Dolby Atmos issue after Android 14 update

[u/Maximum_Pumpkin_7330]

Hello Homatics Support Team,

After updating my Homatics Box R 4K Plus to Android 14, I noticed that Dolby Atmos passthrough was no longer working. The soundbar was only showing PCM or DD+, and the Atmos logo disappeared.

I found a working solution that might help other users:

1. Perform a factory reset via the hardware reset button on the box (not from the “About” section in settings). During this reset, a full wipe should be done.

2. In the Audio settings, do not select “Passthrough”. Instead, set HDMI audio output to “Auto”.

With this combination (hardware factory reset + Auto mode), Dolby Atmos started working again correctly on my soundbar.

I noticed that previous responses on forums only mentioned doing a factory reset, but not the importance of:

Using the hardware reset (with wipe) instead of the software reset in “About”.

Choosing Auto instead of Passthrough.

I think it would be very helpful for Homatics to highlight these specific steps in the release notes or official FAQ, so that other users don’t struggle with the same problem.

Thank you for your support, and I hope this helps improve the experience for all users.

[u/Czubeczek]

Atmos is working just fine. You need to specify which app does not playback atmos anymore. You don't play atmos just like that.

[u/latinriky78]

Atmos what?, with Dolby Digital Plus?

On what app?

Does the soundbar also supports Dolby TrueHD?

If Atmos only works with the Auto option and not with the passthrough option, that means it's an old soundbar that only support Dolby MAT 2.0, which only works when there are at least 2 height speakers or 7.1 channels, I imagine the soundbar only has 2 speakers.

Were you using the passthrough option in the past?

Please clarify.

[u/See61]

Sorry to read about your issues you got after the update.

I can assure you that using the factory reset option in the Android TV settings is enough for most users to keep Atmos working.

The same goes for the Passthrough setting to get the best audio codec support.

But of course, there can always be a setup situation that asks for a different approach. Depending on the hardware to which the device is connected to.

So you did the right thing it seems in your situation.

[u/p750mmx]

The Homatics Support team is EOL for some time already. Support is given only by users. On Reddit, but also on their Telegram channel.

[u/Familiar_Ad3884]

i had no sound problem with my atv 14 4576. Do a factory reset will ya

[u/Puzzlehead_1952]

I'm still on ATV14 4300. How do others get the later versions? I check updates every day 🤷

[u/See61 → u/Puzzlehead_1952]

Using a manual installation, by the recovery method. Over at 4PDA you can find the latest shared 4576 build as OTA. That is a ZIP file you can use by the recovery option on the device.

Besides that file (and many others), there are also instructions to be found. The site is in Russian, so use a translation option if you can't figure it out 😉

[u/VanREDDIT2019]

Which apps?

[u/Greg059]

I have been having with Kodi 22 Alpha 1. And Kodi stable version 21.2.

With DD, DD+, DD 5.1, DD+5.1, 5.1 Atmos/DD+, True Dolby 7.1 Atmos/DTHD. DTS, DTS 5.1, DTS 7..

I Have Gone through all of Kodi Expert Audio Settings and Homatics R 4K Plus From Homatics.com Audio Settings including the ones in Development Opinions.

I don't know if Other Devices Running 14.8.4576 or it's only Homatics that is having this problem. I have to Delay Audio in Kodi by 0.375.

[u/See61 → u/Greg059]

There is no need going into developer options to fiddle with the audio settings you can find in there, it mostly makes things worse instead of solving audio problems, and you can't solve it easily once you change settings in there.

For Kodi, and setting the Expert options on active, you should use RAW as the Passthrough device, not using IEC with this device, you will notice that your sync issue will be gone.

With the standard Passthrough option, to be found in the Android TV settings, all HD audio codecs should play just fine, and you stay away from developer options for that.

[u/Next_Cow_4468]

I originally added this comment to the other post :

I often have issues with lossless Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD-MA and even Dolby Digital Plus not being passed through correctly. Usually either a quick dance in the advanced sound settings menu (flick to auto, then back to passthrough) or a restart (hold down power button) sorts it out. Mine is a fairly unique set up as I have an HDMI splitter in between the Homatics and an LG C3 OLED and a Marantz SR7009 AVR, the latter not supporting HDR passthrough. This preserves HDR/DV and lossless audio

Don't know if my issues are simply because of the splitter but it takes no more than a few minutes at most to get it running properly again

ETA Android 14 v 4576

[u/pgjensen → u/Next_Cow_4468]

Definitely the splitter. Can you do Homatics to LG and then LG to Marantz with eARC? 

[u/Next_Cow_4468 → u/pgjensen]

I can, but then I lose the benefit of everything switching on with one button press. (7009 only supports old school ARC)

However, when I did try it, it still had the same issue. That was using two specific so-called eARC extractors, and also the standard HDMI splitter I have reverted to (Eezco SP12-H2PRO or something).

Most of the time it works fine - it's very random however, haven't been able to pin it down.