Audio Direct Play

[SamES 1056]

But that won’t change the audio issue

[Adam Pessach 2]

I know that it sounds like it won't change the audio issue. I was thinking that if the problem is caused by the sole fact that the TV is facing an unsupported file, maybe the problem resides in the video file that is being sent to the TV rather than the audio itself. It doesn't really make sense, I know, but there is no real solution to the problem otherwise.

[SamES 1056]

Can you do a quick test for me? Can you test playback without the soundbar and just use the tv speakers, and tell me if it sounds different between the version that DirectPlays (no subs) and the version that has the video converted. 
 

[SamES 1056]

I’m beginning to suspect that this might be the same issue we saw on Samsung where EAC3 doesn’t work in HLS streaming. In that case, we had no audio, but maybe LG is converting this to PCM and giving bad audio instead. 
 

If this is the case, then we can convert EAC3 to AAC when using hls. 

[Adam Pessach 2]

17 hours ago, SamES said:

Can you do a quick test for me? Can you test playback without the soundbar and just use the tv speakers, and tell me if it sounds different between the version that DirectPlays (no subs) and the version that has the video converted. 
 

I've tried playing both versions as you asked, and it is quite hard to tell the difference with my TV's speakers. I'm not saying that there is no difference between the two, but it is far less clear to notice it. I've tried to test again with the soundbar, but the difference was obvious.

[Adam Pessach 2]

17 hours ago, SamES said:

I’m beginning to suspect that this might be the same issue we saw on Samsung where EAC3 doesn’t work in HLS streaming. In that case, we had no audio, but maybe LG is converting this to PCM and giving bad audio instead. 
 

If this is the case, then we can convert EAC3 to AAC when using hls. 

I didn't really understand what you meant—if I should convert EAC3 to AAC or if you need to.

I also have in my library files that have AAC audio tracks with ASS subtitles that pose the same problem. Without the subtitles (in my current TV settings), the soundbar decodes the AAC track as Dolby Digital Plus 2.0, and with the subtitles (in HLS streaming), the Stereo PCM issue persists. 

That means the TV has a problem with the HLS streaming itself rather than the audio codec in it.

The problem is the same with FLAC and OPUS codecs.

 

[SamES 1056]

2 hours ago, Adam Pessach said:

I didn't really understand what you meant—if I should convert EAC3 to AAC or if you need to.

I also have in my library files that have AAC audio tracks with ASS subtitles that pose the same problem. Without the subtitles (in my current TV settings), the soundbar decodes the AAC track as Dolby Digital Plus 2.0, and with the subtitles (in HLS streaming), the Stereo PCM issue persists. 

That means the TV has a problem with the HLS streaming itself rather than the audio codec in it.

The problem is the same with FLAC and OPUS codecs.

 

FLAC and Opus are fixed in the next version.  I'll have to recheck, but it might be AC3, not AAC that we're converting to.

[Adam Pessach 2]

Hey, I recently noticed that the problem I posted here last year was solved! 

It might have to do with the new webOS update in newer LG TV models...

From different files I tested, only EAC3 plays directly, and FLAC/OPUS still goes through transcoding, probably as the TV doesn't fully support them. 
Thanks for the help!

[SamES 1056]

What version of the Emby app do you have on the TV now?  Maybe the update has been released?

[Adam Pessach 2]

I'm using 1.0.47, so the problem was solved prior to the update.

I've just updated it to 1.0.49, and it still works, although FLAC/OPUS files still go through transcoding. What I also noticed is that I no longer receive the regular stereo PCM output; instead, Dolby Multichannel PCM is the output I receive in all AAC files and other transcoded audio tracks.