Weird HTPC audio dropout problem

Soldato
Joined
24 Jul 2003
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Recently my HTPC with a 7850 connected to my Sony STR-DH820 via HDMI. All was working perfectly as I play media via XBMC but recently have started playing music (mp3's) using Windows Media Player. I have the CCC Codec pack installed (but have uninstalled just in case). I'm using Windows 7.

The problem is, Movies in DD/DTS/DTS-HD/Dolby TrueHD play absolutely perfectly, games in Windows absolutely fine in DD but mp3's in WMP or VLC have random audio dropouts for about a second, the receiver display flashes for a second or so and then resumes as normal. It happens on most mp3's at no specific time etc but only on mp3's and it doesn't matter what bitrate etc it may only happen once in a track or 3-4 times but it's consistent enough to be annoying.

Does anyone have any idea what the cause of this could be? I don't listen to music enough to warrant replacing equipment but as everything else is fine I can't imagine it being a hardware problem.
 
So, just to be clear, it works fine in XBMC, but not in VLC or WMP?

What media player was XBMC set to use...its own internal? Do MP3s still work fine in XBMC?

Seems a weird one, someone may know the answer straight away...what happens if you put your amp in stereo mode?
 
Sorry, wasn't as clear as I could have been plus did some more testing.

It seems that XBMC plays everything, including mp3's absolutely fine using its own internal player. WMP/VLC both get dropouts in music and movies.

Should also point out that games in Windows such as PES/SF4 work fine as well. Difference I can see is XBMC bitstreams everything so is showing as DD/DTS etc games are DD but when using media player etc it stays as LPCM with all speakers highlighted even playing an mp3 which is when the dropouts occur. If I play the mp3 in xBMC it switches to the correct stereo output on the amp and is fine.
 
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Something in VLC's audio settings then maybe...something like 'use SPDIF'?

Under the audio options there should be loads of tickboxes etc that might apply. Can't be more specific until I'm back at my pc.
 
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