Google TV Streamer not playing nicely with Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD, and DTS passthrough

If you’re an audiophile and were excited to snag the new Google TV Streamer, well, brace yourself because it looks like Google may have hit a wrong note with this one. Audiophiles expecting a flawless audio experience are discovering that Google’s latest flagship streaming device isn’t exactly music to their ears — especially when it comes to Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD, and DTS passthrough. Google’s new streamer is packing some serious shortcomings in the audio department that are leaving some users wishing they’d stuck with the Chromecast with Google TV.

According to Google’s official product page, the Google TV Streamer supports Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, and Dolby Atmos. Sounds great, right? Well, that’s where the good news ends. Unfortunately, when it comes to more advanced lossless formats like Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD MA, and DTS, things start to fall apart. These audio formats, which are crucial for those who stream from apps like Plex or Jellyfin or play Blu-ray rips, don’t pass through as they should. Instead of bitstreaming these lossless formats to your AV receiver or soundbar, the Google TV Streamer decides to decode them internally and spit them out as PCM. Basically, your high-end audio setup becomes about as useful as a tin can on a string.

Early adopters of the Google TV Streamer are voicing their dissatisfaction loud and clear. Some have connected their new Streamer to AV receivers, only to find that Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD audio tracks don’t work as expected. Dolby TrueHD, in particular, seems to be outright broken with users reporting no sound at all when trying to play it. The same can be said for DTS, which doesn’t even show up as an option in the settings.

Some users also note that while the Streamer lists DTS-HD MA as a supported format, it’s only managing to pass through DTS Core (a downgraded version of the format). For DTS fans, well, better luck next time because that option is entirely grayed out. Here’s a chart shared by a user on Reddit showing the audio codes supported on the Google TV Streamer.

Google TV Streamer audio passthrough perils

One of the most baffling choices Google made with the Google TV Streamer is the way it handles audio passthrough. Unlike the Chromecast with Google TV (4K or HD), which simply passes audio untouched via HDMI to your AV setup, the Google TV Streamer reportedly pre-processes it internally using something called the Dolby MS12 software stack. While MS12 has a cool trick up its sleeve — allowing Dolby Atmos to adapt to a wide range of speaker configurations (from 2.0 to 7.1.4) — the rest of the software’s impact on audio is pretty questionable.

Apparently, the MS12 stack’s “Dolby MAT 2.1” format is causing audio content to be upmixed to Dolby E-AC-3 (Enhanced AC-3), sometimes leading to awkward scenarios where even stereo content ends up blasting through rear speakers.

This shift in audio handling has left many wondering why Google didn’t just stick with the more flexible, user-friendly passthrough options of the Chromecast. One user described the new Streamer as a step backward when compared to devices like the Shield TV Pro or Fire TV Cube, which both offer more robust audio passthrough options. It’s particularly frustrating for users whose setups depend on their receivers or soundbars to do the heavy lifting when it comes to audio decoding.

What’s more, Google’s decision to skip support for Dolby Vision Profile 7 (DV P7), a format used in some UHD Blu-ray rips, adds insult to injury. For Plex or Kodi users who’ve invested in high-quality rips, this lack of DV P7 support means you’re stuck converting content or switching to other devices for a premium experience.

Is there a fix on the horizon?

Despite these glaring audio issues, there is some hope. Given that both Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA are listed as supported formats, it’s possible that Google could fix this mess with a future software update. But as things stand now, the Google TV Streamer is far from the audiophile’s dream.

So, if you’re currently rocking a Chromecast with Google TV, you might want to hold off on making the jump to the Google TV Streamer. Unless Google decides to fine-tune this device and deliver proper audio passthrough, you’re better off sticking with your current setup — or grabbing a Shield TV Pro if you’re serious about your sound.