Separate bitstream format options for HDMI/Optical on Xbox One X

Dark Dork · Mar 30, 2019

Hi,

It seems the Xbox One X can only output one bitstream format at a time if you enable both HDMI and optical audio output. What I don't understand is why there is no way to configure HDMI and optical separately. For example, if I don't want to use my Astro
A40 Mixamp Pro, I'd like my HDMI audio bitstream format to be DTS and not DD. For the Astro A40 I'm forced to have this set to DD. So whenever I don't want to use my headset, I have to change audio settings again. This is a hassle and can be totally avoided.
MS, why?

:)

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Dark Dork

Some more info as to why I want this. I'm using HDMI ARC between my audio receiver and TV. All connected devices pass a DTS bitstream to my TV, which in turn passes it to the receiver. On my PS4 I also use an Astro A40 Mixamp Pro, which is capable of delivering
DTS through HDMI and DD through optical. However the Xbox One X can't. I have to switch the bitstream format between DD and DTS manually. Why not use DD instead on the Xbox One then? Well then I'd have to switch what the TV sends to my receiver. So then I'll
have to change between DD and DTS in my TV audio settings.

ArminatorX

[...]On my PS4 I also use an Astro A40 Mixamp Pro, which is capable of delivering DTS through HDMI and DD through optical. However the Xbox One X can't. [...]

Just so I understand your setup correctly:

You have a PS4 connected to a Astro A40 Mixamp Pro, and you feed DTS to that Mixamp?

And you do NOT use such a Mixamp on the Xbox One?

Or what exactly prevents you from using that Mixamp with DTS on the Xbox One as well, so you don't have to switch the sound format?

ArminatorX

It can't be avoided, as this would mean two separate circuits for sound generation.

As I understand it, the console has one sound circuit to generate the digital bitstream wich gets send out of the sound chip, and then split to the HDMI and optical output.

You could think of this as a Y cable you put into your headphone jack of your MP3 player or smartphone to connect two headphones.

With that you are also unable to play two separate songs for you and the other person listening with you on your music player.

Since only one sound chip is present, you can only configure one sound format for both HDMI and optical out.

TheVet96

Hello JM!

I've never seen that option on any xbox console including the latest ones. I have to mute my tv as well. The only thing I could find if you want to try it out is the bitstream.

Bitstream format – Once you’ve set HDMI audio or Optical audio to Bitstream out, you can select one of these
formats. These formats are typically used with compatible audio receivers or optical headphones. Formats labeled “HDMI only” will turn off Optical audio.

I have no way of testing that myself but since you are using the optical audio it might work. Let us know your results.

Thanks!

Separate bitstream format options for HDMI/Optical on Xbox One X