Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 crackles over HDMI on Windows 10, but multichannel PCM sounds clean

Hiep Tran 0 Reputation points
2026-10-08T22:59:19.2633333+00:00

I have a Dell Latitude 5421 running Windows 10 22H2, with an Intel Core i5-11400H and Intel graphics/Display Audio driver 31.0.101.5333.

My laptop is connected via HDMI to an Onkyo TX-SA705 AV receiver, which then connects to my TV.

Multichannel PCM audio plays cleanly, but Dolby Digital (AC-3) and Dolby Digital Plus (E-AC-3) bitstream audio produces severe digital distortion, crackling, and garbled/repeating sound. The receiver correctly identifies the incoming Dolby format.

Netflix only selects 5.1 E-AC-3 when Windows Spatial Sound is set to Dolby Atmos for Home Theater. The receiver displays Dolby D+, but the audio is distorted.

What could cause Dolby bitstream audio to be distorted over HDMI while multichannel PCM works normally? Could this be an Intel Display Audio driver, Windows 10, or HDMI compatibility issue?

Windows for home | Other | Devices and drivers
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  1. Hendrix-V 20,215 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-10-09T04:10:00.2533333+00:00

    Hi Hiep Tran,

    Since the receiver correctly identifies the Dolby format, the issue appears specifically related to the encoded Dolby bitstream path rather than HDMI audio in general.

    As a practical next step, I’d recommend checking Dell’s support page for your Latitude 5421 and installing the latest available Intel graphics/Display Audio driver provided for that model, rather than relying only on the currently installed driver.

    You can also test the following to narrow this down:

    • Connect the laptop directly to the TV via HDMI, if possible, to see whether the behavior changes.
    • Try another HDMI cable/port.
    • Keep multichannel PCM as a workaround if it provides clean 5.1 audio.

    If PCM remains consistently clean but AC-3/E-AC-3 bitstreaming continues to distort, that would further narrow the problem to the encoded-audio path involving the driver/HDMI device combination rather than the speakers themselves.

    I hope this helps narrow down where the problem is occurring and gives you a reliable workaround in the meantime.

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