HDCP license pull from Xbox Series X causing missing audio capabilities and Atmos lag

SteveVrettos · Aug 14, 2022

Fair warning...long post from a newbie who has just done a LOT of reading. Also, yeah, im aware i could fix this by dropping another 3-5 grand on different equipment. I aint doin that. Lol

HDCP licensing breakdown/incompatability causes audio type detection failure.

Setup
Xbox Series X to Samsung QN85B to Samsung HW-Q65T (not putting bar between TV and X due to loss of 120hz capability) all hdmi cables certified 48gbps.

Normally, despite hw-q65t being 5.1 uncompressed capable, all I get as options on the xbox are dolby compressed 5.1, which cuts in and out terribly, stereo uncompressed and Atmos with unusable audio delay.

If I switch my series x to power saving mode, hdcp processing is disabled on reboot and stays that way until you open a streaming app anywhere in the chain. From there I check my audio settings and I get access to 5.1 uncompressed and 7.1 uncompressed if I have Q symphony turned on. Furthermore, my delay on Atmos goes away almost entirely (q65t is not Atmos capable on box, but I suspect the tv takes over processing from the sound bar instead of the soundbar downmixing to stereo when Q-Symphony is on because it actually works pretty nicely)

Now, it's quite possible I have a weird soundbar. Bought it open box and it currently has Samsung SWA-9100 rear channels connected and working fine, rather than the SWA-8500S speakers that it came with.

Anyway, figured I'd post it here first since I won't be back home for a couple days to use report an issue with it.

Here's link from Samsung's site confirming that 5.1 uncompressed won't pass specifically due to hdcp and despite the addition of the simultaneous optical output setting on the QN85B, the Xbox doesn't recognize it, I guess because it can only pull the soundbar info from EARC and the TV is gating it. So, at the moment, the only way for me to get the full capability out of the hardware I have is to constantly reset everything.

https://www.samsung.com/us/support/troubleshooting/TSG01109021/

And here's a link I found listing microsoft's HDCP Playready policies and licenses showing the ultimate reason that I think it's screwing up (found while typing post and reading.)

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/playready/overview/license-and-policies

If I read that right, Samsungs 2018+ and xbox et al both have a timelimit on their HDCP license server keys and, even though they're playready licensed, that doesn't mean that they'll pull server and then line up in sequencing correctly because maybe Samsung has different version playready licensing and seem more invested in WildVine.

Sorry for the rant, just trying to figure this out so my set up works the was it's supposed to. I know it works....I've gotten it to work! Lol.

I'm going to try it next week with instant on off for both TV and xbox to see if it is just an expired DRM license issue and I'm an idiot, but if that doesn't work I know that there's an option to turn on Robust File System in Samsung Service Menu and since that's what Play Ready DRM uses, I might just go turn it on and see if it's just a trick to shorten product cycles.

In the meantime, if you get it this far, feel feel to give input!

:)

SteveVrettos

I might not have been clear. It was late and I didn't post about 4 other links. License doesn't expire, but decryption key pulled from server by device for PlayReady does. It's buried in the policy pages.

SwordofWhedon

HDCP doesn’t expire. Its chip based and can only be changed by replacing the chip. Whatever the problem is, it’s definitely not HDCP licenses expiring I can tell you that.

DrAnomalous

Xbox Series X >> Vizio SB3651 NS-H6 >> 75" TU7000 4K HDR

My old Xbox One X worked perfectly with this setup. I had ARC features, 4K with HDR, 5.1 audio and Dolby Atmos. The Atmos is a mystery because my bar isn't advertised as being capable but the sound quality was great. I could mention that the Sat/TV port also worked flawlessly but that's a another issue entirely.

I finally get my hands on a Xbox Series X in December '21. The display auto detect goes straight to the lowest potato resolution possible. Manually selecting HDMI I can only get 1080p. I can manually select up to 5.1 audio but it sounds questionable. Now 7.1, Dolby Atmos, & DTS are available to select but absolutely muted.

Why break something nobody asked you to fix? The November update says "streamlined audio experience" Is streamlined a euphemism for omitted capabilities and compatibility now?

SteveVrettos

Sure Geri, thanks for the reply. As an update, I ran further tests with Xbox support via phone this morning. Long post, but....

Results as follows:

Connection path - Series X > HDMI 2.1 cable > Samsung QN85B HDMI port 4 > QN85B eARC port (2.0b spec) >HDMI 2.1 cable > HW-Q700A eARC port (2.0b marketed as 2.1 48gbps port)

Enabling game mode results in Xbox detecting capability for DD 5.1 (COMPRESSED), Stereo Uncompressed and Atmos. Enabling/disabling game surround sound option in TV game mode settings causes no detection change. Disabling game mode entirely allows detection of 5.1 uncompressed audio capability by Xbox. No lag, no drop out. Crisp and clear audio. However this also disables Auto HDR recognition by TV, even if 4:2:2 check box is enabled in video settings. Games with built in HDR do initiate QMS in TV for HDR mode. As previously noted, in 1 of 20 attempts at cycling CEC on Series X I did get a positive pull for 7.1 uncompressed, but it disabled as soon as I opened a streaming video app.

When switching display mode from auto detect to HDMI in Xbox video settings, Xbox loses positive detection for 4K 60/120, HDR and VRR (I'm aware this is a known issue) however I gain positive detection on additional audio formats the HW-Q700A is capable of. (Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital 5.1,

5.1 uncompressed, 7.1 uncompressed and DTS/DTS:X)

Connection Path: Series X > HDMI 2.1 cable > HW-Q700A > HDMI 2.1 cable > QN85B eARC port (HDMI 2.0B) maintained all correct audio detection, lost 120hz green light but oddly VRR remained active. Inadequate time to test actual framerate output in practice.

Xbox series X currently removed from outsider program builds for testing. Video settings enabled : 4k, HDR 10, Auto HDR, 50hz and 24 hz. Display mode auto detect, 10 bit color with profile set as PC RGB. Switching to any combination of 8bit, 10bit, 12bit, standard and/PC RGB makes no difference in settings detection, but set as is produces marked changes when setting TV color profile to bt.2020.

Maybe a whole bunch of nonsense, maybe something I'm missing. I don't know.

THUND3R 4

https://www.windowscentral.com/xbox-series-x-wont-have-spdif-optical-audio-or-ir-blaster

Nope. Confirmed by windows central series x WILL NOT have an optical port.

This is pretty damn poor from Microsoft. They have said all accessories for xbox one will work on series x. Wity this port missing this is not true. My £300 astro wireless headset will now no longer connect to the new console. I very much doubt astro could
update it to work via USB only.

Pretty disappointed in this at the mo unless they come up with a fix so I still get the same great 3d audio from Dolby atmos and full chat using my a50's.

HDCP license pull from Xbox Series X causing missing audio capabilities and Atmos lag