Xbox Series X and One X Dolby bitstream audio delay

JasperNLD · Aug 10, 2022

I've had this problem for quite some while now, and I see a lot of people on the internet have a similar problem. I've got a Samsung Q90T linked to my Sony HT-ZF9 using eARC. I've got my Xbox Series X (before it was the One X) linked to my gaming port using a HDMI 2.1 cable and I switched my TV into audio passthrough. When using Bitstream Dolby options there is a massive delay in the audio. Dolby Atmos is basically unusable. The only way to play using 120hz HDR now is using stereo sound output. I didn't have this problem before with my PS4 Pro, neither do I have this problem with my Nvidia Shield. I'm a bit annoyed that this problem doesn't get fixed. Unfortunately my TV doesn't support DTS passthrough, as I read that setting it to DTS will fix the issue.

What can I do to finally use my Xbox as intended? When googling this issue I see a lot of people having the same (or similar) issue. Is Microsoft planning on finally fixing this with an update?

:)

Geri M.

Hello JasperNLD,

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Geri M.

HI JasperNLD,

Welcome to Xbox Community Forums. We appreciate for sharing your concern with us and we hope that you are doing well today.

We understand that you are having issue with your audio on Xbox Console. Let us check on this together and sort this out. Rest assured, we will do to the best in our capability to assist you with your concern and help you back to gaming.

For your concern, we would like you to visit these useful links;

We hope it worked out well for you. If not, please reply back to this forum to let us know. We will be glad to follow up and help you.

Have a great day ahead.

Sincerely,

Xbox Forum Moderator

Microsoft Community

Geri M.

Hi JasperNLD,

We have noticed that you have not responded to our last message. We would like to know whether the issue you have raised with us is still ongoing. If yes, please let us know so that we can continue our conversation.

Have a great Day!

Best regards,

Xbox Forum Moderator

Microsoft Community

JasperNLD

I thought I deleted my post but apparantly that doesn't work. I managed to fix my problem in a way I didn't expect. I switched the sound-mode on my tv from "passthrough" to "pcm" and suddenly I had a perfect lipsync. I had this problem for over two years and the fix was so easy. Thank you for replying Geri.

SteeleWake

Issue has been reported multiple times by many people as indicated in this and few other threads (reddit, xbox forums, etc). I myself have opened several tickets (currently have one ongoing now) on the issue and yet it still hasn't been resolved. I have also created help tickets with Dolby Access Support, and their responses continue to be that it is a Microsoft issue in how it is outputting Dolby Atmos. Summary of my issues is below:

- Bitstream audio out no longer an option in the HDMI output settings. In the November 2021 update on the Xbox Series X, the audio settings page was changed and unfortunately the option to output bitstream audio was removed. Despite the many issues this has caused, Microsoft still has not fixed the issue. Please bring back the bitstream/lossless output formats instead of forcing PCM only.

- Despite Dolby Atmos being selected as shown in the picture, the Xbox is outputting PCM 'multichannel audio' instead of Atmos (receiver display shown in lower portion of picture). This appears to be causing delays/hiccups in the HDMI handshake process as whatever PCM signal is being sent is not fully correct and the receiver bounces between seeing multichannel audio and dolby atmos until finally settling on multichannel audio. To my earlier comment, being able to pass true bitstream dolby atmos audio to the receiver should eliminate this issue.

- I have the Xbox Series X running to the AVR and then to the TV in order to have access to all the audio formats. When I tried to run the Xbox directly to the TV and then audio over eArc to the receiver, the Xbox will only output PCM Stereo, Dolby Digital or Dolby Atmos. I have tested the TV/receiver and they are able to pass other formats (such as DTS:X) over eArc so it is an Xbox issue of not allowing all the formats to be output (possibly related to bistream vs PCM also?).

Xbox Series X and One X Dolby bitstream audio delay