ValveSoftware
Surround sound over HDMI does not work at all.
Your system information
- Steam client version: 1761786974
- SteamOS version: 3.7.17 build
- Opted into Steam client beta?: No
- Opted into SteamOS beta?: Yes
- Have you checked for updates in Settings > System?: Yes
Please describe your issue in as much detail as possible:
When connecting my steam deck to my TV the surround sound does not work. I can select 5.1 surround sound in the settings sometimes but it does not output. Seemingly randomly this option disappears from the audio settings menu. Only the front left and right channels work in the testing menu but all other channels are silent. I have tried mutliple fixes described in other issues like using a different cable, dock, creating some empty pipewire files, connecting it to the receiver directly, but nothing works. I have checked my receiver and everything is connected correctly. My TV outputs 5.1 just fine, it's just the steam deck that does not. I specifically entered the beta program just to see if this issue gor fixed, but it did not.
Steps for reproducing this issue:
- Connect Steam Deck to a USB hub
- Connect Hub to TV using an HDMI cable
- Select 5.1 surround sound in the audio settings
- Test sounds using the testing menu
- No channels output anything besides front left and front right.
Does any other device connected to your TV send 5.1? Is the connection from the Dock to the TV using an ARC (not eARC) port?
The connection is using an ARC port. My TV doesn't support eARC but the same issue occurs connecting it directly to the receiver.
ARC does not support 5.1 LPCM (supporting via AC3 encoding is on the list). It should work when connected, but for now you will need to go to desktop mode, open up pavucontrol, and change to the Surround 5.1 profile in the Configuration tab (this will also become easier in the future).