Is the Intel® Management Engine interface driver present on the Z83-4?

Just another quick update: I am waiting for an email from Intel outlining a 'suspected' fault in the last update which prevents accurate reporting of AVR device capabilities. Something to do with 'hand-shaking miss-matching'. ??

At this stage I'm non the wiser but hope to be after the email arrives. In the meantime I'm getting audio from my system which I 'think' sounds OK BUT is it coming out in HD audio? It is certainly coming out in all 5 speakers but, as for HD........ who knows?

I have tried some of the YouTube sound tests but, there is a disclaimer saying that YouTube only broadcasts in 2 channel stereo. So, how can I check if I'm getting 5.1 HD sound?
 
Just another quick update: I am waiting for an email from Intel outlining a 'suspected' fault in the last update which prevents accurate reporting of AVR device capabilities. Something to do with 'hand-shaking miss-matching'. ??

At this stage I'm non the wiser but hope to be after the email arrives. In the meantime I'm getting audio from my system which I 'think' sounds OK BUT is it coming out in HD audio? It is certainly coming out in all 5 speakers but, as for HD........ who knows?

I have tried some of the YouTube sound tests but, there is a disclaimer saying that YouTube only broadcasts in 2 channel stereo. So, how can I check if I'm getting 5.1 HD sound?

You can download Atmos, Dolby Digital & DTS-HD 5.1 test files. Just Google them :).
 
Any joy????

FYI, KODI 18.1 is out. Hopefully some bug fixes included :).

The classic - Yes and No!

First point. - I reset Kodi back to 17.6 and rolled back 1809. HD drivers were still not present meaning (I think) I was not getting and HD audio output only the 'standard DolbyDigital etc.

Next I upgraded back to 18.0 after getting an email from Intel saying that ".....there have been instances of AVR's not accurately displaying full capabilities due to 'hand-shaking' issues". They are still looking into this.

I have downloaded Dolby TruHD and DTS HD demos from the web. They seem to be outputting coded signalls but not seperating for all speakers (5.1).

However, back to Kodi 18.0. Becauuse I was not getting any sound on any speakers at first I changed both the output device and pass-through device in 'services' back to WASAPI 'DEFAULT'. This gave me sound on the first two films I tried (1080p, AC3) but, when I tried a 1080p, AVI, H265, the sound was either distorting or echoing or cutting out completely.

In fact, after trying a number of films now (and TV series) it has become hit-or-miss if I get any sound at all. There seems to be some very specific formats that allow 'normal' sound to be heard.

I see that Kodi 18.1 is just out, so, I'm going to try that to see if they have changed anything.
 
When all else fails......... look at the Log ! (Kodi Log)

I did just that and found this entry in the 'Sound' section at the beginning of Kodi boot just before the 'Monitor' section.

M_Stream Types - T:9920 NOTICE: CAESink WASAPI Enumeated Devices Ex: stream type "stream_Type_DTSHD on device VSX 330 (Intel SST audio device(WMD) seems to not supported stream_Type_DTSHD_MA

This would seem to indicate that my Pioneer VSX330 does not support the HD audio codecs. BUT, this cannot be as it did before Kodi 18.0. I have also checked again with Pioneer and they confirm that this unit definitely supports TruHD and DTSHD.

Earlier in the Log file it also indicated that the Minix Z83 is also supplying ALL these HD formats in its stream.

Does any of this make sense to anybody????????
 

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Forgot to mention two other 'discoveries' which may help others.

1. Changed setting to 'Fixed' in 'Output Configuration' Settings/System. This has seemed to have stopped the audio stuttering and echoing that occurred using 'Optimized' or 'Best'.
2. If you use the 'Player Settings' box which is only accessible whilst in player (bottom righthand corner of screen gear wheel) any changes will alter main 'Player' settings if "make same for all" is selected as option.
 
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