ATV4 Surround Sound Issues

[benji888]

Yes, Game of Thrones and other HBO shows broadcast in DD 5.1 over cable, and HBO uses DD+ also.

apple community post from this week: "HBOGO doesn't produce surround sound"
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8029488

Within the replies is a link from HBO GO's help center, it states (oddly): "If you're still experiencing issues, try switching the audio setting on your device to stereo sound."

 

[rgomez]

Yes, Game of Thrones and other HBO shows broadcast in DD 5.1 over cable, and HBO uses DD+ also.

apple community post from this week: "HBOGO doesn't produce surround sound"
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8029488

Within the replies is a link from HBO GO's help center, it states (oddly): "If you're still experiencing issues, try switching the audio setting on your device to stereo sound."

Hello... that's my post, actually. I've been trying several forums to see if at some point I get the solution, but so far nothing.

The HBO page is mixing no sound and no surround sound. I guess that maybe for some people with no sound switching to stereo fixes it. But all the things they mention there I have already tried and the app just doesn't want to output in 5.1.

They haven't yet replied my message via Facebook, and I'm guessing that with all the heat they are getting about the app crashing every Sunday for the past 3 weeks, my issue is fairly unimportant.

 

[benji888]

Hello... that's my post, actually. I've been trying several forums to see if at some point I get the solution, but so far nothing.

The HBO page is mixing no sound and no surround sound. I guess that maybe for some people with no sound switching to stereo fixes it. But all the things they mention there I have already tried and the app just doesn't want to output in 5.1.

They haven't yet replied my message via Facebook, and I'm guessing that with all the heat they are getting about the app crashing every Sunday for the past 3 weeks, my issue is fairly unimportant.

For some reason I decided to check out DD+ on Wikipedia, there are advantages to DD+ over DD, but, I found something that may help. Firstly, in reading the HBO GO post it seems they stream DD+, and not DD.

The spec. for DD+ states HDMI 1.3 link required. It's a long shot, but, if the cable is not new, maybe try a different HDMI cable?

 

[rgomez]

The spec. for DD+ states HDMI 1.3 link required. It's a long shot, but, if the cable is not new, maybe try a different HDMI cable?

I will try with a different cable, but the cable is (supposedly) HDMI 2.0 (I bought several from this: https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics...TF8&qid=1501893897&sr=8-1&keywords=B014I8SX4Y and I am inclined to trust Amazon that they are indeed HDMI 2.0 cables)

 

[benji888]

I will try with a different cable, but the cable is (supposedly) HDMI 2.0 (I bought several from this: https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics...TF8&qid=1501893897&sr=8-1&keywords=B014I8SX4Y and I am inclined to trust Amazon that they are indeed HDMI 2.0 cables)

Those are fine, I just meant, like, if you were using an old cable that was lying around. Wish I could help, I don't have cable, can't use HBO GO and am not using HBO Now, but, a friend has HBO cable and I can verify you should be getting some kind of DD/DD+ 5.1 audio at least for GOT.

Have you tried going through the sound modes on your AVR?

You say other apps work fine...question, do any of them stream DD+, or just DD?

Also, if you don't have automatic software updates turned on, have you updated the ATV4 to the latest version, (tvOS 10.2.2)?
–When I go to Settings>Audio and Video>Surround Sound> my choices are:
"Best Quality Available"
"Dolby Digital 5.1"
"Stereo"
—Also, check that Settings>Audio and Video>Audio Mode is set to "Auto" and not "16 bit"...if you're getting a DD+ signal that is not 16 bit from the app, and you have it set to 16 bit, it may default to 2 channels? (Where DD is 16bit, DD+ can be up to 24 bit.)

Have you checked for a firmware update for your AVR?

I'm going to guess you've already tried all of the above. I'm sure it's frustrating, I know I'm a bit of an audiophile, feel like I'm not getting the full experience if surround is available and not working.
[doublepost=1501954648][/doublepost]Check out post #4 here: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/atv4-nearly-everything-on-itunes-play-in-stereo.2033309/
—are there any settings for the HBO GO app? (Settings>Apps> scroll down to see if HBO GO is there)

Also, check this out (if you haven't already): https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...-put-your-surround-sound-to-the-test.1946908/

 

[rgomez]

Hello, benji888,

Have you tried going through the sound modes on your AVR?

You say other apps work fine...question, do any of them stream DD+, or just DD?

Also, if you don't have automatic software updates turned on, have you updated the ATV4 to the latest version, (tvOS 10.2.2)?
–When I go to Settings>Audio and Video>Surround Sound> my choices are:
"Best Quality Available"
"Dolby Digital 5.1"
"Stereo"
—Also, check that Settings>Audio and Video>Audio Mode is set to "Auto" and not "16 bit"...if you're getting a DD+ signal that is not 16 bit from the app, and you have it set to 16 bit, it may default to 2 channels? (Where DD is 16bit, DD+ can be up to 24 bit.)

Have you checked for a firmware update for your AVR?

I'm going to guess you've already tried all of the above. I'm sure it's frustrating, I know I'm a bit of an audiophile, feel like I'm not getting the full experience if surround is available and not working.
[doublepost=1501954648][/doublepost]Check out post #4 here: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/atv4-nearly-everything-on-itunes-play-in-stereo.2033309/
—are there any settings for the HBO GO app? (Settings>Apps> scroll down to see if HBO GO is there)

Also, check this out (if you haven't already): https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...-put-your-surround-sound-to-the-test.1946908/

I don't know of other apps that stream on DD+. I would have to check this, probably there are some movies from iTunes that are encoded in it?

I do have automatic software updates, and when facing a problem, the first thing I check is if I have the latest version (I'm a software developer, so that's the first thing I ask my customers ) I have also checked for firmware updates on my receiver, but no luck.

There are not really that much modes in the receiver. I mean, you can "force" it to re-encode the input signal in several ways, but the original signal is untouched (and there is a nice graphic on the screen of which channels are in the input signal, and which ones on the output).

I am sure this is a bug of the HBO GO app, but there haven't been updates. The HBO Support people hasn't replied anything to what I sent, via Facebook and using their "support form". They have, or had, their hands full with all the problems they had in LatinoAmerica with their service not working for most of us, so I guess my issues were just lost.

Anyway, I will probably cancel my subscription, mostly because the non-service, but this also doesn't help.