XMC-1 input switching loss of sound

[richf]

Until recently I had firmware 5.2 and sometimes when switching from hdmi2 (chromecast) to hdmi1 (cable tv) I would have no sound from the right channels. This would require a complete restart of the xmc-1 to fix. I then found out that we are up to v5.8 of the firmware. I figured that's a decent bet to fix my issue. Nope. Now I get no sound from any channel and I have to do the full restart.

Does anyone know of a fix for this behavior?

[cawgijoe]

After you restart, are you getting sound? Do you lose sound when switching channels?

I would try shutting down with the rear switch and let the unit sit for a few minutes before powering back up.

[Superhelmi]

Hello,

it could be caused by the settings of your cable tv box or Chromecast.
I own a dreambox set top box and a OSMC Vero4k media player.
There I can set hdmi audio output to fixed or "handle over hdmi" . I recommend "handle over hdmi". Search for such settings.
Also try to disable any hdmi CEC in any device ! EVEN it is disabled in XMC-1 !! In my XMC-2 CEC prevents the hdmi board to shut down correct (I think), so next restart wasn`t correct.
I had something like that and was able to solve it with this setting .

Markus

[richf]

Jan 22, 2020 23:18:01 GMT -5 cawgijoe said:

After you restart, are you getting sound? Do you lose sound when switching channels?

I would try shutting down with the rear switch and let the unit sit for a few minutes before powering back up.

I wasn't as clear as I should have been. Yes, after powering down completely and re-starting, all channels are producing sound. I do not lose sound when switching channels.

[richf]

Jan 23, 2020 0:41:27 GMT -5 Superhelmi said:

Hello,

it could be caused by the settings of your cable tv box or Chromecast.
I own a dreambox set top box and a OSMC Vero4k media player.
There I can set hdmi audio output to fixed or "handle over hdmi" . I recommend "handle over hdmi". Search for such settings.
Also try to disable any hdmi CEC in any device ! EVEN it is disabled in XMC-1 !! In my XMC-2 CEC prevents the hdmi board to shut down correct (I think), so next restart wasn`t correct.
I had something like that and was able to solve it with this setting .

Markus

I also always disable CEC whenever I see it, but I will take a look at my cable box and chromecast settings again.

[torbje]

Having the same issue as you Richf. Upgrading to v5.15 has just made it worse. Changing HDMI sources (Xbox, Media PC/NUC etc) the sound often disappears (and sometimes the picture). Nothing but a total restart of the XMC-1 helps. Have also disabled any HDMI control on both XMC and sources, so I am interested in your findings. Removed the power to all devices after update to the v5.15 as stated in release note, but if related to CEC it did not do much good :-) Thanks

[cawgijoe]

Apr 13, 2020 12:03:50 GMT -5 torbje said:

Having the same issue as you Richf. Upgrading to v5.15 has just made it worse. Changing HDMI sources (Xbox, Media PC/NUC etc) the sound often disappears (and sometimes the picture). Nothing but a total restart of the XMC-1 helps. Have also disabled any HDMI control on both XMC and sources, so I am interested in your findings. Removed the power to all devices after update to the v5.15 as stated in release note, but if related to CEC it did not do much good :-) Thanks

I have loss of sound occasionally with my XMC-2 using Directv when switching channels. Picture is always there.

Instead of restarting the XMC-1, have you tried switching the inputs back and forth to see if the audio comes back? Also, try switching the "preset 1 and preset 2" on the remote.....that works for me.

[torbje]

Swicthing between inputs helps sometimes. Still trying to find a pattern and solution for all this though. Honestly my sons 250$ surround receiver works way better seen from a user perspective. When he switches between sources it just work.

[markc]

I think I know where the problem lies:

My XMC-1 is amazing and has no problems. I think that applies for most people with the original version.

This is probably because it has the original HDMI 1.4 circuit board. Everything seems to have changed when the HDMI 2.0 boards were released

It strikes me that almost ALL of the problems with EVERY Emotiva processor coming after the original XMC-1 - i.e. the XMC-1 mark 2 (With HDMI 2.0 on the v3 circuit board), XMC-2, RMC-1L and RMC-1 are problematic because of this HDMI V3 board that is common to all of them.

The board was a long time in development from Emotiva but I can't help wondering if the hardware itself needs a reworking.
Every processor with it seems to have reports of switching problems, troubles locking on to audio, video but no audio etc etc
I know HDMI is a problematic entity with handshakes etc, but manufacturers just have to deal with that and most are able to get it to work.

If this v3 board is the problem as I suspect, I hope that Emotiva are working on a different architecture for a replacement board, and could save face by releasing it under the guise of an HDMI 2.1 update

[cawgijoe]

Apr 30, 2020 6:23:51 GMT -5 markc said:

I think I know where the problem lies:

My XMC-1 is amazing and has no problems. I think that applies for most people with the original version.

This is probably because it has the original HDMI 1.4 circuit board. Everything seems to have changed when the HDMI 2.0 boards were released

It strikes me that almost ALL of the problems with EVERY Emotiva processor coming after the original XMC-1 - i.e. the XMC-1 mark 2 (With HDMI 2.0 on the v3 circuit board), XMC-2, RMC-1L and RMC-1 are problematic because of this HDMI V3 board that is common to all of them.

The board was a long time in development from Emotiva but I can't help wondering if the hardware itself needs a reworking.
Every processor with it seems to have reports of switching problems, troubles locking on to audio, video but no audio etc etc
I know HDMI is a problematic entity with handshakes etc, but manufacturers just have to deal with that and most are able to get it to work.

If this v3 board is the problem as I suspect, I hope that Emotiva are working on a different architecture for a replacement board, and could save face by releasing it under the guise of an HDMI 2.1 update

Be fore I traded in my XMC-1 with the new replacement board, I had none of these issues. I had the original board and replaced it with the V3 when it came out.

So my experience was different.

I still think it's a firmware fixable issue involving HDMI....the problem is when one thing is fixed, something else breaks. Hopefully they can find that sweet spot.

[stephen]

Interesting insight today:

LG OLED TV -> optical -> XMC-1 for audio from TV (we use it for over the air and streaming)

Occasionally when turning it on or switching inputs we get no audio from the TV. Cycling inputs and/or turning off/on usually fixes.

Today this problem occurred but I accidentally turned the OPPO on and noticed that even though the XMC-1 front screen said Audio: Optical 1, the audio was actually coming from the OPPO via HDMI2! (this was the video input, even though it's unused since TV isn't set to the XMC's output)

Is this a bug?

[AudioHTIT]

Jul 13, 2020 18:21:43 GMT -5 stephen said:

Interesting insight today:

LG OLED TV -> optical -> XMC-1 for audio from TV (we use it for over the air and streaming)

Occasionally when turning it on or switching inputs we get no audio from the TV. Cycling inputs and/or turning off/on usually fixes.

Today this problem occurred but I accidentally turned the OPPO on and noticed that even though the XMC-1 front screen said Audio: Optical 1, the audio was actually coming from the OPPO via HDMI2! (this was the video input, even though it's unused since TV isn't set to the XMC's output)

Is this a bug?

If you first chose the Oppo, and then chose the optical input, this would be normal, you can switch from HDMI audio to another non HDMI audio.

[toadyy]

I have the issue as the thread starter. It does not matter what input is selected I get no sound about once a week. After I reboot the XMC-1 from the back, then the sound returns.

[torbje]

Has any one found a solid fix for this issue?
It is kind of embarrasing that XMC-1 cannot switch sources correctly everytime. Chinese imports at 1/10 the price can do it right ;-)