk

And configure audio setings as this:

- Sync playback to display on
- Number of channels 2.0
- Output configuration: Best Match or Optimized
- Allow Passtrough
- Dolby Digital AC3 capable receiver
- Enable Dolby Digital (AC3) Transcoding
- Dolby Digital Plus E-AC3 Capable Receiver

Also read these threads:
http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=289735
http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=290439
http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=281265

And as stated earlier, it is not an actual Kodi issue, but (firmware) problem with those MTK chipsets used in Android TV sets.
Even when transcoding, they don't like Default 640Kbit/s bitrate AC3 produced by Kodi and their Android audiotrack will lock up, which means you would have to reboot your TV to get it working again:
I have briefly explained it here: http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=...pid2505023

[orcsab]

I've probably done a lot more research than was obvious from my post. But I'm also probably a lot dumber than the average Kodi user. So the thread you helpfully mentioned is not new to me. But honestly its tough for me to understand all of it. And it has over 300 replies I didn't read. My apologies if there really is a gem in there I should have found.

The thread seems to suggest at least Android Marshmellow (6) is needed for passthrough to work. My 2015 Bravia is only running Lollipop (5.1.1). So that thread might suggest that things are and should be broken.

But the old forum thread I linked (http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=229348) includes an older Sony Bravia TV that seems to be working with multichannel audio. That thread was posted in 2015 so the TV's Android version is at least as old as mine and Kodi works fine. So I'm back to this idea that there is circumstantial evidence that Kodi should work even though I don't entirely understand what's going on.

I take your point that the stock video app might not be from Google but could be compiled by Sony for Sony TVs. That would allow them to use a non-compliant API. Is there a way I can test this idea?

What you've shared has been helpful in me understanding what's going on. It seems that I may be stuck waiting for an Android update from Sony. But would it be safe to say that the same problem I'm seeing with Kodi would be shared on any other video player that Sony didn't write?

As far as Kodi versions, I'm using whatever the Google Play Store installed and maintains. It reports at Build Kodi 16.1 Git:2016-04-24-f6ceced.

[Etzi]

Same applies to Lollipop a.k.a 5.1 a.k.a API v22
As my TV have not yet received 6.0.1, I have no idea if there is improvements or not in this matter, at least not yet.

There has been major audio stack changes inside Kodi, especially between v16 and v17, please read those threads to which I referred.

To my knowledge (and based by testing I have done on my Philips with same chipset) anything based on v16 including SPMC does not work at all (at least not reliably), v17 "special" build (and some RC builds) to which I referred do work if you transcode everything.

[orcsab]

Etzi thank you so much for your patience and help. Read all your threads. And (again) the one that seems to be the master/sticky thread on the subject. I'm getting more educated on this and start to understand some of my set's limitations.

I want to try and APK you mentioned. But looks like your link is wrong. Not only were the ellipses in the anchor's text but they are also in the hyperlink. Here's the link for the APK you shared: http://mirrors.kodi.tv/test-builds/andro...bi-v7a.apk

I tried going through those threads to fine builds that ended with "bi-v7a.apk" and started with "andro" but no luck.

[kinggo]

http://mirrors.kodi.tv/test-builds/android/arm/ and pick one

[Etzi]

I think he should try this one: http://mirrors.kodi.tv/test-builds/andro...bi-v7a.apk

[orcsab]

Thank you again, Etzi. I've installed the APK. Had some problems streaming apps at first. But fixed that by clearing cache, data, and rebooting. But now it seems I'm back where I was before. Streaming videos with 5.1 audio channels are reported as PCM 2.0 "all-channel stereo" on the amp. I've tinkered with the audio setup in Kodi and enabling/disabling passthrough. Nothing I can do to get it off of 2-channel sound.

I guess from the APK file name that this is a Kodi build that works around some of API faults/limitations in non-compliant TVs. Would we expect that APK to work on a 2015 Sony Bravia? Or was this just a hopeful experiment?

I'm fine doing more research or pursuing other lines if it could be helpful to me (or the community).

Again, thanks for all your help.

[Etzi]

Please post an Debug Log

And maybe @fristch may have a look then, other then that I have currently no idea as those builds work for most of us.

[eversmannx]

Hey guys, 

I've been reading this thread with a lot of interest... 

I have the 2016 model (https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/suppo...ifications)
My receiver is: Yamaha YHT-196

So files with 5.1 DD/DTS played using the factory Video app works fine. My primary media player is Plex - and sound comes out fine through Plex as well (Direct play, so no transcoding). 
But I can't seem to get Kodi to output DD/DTS, only shows PCM. I updated from 17.3 to 17.6 yesterday and played around with it, but no luck.

Further note: 
I had a 4k video with TrueHD(7.1) track only - 1. Plex couldn't handle it (my laptop wasn't powerful enough) 2. Video app didn't give a sound 3. Kodi worked fine, but I guess the sound was downgraded. 

I would very much like to have Kodi as my main player if I can sort out the sound issue - with all the flexibility it gives.

Look forward to more info.

Many Thanks