Chromecast freezes and reboots when trying to pass through an AC3 audio track.

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What steps will reproduce the problem?
1. Connect Chromecast to TV or Amplifier which supports passthrough of AC3
2. Play video file with AC3 audio track on Chromecast 

What is the expected output? What do you see instead?
- Expected normal play of video file and passthrough of AC3 audio track.
- Instead, the video freezes (enters a buffering state) after 4-5 secs of play. 
A short time after, the CC reboots. No audio is ever passed through, as no 
sound is ever heard in the beginning.

What version of the product are you using? On what operating system?
- Chromecast firmware 26653

Please provide any additional information below.
- Passthrough of AC3 used to work on an earlier firmware version.
- The Chromecast is apparently trying to auto-select the audio track, as the CC 
can be "tricked" into using an alternative (non-AC3) audio track by starting 
the video file on the CC while it is disconnected from a TV. Once the video 
file is playing, the CC can be connected to the TV and the movie plays (using 
the non-AC3 audio) without any problem.

Original issue reported on code.google.com by ken.tho...@gmail.com on 24 Feb 2015 at 11:22

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Could you attach or link to the file that you're attempting to play, or a short 
sample of it?

Original comment by gun...@google.com on 24 Feb 2015 at 5:27

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Here is a short sample (30 secs) of a movie with two audio tracks, AC3 and MP3.

Original comment by ken.tho...@gmail.com on 24 Feb 2015 at 6:29

Attachments:

• sample.mkv

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This file plays fine for me with AC3 pass-through to AVR receiver. I've tested 
on Lexx device with 1.12 build 27946 connected to Harman Kardon AVR 1610. 
Played the file from my Nexus 10 with Andoid Lollipop via AllCast app. No 
issues observed, audio sounds fine to me. I'll try on build 26653 shortly.

Original comment by serv...@google.com on 24 Feb 2015 at 7:33

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Just tried playing on Chromecast firmware build 26653 - same thing, no issues 
observed here.

Original comment by serv...@google.com on 24 Feb 2015 at 7:40

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Interestingly when I tried everything the same but on Eureka device (Chromecast 
v1 hardware), I could reproduce the issue (on build 26653) - the device 
rebooted and there was no sound. I'll send this to hardware folks to take a 
look.

Original comment by serv...@google.com on 24 Feb 2015 at 7:51

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I experience the same issue after my cc updated to 26653.
And I can't use the workaround because I need to connect my cc and select the 
correct hdmi channel of my Sony Bravia or I get "out of range" on my tv.
http://www.reddit.com/r/Chromecast/comments/2ozo2r/out_of_range_error_on_sony_br
avia_tv/

Any other solution available?

Original comment by gl...@laenen.net on 10 Mar 2015 at 12:45

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Also in firmware 27946

See 
https://forums.plex.tv/index.php/topic/121442-ac3-pass-through-has-arrived/page-
6 for more comments

Original comment by achrisma...@gmail.com on 15 Mar 2015 at 9:10

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Until 26653 I had AC3/DD5.1 in Plex Media Server via a small alteration in the 
Chromecast config file. After 26653 Chrome cast freezes at playback start 
(MKV), and reboots, and I had to remove the change in config-file in order to 
playback.

Please give us AC3-pass through back, and... maybe also DTS.

If there is a commercial reason for lacking DTS, perhaps make a small app, 
which users could decide to install (and pay for)?!

Original comment by claus...@gmail.com on 15 Mar 2015 at 6:27

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I experience the same issue.

Looking at comment #5 - how can a normal user identify the hardware revision of 
the Chromecast device?

Original comment by audiorap...@gmail.com on 15 Mar 2015 at 7:23

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This can also be reproduced using the file posted in comment #2 and using the 
Videostream extension in the Chrome browser.
In the Videostream settings for audio, choose the AC3 audio profile. PCM and 
default (stereo) work just fine.
"Buffering..." appears on the screen and after a while (10-30 seconds) the 
Chromecast reboots.

Original comment by audiorap...@gmail.com on 15 Mar 2015 at 11:09

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Still the same issue in firmware 27946.
My CC is still completely useless.

Original comment by gl...@laenen.net on 16 Mar 2015 at 9:31

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I also have this problem.  Crashes and reboot on ac3 videos after 3 seconds of 
video playing in silence. This occurs on videos that used to work. 

Original comment by owengrif...@gmail.com on 16 Mar 2015 at 3:47

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Issue 529 has been merged into this issue.

Original comment by jonathan...@google.com on 16 Mar 2015 at 4:06

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Original comment by jonathan...@google.com on 16 Mar 2015 at 5:31

• Changed state: Accepted

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same issue with AC3
Moreover, a real passthrough to tv which can downmix dd+ to dd isn't possible 

Original comment by bdannero...@gmail.com on 17 Mar 2015 at 9:56

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Same issue here, since 26653.  After a few seconds of silent playback, the 
video freezes and the chromecast reboots.

Original comment by tim.j.fo...@gmail.com on 24 Mar 2015 at 9:29

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Issue 547 has been merged into this issue.

Original comment by na...@google.com on 25 Mar 2015 at 2:43

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When resolving this, it'd be great if the Chromecast had the option to pass 
through all audio formats - DTS, DTSHD, Truehd, etc.  I just need the 
Chromecast to bitstream the audio track to the receiver and let the receiver 
decode.

Original comment by lukemorr...@gmail.com on 25 Mar 2015 at 2:29

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AC3 has never worked at all for me. Prior to the recent FW updates, I would 
have no audio if the file contained AC3 audio only. More recently, Chromecast 
reboots when starting playback.

Files are MKV container containing h264 video, AC3 audio, vobsub (idx/sub) 
subtitle and chapter. Chromecast connects to Yamaha RX-V661 AVR then to 
Panasonic plasma.

At one stage I also had a stereo downmix stream of the AC3 in Ogg-Vorbis format 
within the MKV. I have now batch removed this stream leaving just the AC3.

These same files playback without issue via Patroit Box Office (like a WD Live) 
to same AVR HDMI input. They play fine also on Android devices such as Nexus 7 
(2012), Nexus 4, Moto G etc using MX Player and custom codec with control via 
Bubble UPnP Client.

I have now purchased and setup an Intel NUC with BubbleUPnP Server so that I 
can transcode the AC3 to MPCM on playback. Several hundred $$$ somewhat 
unnecessary expense so that I can get audio.

I have what could be an original Chromecast purchased when initially available 
on Australian market. AC3 has never work under any circumstances.

Original comment by andrew.p...@gmail.com on 26 Mar 2015 at 3:13

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Same issue here with firmware 27946 using Plex to direct stream video with AC3 
into a Denon AVR1610 receiver capable of DD, DD+, DTS, etc.  My Roku handles 
the stream just fine.

Original comment by scottple...@gmail.com on 28 Mar 2015 at 10:26

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Chromecast needs AC3 passthrough badly. C'mon Google!

Original comment by kart...@gmail.com on 3 Apr 2015 at 12:54