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Question

Why does HDMI audio output only play test tones?

May 20, 2012 6:20AM PDT

So I have been trying all day to get my sound to play through the HDMI ports (fiddling with settings, searching forums, etc.) Funny thing is that the only sound that comes out are the test tones. I tried going through general computer-wide settings and into the individual players themselves (VLC media player and iTunes) to see if I needed to change the output settings. I'm running an HP G50 into a Samsung flat screen. It seems like this has to be a setting option fault, but I can't figure it out for the life of me. Has anybody else encountered this problem?

Thanks in advance

Discussion is locked

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Answer
It could be that HDCP rule?
May 20, 2012 6:35AM PDT

There is a rule about HDCP (sorry but please google the acronyms that you don't know) where HD AUDIO is downgraded to STEREO when the host device can provide audio. This area is not consumer friendly and I will not tell you how to get around this. (See forum policy.)

Make sure the audio is stereo and it should make it over to the HDTV unless there are issues such as HDMI to DVI convertors etc.

There's also a setting in the control panel to look at. Here's a picture.
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w146/rproffitt2000/hdmisound-1.jpg

For that setup, my HDTV was that HP.
Bob

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Oops.
May 20, 2012 8:06AM PDT

well...I just needed to reboot my computer after setting the HDMI to output. Simple fixes, right? thanks for your help Happy

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That's pretty normal (sadly!)
May 20, 2012 8:12AM PDT

I had to cover the usual since many are unaware of that setting. On my laptop, no reboot was needed (it knows to OBEY me?)