Trending Lyricist I

Multichannel PCM 5.1 dropping out since 14.10 update

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Anyone else experiencing the same issue? Multichannel PCM 5.1 blanks out for a second every 1-2 minutes. I don’t think it’s a bandwidth issue as it works flawlessly with Multichannel PCM 7.1 (thorough test) and Dolby TrueHD Atmos (quick test). And it may have been caused by the Sonos 14.10 update. Setup is PS5→ LG C1→ Beam 2 (via earc).

2 weeks ago before the 14.10 update, I watched a bluray film wherein I had my PS5 transcode the DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio to Multichannel PCM 5.1 (as the C1 does not support DTS) and had no issues. Earlier today, I played a bluray film for the first time in 2 weeks and I encountered consistent audio dropouts every 1-2 minutes. It had the same setup where DTS-HD MA 5.1 → Multichannel PCM 5.1. I tested other bluray discs including the one I watched 2 weeks ago and they all now have the same issue.

Curiously, I’ve been gaming heavily on my PS5 the past two 2 weeks and haven’t had any audio issues. Then I realized that I’ve been using Multichannel PCM 7.1 when gaming on my PS5. So I made some changes under the PS5 sound settings to make it output Multichannel PCM 5.1 instead. Lo and behold, I am now getting the same consistent dropouts in games and even on the PS5 main menu.

I think it’s due to the Sonos 14.10 update as that’s the only firmware update I’ve done in the last 2 weeks. No PS5 update, no LG C1 update. Well actually while I was composing this post, I received and applied the latest LG C1 firmware update and I still have the same issue.

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Pinned Reply By Corry P

Hi @throwawaybeam2 et al

We now recommend you reach out to the TV manufacturer (LG) as this behaviour is also occurring with different soundbar manufacturers (so it’s not a Sonos-specific issue).

Alternatively, please utilize different audio formats from McLPCM 5.1 (e.g., McLPCM 7.1, DD+, etc).

I hope this helps.

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Alsa

Lyricist II

Looks like this will be swept under a rug.

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agulchau

Lyricist I

I have also been looking into this problem for a while and I just found this thread, knowing that I am not the only one experiencing this issue.

Let’s begin with my setup:

LG CX (eArc on, passthrough, bitstream)

HDMI 1: Intel NUC 11

HDMI 2: Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

HDMI 3: PS5

HDMI 4: Nintendo Switch

Sonos Beam (Gen 2) + Sonos Sub (Gen 3) + Sonos One x 2

I didn’t realize the problem when I was using PS5 as I made the setting in PS5 as “soundbar” rather than “AV Amplifier” at the beginning. I first noticed the problem when I was playing with Nintendo Swtich instead, when I change the sound output to “PCM 5.1” after my purchase of Sonos Sub (Gen 3) + Sonos One x 2. Then, I tried to figure out which part is going wrong by looking into whether my PS5 could have the same issue. And all of your should have expected that with Multichannel PCM 5.1, dropping out did occurred. But for me, it was fine as I could just leave the setting as 7.1 and I don’t really care about the sound effect of Nintendo Switch.

Here comes some extra things I would like to add. Recently I have plugged my Intel NUC 11 into my LG CX via a Type C to HDMI 2.1 cable to enjoy 4K 120Hz experience. I then noticed that the dropping out thing occurred as well. The strange thing is that it happens not only to video playback at PCM 5.1 but any sound output like the music from Spotify. I checked the Sonos App and it displayed as Stereo while dropping out kept occuring (in fact, no matter what format of sound it shows, dropping out persists). I then went to the sound output settings page in Windows 11 and found that there are a few options for me to choose from. The default setting was 16-bit 48000Hz, where dropping out occurred. I tried all options available and found that with with 16-bit 44100Hz and 24-bit 44100Hz, no more dropping out of sound. I am not an expert in this area, but I guess some of you may know more about these. I suspect that the dropping out is highly related to the Hz that by some reason, the combination of Sonos Beam (Gen 2) + LG OLED CX (or similar models) is not unable to process 48000Hz sound output, causing the dropping out of sound. Perhaps the Multichannel PCM 5.1 is using this 48000Hz, casuing the issue (I am totally not sure about this). But I guess this information would be useful for us to solve this issue.

Besides, one thing to add is that I would normally make use of the native “Photos and Videos” app in LG CX for 4K movies playback, but never experiencing any past experience of sound dropping out. Thus, I am not sure if this problem may be related to LG CX’s ability to passthrough?

Hope these can help tackling the problem.

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ste_ms

Enthusiast I

The transfer through the CX definitely is 48Khz but I haven’t checked if other formats are different.

Issue has returned for me again today, if the next software update doesn’t fix I will be trying to return to the retailer for a refund. Really disappointed that @Corry P has just stopped replying when it became clear that simple fixes weren’t solving the problem, what is the point of this forum

Airgetlam

The point of this forum, as indicated by its title at the top of the page, is a ‘Community Forum’, and not a ‘Sonos Support’ Forum.

If you want to talk with Sonos Support directly, I would recommend that you call them, rather than relying on a forum moderator to act as a Support person.

If you’re to go to the bottom of this page, and click on ‘Contact us’, you’ll find instructions on how to do so,

Bruce

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ste_ms

Enthusiast I

The point of this forum, as indicated by its title at the top of the page, is a ‘Community Forum’, and not a ‘Sonos Support’ Forum.

If you want to talk with Sonos Support directly, I would recommend that you call them, rather than relying on a forum moderator to act as a Support person.

If you’re to go to the bottom of this page, and click on ‘Contact us’, you’ll find instructions on how to do so,

Already have, like many others on the thread

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ste_ms

Enthusiast I

Updated to 15.1, audio dropouts immediately return on PCM 5.1 only, I watched the HDMI diagnostic screen in the CX but see no errors or changes that correspond to the drops.

Submitted diagnostic 2038434149 if it helps but I’m going to look at alternative systems now

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RANDUSR23296

Enthusiast I

Updated to 15.1, audio dropouts immediately return on PCM 5.1 only, I watched the HDMI diagnostic screen in the CX but see no errors or changes that correspond to the drops.

Submitted diagnostic 2038434149 if it helps but I’m going to look at alternative systems now

Same experience on 15.1 for me too.

Occurred to me whilst testing the other eARC device that I now have the start of a different multiroom ecosystem in the house, one with extra inputs in the soundbar that would be useful for my legacy analogue devices...

Airgetlam

There’s been zero indication anywhere that this software release was intended to fix this particular issue.

Bruce

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RANDUSR23296

Enthusiast I

There’s been zero indication anywhere that this software release was intended to fix this particular issue.

So what? Wouldn't “Bug fixes and performance enhancements” cover it?

Airgetlam

Possibly, sure, but you’d think an issue with a six page thread might get more attention than being lumped in with that generic of a statement.

Bruce

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