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Question

How to get passthrough (bitstream) audio on 55MU7100 ?

Jul 8, 2017 3:49PM PDT

I recently bought a UN55MU7100 Smart TV which, doesn't provide me with an option to pass through audio through HDMI as is. It provides with option to turn the audio signal into DD5.1, DTS or DTS Neo. I must say TV does a horrendous job converting. I would rather have the TV to pass the audio to the receiver unmodified, as the receiver does a better job at playing audio; be it in the source format or by converting it to another format. It definitely sounds much better when receiver performs the conversion as opposed to the cheap codecs used by Samsung.

I have tried both HDMI and TOSLINK, both work the same way with no passthrough.

Is there a way to get the TV to bitstream the audio to the receiver. I don't mind optical over HDMI, but I need passthrough. Otherwise I might just return it and buy a Sony.

Just to add I do have the HDMI cable connected to the ARC port on TV and my receiver does support ARC. The fact that my receiver can play audio from TV proves ARC is functioning.

I don't mind a solution that requires hacking or rooting either.
Thanks for any help.

Discussion is locked

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Answer
I've yet to see this work.
Jul 8, 2017 4:02PM PDT
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Problem is limited to the Smart TV apps only.
Jul 8, 2017 7:45PM PDT

Sorry, thought I was being very clear, re-read my post and realised I did not make it apparent that this problem manifests only when I am using Smart TV apps.

I do not have any issues with my PC or streaming devices which are directly connected to the receiver and thus pass through audio unmodified. I can't achieve the same using the smart TV apps however, as TV doesn't provide me with an option to bitstream.

It is ironic how they come up with 4K HDR TVs yet, do not expect you to use high def audio systems !

The product you linked doesn't help with my problem as it is the TV that is outputting the audio and there is no way you can intercept it. Thanks anyways.

I do remember of having come across a solution to root Tizen. Thinking about which, I am not quite sure how I would be able to get smart TV app to bitstream audio, unless I have access to the source code of the TV apps.

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From smart TV apps, that's not passthrough.
Jul 9, 2017 8:08AM PDT

Since the app is the source... But you did clarify the issue. The apps are not producing HD audio as you want it. This is usually a choice by the app's author or the content provider.

https://www.google.com/search?q=why+doesn't+netflix+provide+hd+audio kicks that around but there may be limited HD audio streams. Once in a while a client will demand a specific HD audio and the apps just don't deliver.

This is why I try it on my Amazon Fire 4K box and see if that has it.

-> I don't want to upset you but Smart TVs are a mixed bag of rocks.

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Passthrough (bitstream) audio on 55MU7100
Jul 9, 2017 1:42PM PDT

A lot f the media available on Amazon Video and Netflix is indeed in surround sound, it is the TV that simply doesn't provide an option to passthrough. The same is true if I connect my streaming device or PC to TV and route the audio from TV to receiver. I don't get passthrough regardless of the source format be it from the smart TV apps or any other source.

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Then it's dead (Jim)
Jul 9, 2017 1:55PM PDT

(could not resist.)

Here, unless there is a dead board or defect, smart TV apps can send HD audio out the optical port. For you I'll let it be called passthrough but the input is not HDMI so for me, not passthrough.

Rather than debate this, let's call it dead and you should return it as not ready for the marker. Defective on arrival.