BETA: Expanded support for Audio Passthrough

[eric]

In the latest Android Beta we've expanded our support for Audio Passthrough to the following codecs:

• E-AC3 (including Dolby Atmos)
• DTS/DTS-HD
• TrueHD
• AC-4

@fancybot

v2026.03.16.2121

• NEW: Expanded support for Audio Passthrough to support E-AC3 (including Dolby Atmos), DTS/DTS-HD, TrueHD, AC-4 when available from the Android device and receiver

If you have Surround Sound enabled in the settings, you will start using these automatically.

The Android OS by default negotiates with the connected device to provide us with the available codecs. Going to Android Settings -> Device Preferences -> Sound -> Advanced sound settings you should find that it is set to Automatic, which will let the device negotiate with connected devices (stereo receivers, for instance) to provide the correct codecs.

With all new features, it's always possible there are bugs, and so if you find that a codec is acting up when you try to play it, you can temporarily disable Passthrough for that codec by going to Settings -> Playback -> Advanced -> Passthrough and disabling that codec.

We have not had any devices available to test the AC-4 support, so would be interested if anyone has an Android device that can play it to give us feedback if it is working for them or not.

[mantooth]

Was hoping these updates might fix this issue as it still hasn't been resolved:

Playback Speed not working on Nvidia Shield TV for HDHomeRun recordings

This has been an issue for a while but I first noticed it on my Nvidia Shield TV Pro 2017 that when I adjust the Playback Speed on recordings from HDHomeRun, it only appears to affect the video. The audio runs at 1x no matter what speed I pick causing it to go out of sync immediately. Things recorded from other sources like TV Everywhere or Pluto play at the right speed when set. Could it be something to do with the MPEG2 source of the HDHomerun recordings? When I adjust playback speed on the s…

Really helping this issue can finally get fixed after having initially reported it last fall.

[maddox]

Does ANYONE have anything to report about this feature?

Successes? Failures? Anything?

[mackid1993]

I haven't been able to use my Shield because I have random connection resets and just app lock-ups. I figured out that it only happens on custom channels coming off my HDMI encoders from what I can tell. DVR recordings are fine. I actually asked another user that has a similar LinkPi setup to test and they had the same issue. I confirmed that it happens both with ADB tuner and AH4C.

Otherwise I would be really happy to test. I just have really no use for my NVIDIA Shield right now because Channels DVR just doesn't work on it at least in my environment and that other user's environment. The interesting thing is my Apple TV works beautifully. Otherwise, when this came out, I did test it with an HDHomeRun channel the pass-through did work, I just get very inconsistent antenna reception. I love the attention that Android is getting these days. It's fantastic. So maybe one day I'll be able to use my Shield again. You guys are an awesome development team and I really really enjoy using Channels.

I just haven't tried it any further because I can't use my Shield day to day anymore because I really love Channels and wouldn't give it up for the Shield. I would rather use an Apple TV and Channels so things work!

[Michael_Birk]

I am using a Firestick Max and all the audio options are on, except DTS-HD. I don't know how I would tell if the audio is doing something different when I play an ATSC 3 station that uses AC4. When I look at stats, it still just shows AC4, but when I play an ATSC 1 station with AC3 I show raw_ac3(raw audio pass-through decoder). I do notice it takes an extra 2 seconds before the audio starts up.

I am not sure if I have any recorded files with any of the other audio formats.

[cstark27]

Hi, this isn’t my primary device but I pulled my “onn. 4K Streaming Box” out of storage and signed up for the beta. Plugged it right into my Denon X1600H.

Here’s some info:

DTS-HD: not supported. But it appears Channels is pulling the DTS core and sending a DTS signal to the AVR.

DTS-X: same as above

EAC3 + Atmos 5.1.2: successfully passes through and plays on correct speakers

TrueHD 7.1: not supported; stereo PCM signal sent to AVR (maybe I need to dig into device settings)

EAC3 + Atmos 7.1: AVR successfully receives a passed through signal

AC3: passes through

EAC3 DD+: passes through

DD-EX 6.1: AVR receives 6ch DD+

I will have to dig deeper into AV timing a different day (most of my testing was using specific audio format test videos). Let me know if you have a specific question or need of something.

[eric]

@cstark27

DTS-HD: not supported. But it appears Channels is pulling the DTS core and sending a DTS signal to the AVR.

DTS-X: same as above

Are you saying that you aren't getting any sound on these or something else?

Thanks for all of this testing!

[cstark27]

I’m sorry for the confusion. These are reported as not supported in the Android TV sound settings and the Channels sound settings. My receiver supports these formats.

However, playing files with only a DTS-HD track (which I think technically has a “DTS” core embedded), my AVR receives a DTS signal and plays it with functional sound. All speaker channels were properly mapped (well, all 5.1 anyway…I do have Atmos/height enabled speakers but DTS core shouldn’t have that data right?).

This image is showing the Channels stats while playing a DTS-HD track.

Same track as above but showing what my SIGNAL my AVR is receiving, what INPUT speaker channels it’s receiving, then how it’s outputting (FDL/FDR are lit up because my AVR is turning on Neural X automatically).

These next 2 photos are the same except now with a DTS-X track.

[cstark27]

And finally, photos of the settings.

[cstark27]

One more thing, I have a sample file for Dolby Digital Surround EX 6.1 and it appears to work. My AVR shows an input of 6.1 channels. So that’s cool.

I got the sample file(s) from this thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/hometheater/s/TkmN7KE2Dh

The file that says “unflagged” only sends DD5.1 but the one without unflagged sends DD6.1.