Z11 Pro Max 5.1 audio with Denon AVR

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1st Official Post
    • Model: Z11 Pro Max
    • Retail Box or Provider Box: Retail Box
    • Firmware version: 11.2.6
    • MYTVOnline 3 version: 11.2.4-3538
    • Connection with provider: Stalker portal
    • Box connected with: Ethernet / Gigabit
    • Did you factory reset your device? and when?: No
    • Picture url (only https): No
    • Video download url (only https): No
    • What issue(s) are you having? Audio 5.1 output consistency, please see below for details
    • What was you expecting to happen? On restart consistent 5.1 audio
    • What happened instead? Audio changes on reboot, please see below for details
    • How can we reproduce the issue you are having? I am able to re-produce this issue, please see below for details
    • What have you tried if anything to rectify the issue? I swapped HDMI cables, I have also changed Denon ports. No change in results.

    Details:

    I want to say a big thanks to JumpingRabbit, LordZeno, Sam and many others for their previous suggestions and help. After a lot of playing around with settings, I think I've narrowed down something that I hope the experts here can help me better understand.

    I have the Formuler Z11 Pro Max connected via HDMI to a Denon S960. The same Denon S960H is then connected also via HDMI to my Sony Bravia (eARC).

    When I turn on the Z11 and its playing a Live TV show, I check the INFO button on my Denon I see signal PCM with sound set at Dolby Audio - Dolby Surround. The sound is ok but not great. This is based on using the MOVIE remote control of my Denon to select this sound mode. More importantly I see only FL and FR for the 2 active speakers input signal, the other speakers are not enabled. I have a 5.1 speaker setup.

    Formuler Z11 audio settings as follows:

    Settings \ Device Preferences \ Display & Sound \ Advanced Sound Settings. All options are listed as support formats (Dolby Atmos, DD, DTS, etc.) they are grey but all enabled.

    If I then go into Settings \ Device Preferences \ Developer Options \ Audio I have the following:

    HDMI Output = Auto

    Playback Effect = Off

    HDMI Rx Adui Format = RAW

    Force SD Audio = Enabled

    Audi In = HDMI

    The issue is the 2 channel input signal as mentioned before. If I exit MOL3, hit INFO on Denon remote I still only see PCM with sound as "Dolby Audio - Dolby Surround" and only the 2 active speakers FR/FL for input signal.

    Now here's where things get interesting. I then open YouTube in my Z11 and play a "5.1 Dolby Surround Test" video. I hear each speaker report back audio correctly, the sound is awesome. I click the Denon remote "INFO" and boom now I see signal still as PCM (that's fine) but SOUND shows "Multi In + DSur". More importantly all 5.1 speakers are enabled (FL/FR/C/LFE/SL/SR) still showing Multi-in + DSur on my Denon display. The sound is great !

    I then exit YouTube, fire up MOL3 and the same TV channel that previously only played FR/FL speakers now plays as "Multi-In + DSur", a 5.1 speakers working very nicely. Other channels are the same, all good !

    The problem. If I turn off the Denon, TV and Z11 (I use a Harmony remote) and then turn it back on later it auto loads MOL3 and I'm back to only FR/FL input signal, 2 speakers. If I do the YouTube thing again that somehow triggers the input signal, I get the 5.1 speakers all back. All good again.

    Is this expected or am I just stupid ? Ideally I want to leave the input signal as 5.1 on all the time. I suppose I can just not turn off the Z11 (btw I use 'standby' for the Z11 power mode). Thanks !

    bonggo :smiling_face:

    ** Update - This worked 2-3 times (shutting off the Denon/TV/Z11) but then failed. I fired up Kodi, within the Z11, to trigger a DTS movie, which played fine 5.1 speakers. I switched back to MOL3, worked. So it does seem inconsistent to re-produce.

    *** Update 2 - Sorry forgot to add, I do have the Audio Optimizer installed.

    Edited 2 times, last by bonggo (October 9, 2023 at 8:23 PM).

    • Official Post

    Hard to say why this happen. I would suggest to create ticket, post in ticket exactly same text from here and if possible do some small video what it does without and try to reproduce with Youtube and then MOL3. Make video from all of this, so the devs. can look into. It must be something with HDMI Handshake, maybe devs. find the reason.

    Thanks, yes I did try those settings as suggested:

    Force SD Audio = Disabled, and with all HDMI CEC settings off? I turned off CEC in Z11 and Denon, even the TV, but unfortunately no change.

    I have opened a ticket, hoping to share some news once it gets reviewed.

    If anyone else has suggestions please let me know. Thanks all !

    Opened a ticket, the support suggestions I had already setup.

    When my Z11 starts I have it set to launch MOL3, my source is stereo based on channel and provider. When I close MOL3, launch Kodi and a DTS movie, I get DTS and 5.1 input signal detection on my Denon. Closing Kodi and re-launching MOL3, the input signal status remains as 5.1 and the previous TV live channels have better sound.

    This tells me that my Denon and Z11 are setup correctly. I don't think this is a bug, I think its working in terms of what the Z11 detects signal wise on start. I now launch Kodi first on boot, start a movie, close then open MOL3 and everything works fine. Anyways, I'll go with this solution. Thanks all.