DTS audio channels are incorrectly routed

[Audio Geek]

Hi -

The Boxee Box is not playing DTS encoded wav files correctly - all 5 channels (front left & right, center, rear left & right) are all wrong (the only one that appears to be going to the correct channel is the LFE/sub channel). When the same audio is encoded to AC3, the surround sound works fine, so I know it's a problem with Boxee's DTS decoder or channel assignment and not my other hardware or setup. Has anyone else noticed this? My apologies if this has already been discussed, but I did a quick search and didn't find anything other than other/general dts issues.

This is a serious problem and basically makes the DTS implementation useless (which is a major reason I bought the Box in the first place).

Thanks for any info you can provide. I'm hoping this is a known issue and is being addressed.

[mbryanr]

Yup....which is why when the audio is output directly to a TV or soundbar- the volume on DTS audio has to be set near max to hear dialog; but will hurt the ears on background noise.

[aaronwt]

Yup....which is why when the audio is output directly to a TV or soundbar- the volume on DTS audio has to be set near max to hear dialog; but will hurt the ears on background noise.

I've never had this issue with DTS from my Boxee Box connected to a Sony soundbar.(or when connected directly to a TV or my HD audio receiver) Or is this an issue with the optical output? I use HDMI for audio from all my boxes.

[Audio Geek]

Yup....which is why when the audio is output directly to a TV or soundbar- the volume on DTS audio has to be set near max to hear dialog; but will hurt the ears on background noise.

This makes sense, since I'm pretty sure the center channel (which would contain most of the dialog) is going to one of the rear channels.

I have Professional DTS encoding software, so I'm going to create a test track to see exactly which channel is going where, but it's obvious they are all screwed up.

For the record, I'm using HDMI from the Boxee to a Yamaha receiver, but it was the same way when I used optical Toslink to a Sony receiver.

[Garfield]

I tested it with a test video.

I get the following:
sound ||speaker
FL in FL
C in RR
FR in C
RL in FR
RR in RL

[twistybox]

The absolute most important information is missing from this thread - unless I missed it, in which case apologies.

1. What output is being used from Boxee?
2. To what is that output connected? (input type and model/brand of equipment)
3. What are the audio settings in Boxee set to, including the sub-options.


This is indeed a serious problem, but theoretically, it should only be possible if Boxee is decoding the DTS stream. And if it's decoding the stream, it would stand to reason the only way to output the discrete channels is via PCM. If the signal is being passed as a bitstream there should be no reason/way for Boxee to do anything to the channel mix.

[Garfield]

1. HDMI
2. The reciever in my signature (HDMI)
3. All options checked under the sound tab

Edit: When I connect my computer with HDMI and play the same file the sound is OK.

[twistybox]

Try turning off the linear PCM option and let us know if anything changes.

Are you positive that your receiver reports it's an incoming DTS signal? Have you tested DTS soundtracks from within movies (mkv, etc. containers)?

I've never tried a DTS WAV file. To me, that's an odd way to encapsulate a DTS stream. That said, the same information still applies, if Boxee is only extracting the bitstream there shouldn't be any possibility for it to affect the channel mapping.

[Garfield]

Try turning off the linear PCM option and let us know if anything changes.

Where do I find this setting?

Are you positive that your receiver reports it's an incoming DTS signal? Have you tested DTS soundtracks from within movies (mkv, etc. containers)?

I don't know how to check this. But when playing the same file from my computer I get a correct result.

[twistybox]

When you set your Audio Output to HDMI in the System Settings, underneath you will see check-boxes for all the different surround modes, Dolby, DTS, etc. LPCM is the last option.

Does your receiver not indicate what kind of signal it's receiving and decoding? You should look on its front panel for some lights, symbols or other markers to indicate whether or not it is receiving DTS (or Dolby, etc.)

And you should definitely try a DTS test MOVIE file from here:

http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=51024