SKY Q box no longer outputting Dolby Digital 5.1

[Chris+Barker]

Hi

I have a Sky Q box connected by HDMI to my Denon Receiver which is connected to all of my surround sound speakers. I have the Sky Q box digital audio  output HDMI set to Dolby Digital Plus.

However, I am no longer getting DD and only Stereo audio when I stream or play a movie from live TV.

I've tried a hard reset of the Sky Q box but this hasn't worked. I've also tried replacing thr HDMI cable but still stero output.

I've also  tried reverting back to an optical connection between Sky Q box and receiver with the Sky Q box digital audio optical output set to Dolby Digital but still only get Stereo audio output.

I can stream other content through the receiver via eArc for smart apps (e.g. Netflix, Now TV ect) and get DD 5.1 and also blu-rays output in DD 5.1

So to me, it appears as if the Sky Q box is failing. 

Has anyone out therre had the same issue?

Regards

Chris

[Chodley]

On every movie? What resolution are they? Not sure but I think maybe only HD ones have 5.1

[hrai]

Googling around someone here reported a similar issue a few years back (stereo instead of 5.1 on UHD channel in their case) and found that Audio Description had been turned on in the Accessibility settings. Turning it back to off fixed it in their case.

Maybe worth a check?

[Chris+Barker]

Yes, I've tested the same live TV and VOD HD movie on my Sky Q and Smart TV's Now TV app. The Now TV outputs in DD 5.1, the Sky box doesn't.

[Chris+Barker]

Hi hrai

All of the Sky Q box Accessibility settings are "off" so this is not the issue. I've just tried using a different HDMI input on my receiver to make sure that my receiver is not the issue. (swapped a working HDMI 2 Blu ray input with Sky Q HDMI 1 input).

Thanks for the reply anyway.

[nigea99]

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@Chris+Barker wrote:

Yes, I've tested the same live TV and VOD HD movie on my Sky Q and Smart TV's Now TV app. The Now TV outputs in DD 5.1, the Sky box doesn't.

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hi @Chris+Barker 

Which channel(s) and which movie(s)  ? 

Only some channels regulary use 5.1  (needs to be HD or UHD) Alibi HD does. F1 currently is (although not for most adverts)

When you say you are only getting stereo is DD 2.0  or PCM ?

As @hrai  says Audio Description on switches the output 2.0 only but I see you have checked that.

[Chris+Barker]

Hi @nigea99 

It's DD 2.0 Stereo. That's what comes up on my receiver. I was playing The Surfer on channel 301 last night. Checked this on Sky Q and also on Smart TV Now TV app. Sky Q DD Stereo, auduo output, Now TV DD 5..1 audio output. Tried my blu-ray and got DD 5.1. Tried swapping HDMI  cables, receiver HDMI input and even tried optical audio connection from box to receiver as used to be required to get DD 5.1. Yes, Accessibility setings all "off".

None of the above has worked. 

Thanks for your reply.

[hrai]

Looks you done everything possible to eliminate everything apart from Q box itself. Time to ring Sky for a replacement I guess.

The only other thing I can think of would depend on your setup. I'm assuming that you are either 1) using eARC to get audio from the TV to the amp (with the Q box connected directly to the TV) or 2) you're feeding the Q box into the amp which then passes video to the TV. You could try the arrangement you're NOT using as one last final check?

[nigea99]

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@Chris+Barker wrote:

Hi @nigea99 

It's DD 2.0 Stereo. That's what comes up on my receiver. I was playing The Surfer on channel 301 last night. Checked this on Sky Q and also on Smart TV Now TV app. Sky Q DD Stereo, auduo output, Now TV DD 5..1 audio output. Tried my blu-ray and got DD 5.1. Tried swapping HDMI  cables, receiver HDMI input and even tried optical audio connection from box to receiver as used to be required to get DD 5.1. Yes, Accessibility setings all "off".

None of the above has worked. 

Thanks for your reply.

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Hi @Chris+Barker 

Just to be clear, have you   tried other channels & films on SKY Q  to make sure it is just not SKY's version of that film 

[Chris+Barker · Accepted solution]

Hi @nigea99 @hrai @Chodley 

I have solved the issue. On my Denon receiver, I have a "Quick Select" setting for cable/sat. I pressed this and DD 5.1 audio started to output. It's a setting that you can register an a/v configuration so that a single press will set the settings to that configuration. I can never remeber ever setting this up, in fact, I know that I have never set this up, so I don't know why pressing this has corrected things. Anyway, it's back working. Thanks for the responses. 

[nigea99]

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@Chris+Barker wrote:

Hi @nigea99 @hrai @Chodley 

I have solved the issue. On my Denon receiver, I have a "Quick Select" setting for cable/sat. I pressed this and DD 5.1 audio started to output. It's a setting that you can register an a/v configuration so that a single press will set the settings to that configuration. I can never remeber ever setting this up, in fact, I know that I have never set this up, so I don't know why pressing this has corrected things. Anyway, it's back working. Thanks for the responses. 

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@Chris+Barker  glad you got to the bottom of it.

My Yamaha has some preset buttons (that I can change settings for but haven't),  apart from the Net Radio I  never use them which could equally throw me if I didn't spot I had pressed one.