The other video is fullHD
No 5.1 audio in XBMC
- Thread starter JaIL
- Start date
pusb87
Trusted Helper
You sure your AVR is capable of decoding AC3 ?? I asked which avr you had but failed to respond with the model
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I tried a different setting (Minix to TV to AVR through HDMI Arc). Teoretically this setting could be worst because TV isn't compatible with DTS sound but it seems to work... At least in Kodi 16.
In Kodi 17 and 18 (with same settings of Kodi 16) I have video stuttering and audio dropout .
In Kodi 17 and 18 (with same settings of Kodi 16) I have video stuttering and audio dropout .
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ArcticWolf
Trusted Helper
The TV is essentially just using passthrough for the audio with your device connected that way so it won't matter that your TV doesn't support DTS or other audio formats. You will, however, be restricted to the maximum capability of ARC without the ability to upgrade to e-ARC.
If you're experiencing stuttering with Kodi 17/18, try setting the adjust display refresh rate setting to on start/stop.
Ultimately, your current setup is aging so you will find it has its limitations. The Sony BDV-N5200W was designed to be a no fuss home theatre system but it's obviously not going to match a dedicated AVR.
Solved partially (no DTS Audio) in Kodi 18 using this version http://mirrors.kodi.tv/test-builds/android/arm/kodi-20190313-299d257d-shitty-armeabi-v7a.apk
pusb87
Trusted Helper
@JaIL
Ive downsized by reducing the resolution and frame rate of your test mkv file.....its here >>https://ufile.io/d21kj
and has a correct Dolby Digital AC3 and DTS-HD Master audio files that are perfectly playable on minix via Kodi 17 or 18 via passthrough using a compatible AVR.
You should connect from your Minix to the AVR via HDMI and then HDMI from your AVR to your TV.
Theres no need to use any "shitty" Kodi versions, use the stable ones, and follow the Kodi dummies guide i linked to earlier for your settings.
.
Ive downsized by reducing the resolution and frame rate of your test mkv file.....its here >>https://ufile.io/d21kj
and has a correct Dolby Digital AC3 and DTS-HD Master audio files that are perfectly playable on minix via Kodi 17 or 18 via passthrough using a compatible AVR.
You should connect from your Minix to the AVR via HDMI and then HDMI from your AVR to your TV.
Theres no need to use any "shitty" Kodi versions, use the stable ones, and follow the Kodi dummies guide i linked to earlier for your settings.
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ArcticWolf
Trusted Helper
So you've now gone to having AC3 but no DTS. (Which actually makes sense, read on)!!!! Is it really solved though lol
?? As @pusb87 has also just pointed out, It's also a "shitty" test version of Kodi that you presently have so it might have various bugs & glitches. This really is the last thing you need if you're seriously trying to troubleshoot other problems with your hardware!!!Otherwise, read through the official specs here for your BDV-N5200W, ( https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/all-in-one-home-cinema-systems/bdv-n5200w/specifications ).
The main reason you're having these problems is your home theater system apparently doesn't support what you're potentially trying to do!!
If you're continuing to play the test file mentioned above that you shared with @pusb87 (or any other file with the same audio format); in addition to the AC3 audio stream it also contains the DTS-HD MA stream & that's probably why DTS isn't working for you!!! Your BDV-N5200W is fully capable of decoding the different DTS-HD formats, but only when it's playing media directly from an actual Blu-ray. The BDV-N5200W doesn't support DTS-HD over the HDMI inputs, (i.e. passthrough from your Neo X8-H Plus). The same applies to other audio formats such as Dolby TrueHD or any of the DTS-HD formats unfortunately. The BDV-N5200W is quite a capable player when the media is on a Blu-ray
. However, the device lacks support for all of the HD audio formats over HDMI . Ultimately, test your system with an official DTS-HD MA Blu-ray movie & a TrueHD/Atmos Blu-ray movie. If your system once again responds as expected & decodes them successfully, you'll have your answer. Otherwise, you're limited to standard DTS 5.1 & AC3 only over HDMI or SPDIF passthrough. I don't think the Neo X8-H Plus can decode any of the DTS-HD formats by itself either & it certainly can't decode TrueHD. ( I'm happy to be corrected there, however, as I don't own an X-8H (Plus), & the spec/data sheets only seem to mention support for AC3/E-AC3. E-AC3 from the X8-H would still need to be downmixed to PCM for your home theater system too.)For the sake of clarification as well.... Where have you been sourcing Kodi since you started this thread & @pusb87 has been giving you all of this help in trying to troubleshoot your problems?
Official Play Store versions?
Or.... Downloading multiple different APK's from various 3rd party sources?
Given that your BDV-N5200W is probably your limiting factor, you really would be better off just sticking to the Play Store versions of Kodi 17 or 18 respectively.
I was in a similar situation to you in the past 18 months or so. I was holding on to older tech that was really starting to show its age, & of course I had various issues with that older tech struggling to cope, or not supporting the more recent codecs/formats etc. at all.
All of your tech is essentially 2014 or possibly earlier with no further updates coming which will unfortunately limit you for options in several ways. As previously mentioned as well, your Sony BDV-N5200W was released to be a very simple "shake & bake" home theater system at a time when dedicated AVR's could still be an expensive & complicated system to take on for the average home user. What's more, buying AVR's in 2014 was also a total minefield in some regards as to whether they'd even have full support for HDMI 2.0a/b or not by now. Some also didn't include support for DTS:X or Atmos either. Thankfully, that has now all changed at least & budget AVR's have been improved in general as well. Buy a decent budget 2018/2019 AVR & they'll support the whole lot & more. If you're happy to spend the money on mid-range or better you will of course have full support, & all sorts of additional features & goodies
.If it turns out that the BDV-N5200W is indeed the problem/bottleneck after you've thoroughly tested everything; were I in your shoes.....
Keep the BDV-N5200W & use it solely as a Blu-ray player if it's capable of doing so without interfering with a dedicated AVR. You could certainly keep the Neo X8-H plus too for now if you wish, (it supports H.265, 4K@30 & it's still reasonably capable given its age). What you will seriously need to consider is a new AVR that can fully support the high definition audio formats, & it'll be more than likely that you'll need to upgrade your current speakers/sub too!!! Using passthrough from Kodi all of your audio problems would then be completely solved
. (If you are going to upgrade, then cover your back & give yourself as much future proofing as possible as well. Get a 4K AVR with full support for HDR, HDR 10+ & Dolby Vision, & that will cover you for many years for the visual aspect should you also upgrade your current TV, (or is it already 4K?) Also, choose an AVR with full support for TrueHD/Atmos & DTS-HD/DTS:X.) It needn't cost a fortune either!! For example, @pusb87 recently upgraded his audio hardware & he got some awesome deals on an AVR & a 5.1.2 speaker system too .Obviously it's your choice but you may well have arrived at the "upgrade crossroads"
.Happy hunting
.
pusb87
Trusted Helper
It was my experience that even if the reciever didnt explicity support HD audio formats , for example DTS-HD MA it would output anyway as standard DTS.If you're continuing to play the test file mentioned above that you shared with @pusb87 (or any other file with the same audio format); in addition to the AC3 audio stream it also contains the DTS-HD MA stream & that's probably why DTS isn't working for you!!! Your BDV-N5200W is fully capable of decoding the different DTS-HD formats, but only when it's playing media directly from an actual Blu-ray. The BDV-N5200W doesn't support DTS-HD over the HDMI inputs, (i.e. passthrough from your Neo X8-H Plus). The same applies to other audio formats such as Dolby TrueHD or any of the DTS-HD formats unfortunately. The BDV-N5200W is quite a capable player when the media is on a Blu-ray
From memory my x8hplus was quite happy to passthough DTS and DTS HD formats to my reciever and for them to be output as DTS.
I cant say for sure what a BDV-N5200W would do under these circumstances.
ArcticWolf
Trusted Helper
Precisely, that's why I said the system would be limited to standard 5.1 DTS & AC3 only over HDMI/SPDIF
. However, if he has any Blu-ray's with DTS-HD or even Atmos audio streams, the player should then decode them & play them back over the device's own little speakers in their full glory, so to speak . Apparently his combi Blu-ray/AVR device just can't support the HD audio formats over the HDMI inputs, only from its own Blu-ray player. The specs don't state the actual HDMI version but it would appear the system is a maximum of HDMI 1.4b.Indeed, most receivers would/will default down from the lossless HD audio stream that they can't process to the standard "lossy DTS core" instead anyway, (if possible/applicable but not in every case apparently). Your old 5.1 desktop surround system was capable of this, however, my old 5.1 desktop surround system wasn't. It just couldn't/wouldn't separate the lossy DTS core from the main DTS-HD streams despite it fully supporting standard DTS 5.1 with media being played from Kodi on the U9-H. That was the specific problem that prompted me to upgrade to my current AVR in the end. I never did get to the bottom of it but gave up pretty quickly & began to research, & shortlist dedicated AVR's instead. My new AVR arrived shortly thereafter lol
.(Didn't the Kodi options for decoding DTS-HD/TrueHD audio only appear again once your U9-H was connected to your new AVR by an HDMI cable? Or is/was the X8-H somehow different/unique in that regard & the option was still available in Kodi despite you using SPDIF at the time?)
Anyway..... According to the device specs, the OP's Blu-ray player/HT system will specifically decode the lossy core for DTS-ES Matrix 6.1 & DTS-ES Discrete 6.1 over the HDMI inputs too, but otherwise simply states "HDMI In; No" for all remaining audio decoding of the DTS-HD & the Dolby HD formats. (Therein limiting the HDMI inputs to standard 5.1 DTS or AC3 only & again presumably because the device is HDMI 1.4b maximum, (not enough bandwidth anyway.))
The current system will always be limited by this unfortunately, with no means of improvement.
@JaIL. Your system also seems to have different "sound modes", one of those modes being an "auto mode". Have you tried disabling the auto mode & instead manually setting the device to "movie mode", "music mode", or even the "Berliner Philharmonic" mode it has if it somehow triggers the system to successfully decode the supported 5.1 audio formats properly lol
?? (Auto modes can wreak havoc at times. They can either do an outstanding job or seriously mess with things!!) Try disabling any/all automation on the AVR & see if manual settings help too !!??!?!?!?On the flip side, if you've already been using the manual sound modes, have you tried setting the system to the auto mode instead?
Try tinkering with your combi Blu-ray player/AVR system settings & see if they help these issues at all.
If all of this still fails to yield any consistent results & you'd like to have the ability to enjoy the full DTS-HD & Dolby TrueHD/Atmos audio, as previously mentioned you probably will have to consider upgrading. Upgrade to a dedicated AVR & you can still keep your current equipment except perhaps your speakers/sub!!
Keep us updated of how you're getting on
.First of all I want say that I really appreciate the support of this forum and I know you do that just for help other people. So, thank you.
I also know that my configuration is pretty aging but I really don't need at the moment to move on (I just changed my old TV for one 65'' 4k HDR').
I want remark that the problem isn't never been the Minix but the comunication between KODI and my Sony BDV-N5200W (yep, that it's not decent budget 2018/2019 AVR) that, in any case, is capable to decode AC3 and DTS audio streams that it receives through HDMI in fact MX player reproduces those very well.
The shitty version of KODI is necessary because from KODI 17 "Audiotrack-Sink for Android was revisited the last days and made it API conform" you can find more details on KODI official forum and in fact I have no problem with KODI 16 from when I connected my Minix to television and than to AVR.
I wanted KODI 17 only for its new skin that is very cool.
All the rest is a bit OT, I think. So thank you again and long live and prosper. And sorry for my poor english.
I also know that my configuration is pretty aging but I really don't need at the moment to move on (I just changed my old TV for one 65'' 4k HDR').
I want remark that the problem isn't never been the Minix but the comunication between KODI and my Sony BDV-N5200W (yep, that it's not decent budget 2018/2019 AVR) that, in any case, is capable to decode AC3 and DTS audio streams that it receives through HDMI in fact MX player reproduces those very well.
The shitty version of KODI is necessary because from KODI 17 "Audiotrack-Sink for Android was revisited the last days and made it API conform" you can find more details on KODI official forum and in fact I have no problem with KODI 16 from when I connected my Minix to television and than to AVR.
I wanted KODI 17 only for its new skin that is very cool.
All the rest is a bit OT, I think. So thank you again and long live and prosper. And sorry for my poor english.
ArcticWolf
Trusted Helper
No worries
.Completely understand your viewpoint, as mentioned I held on to older kit for a long time as it all worked perfectly well at the time
.You could always remux the audio of any files your setup can't handle down to AC3 or DTS if necessary. Google around & you'll find a variety of programs that can help in that regard
. It may become a bit repetitive & laborious if you have a large number of files but at least your system would then be able to decode them with minimal fuss. Having said that, some programs can perform batch conversions .Good luck
.