Skip to main content

Hey, I own a Beam (Gen 2) and a Sub Mini that are connected via HDMI ARC to my LG TV (43UR80006LJ) and tackled a problem lately that I hope you can shed some light on.

 

I stream most of my media through my PC via a server that is connected to an app named ‘Emby’.

While using the SONOS app, I almost always check the type of the audio format, and it works great, but on specific occasions I get the Stereo PCM mark. 

This happens only when streaming movies or TV shows that have image-based subtitles (PGS\ASS) through the TV Emby app.

I use only EAC3 audio tracks in my Emby library, and whenever I enable the subtitles, I see the PCM mark.

Needless to say, this causes a drastic decrease in the quality of audio.

I’ve tried to ask if it’s a problem from the Emby client’s side, but it turns out that the audio file is a direct copy of the original EAC3 2.0 and should show the Dolby Digital Plus 2.0 mark instead, but it does not.

 

At the moment I’m having difficulties tracking where this problem comes from and tried to change several TV settings from tips you’ve given to people who suffer similar issues.

My TV settings are:

HDMI Input Audio Format: Bitstream

Digital Sound Out: Pass Through

DTV Audio Setting: Dolby Digital Plus

eARC Support: ✅

 

 

The Beam will decode and play whatever format the LG sends to it over the eArc connection. If it is reporting Stereo PCM then it suggests something before the beam is decoding the Dolby Digital 2.0 to PCM.

If the Emby server is embedding the Dolby digital 2.0 as is rather than as stereo pcm when it adds the subtitles to the video, then it suggests either the Emby Client or the LG TV is decoding the 2.0 Dolby digital audio to stereo PCM before sending it, so the Beam receives PCM rather that the encoded Dolby Digital.

If the audio is in sync, then whether the Beam, the TV or the PC/Client decodes to 2.0 shouldn’t matter as they should all decode the same.

Reply


Terms & ConditionsCookie settings