Contributor
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8 Messages
Dolby Digital Not Functioning Properly with Stream Box
I just signed up for the service and opted for a box to provide the HDMI connection to my Denon AVR S760H receiver.
I know this issue has been raised before, but the box does NOT correctly process Dolby Digital audio and output it correctly. In many cases, the audio is just two-channel stereo, with no center channel sound or surround sound. The same content, when streamed through the DirecTV Stream app on Roku, however, is perfect.
Three things:
1. I'd really like a standalone box rather than an app on Roku, but it needs to work.
2. Why is DirecTV still selling and shipping these when they have known problems?
3. The proposed solution of using optical audio isn't really viable -- it's a workaround, at best.
I've already sent the box back for a refund. At this point, I'm one minor annoyance away from cancelling the service entirely.
I remain open to a solution. Is there one?
abillmann
Contributor
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8 Messages
3 years ago
At a deeper level, the issue is that stereo broadcasts are being assigned to the L and R channels and then identified as true Dolby Digital when in fact it isn't. This defeats the ability for a Dolby Digital decoder to fall back to Dolby Surround Pro Logic II for digital stereo signals that carry matrix-encoded Dolby Surround. So in the case of a stereo broadcast, that signal should not be identified as Dolby Digital -- it should allow the Pro Logic II decoder to provide a simulated 5.1 experience.
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abillmann
Contributor
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8 Messages
3 years ago
All variants of Roku (older sticks, newer Ultras) don't behave this way, and neither do TiVo Bolt and Edge boxes as well as Google Chromecast. I know this because I've tested all of them personally. I'm not sure about various cable company boxes. Bottom line: the DirecTV Stream box is the only device I can find that doesn't behave as expected with Dolby Digital and Dolby Surround Pro Logic II decoding of stereo broadcasts.
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litzdog911
ACE - Sage
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46.4K Messages
3 years ago
You'll find several posts here about this issue with the DirecTV Stream box. It seems to depend on what AV surround device you're using because it doesn't happen with everything. I have two DirecTV Stream boxes. One is connected to an older Sony AV Receiver and doesn't have this issue. The other is connected to a 5 year old Denon AV Receiver and sometimes has this issue. Changing channels will often fix it.
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ACEs are customers too, NOT employees. Answers are based on experience. I strive to give honest answers, even if not always appreciated. If you posted personal information, please edit and remove.
For official support call DirecTV Satellite 1-800-531-5000, DirecTV Stream 1-888-429-4023, DirecTV Gemini dedicated 1-888-488-4742, or AT&T 1-800-288-2020.
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abillmann
Contributor
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8 Messages
3 years ago
That's good insight -- thank you. I've seen a few workarounds here too (like changing the channel, rebooting, using TOSLINK for audio, etc.), but other source hardware devices I've tested behave as expected. I mean, this is NOT cutting-edge tech or a version of a format released a week ago. I would expect new-ish AVRs to work just fine with new-ish boxes for something as standard as DD 5.1.
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