Passthrough audio is a feature used in audio systems, particularly when connecting devices like media players or gaming consoles to an audio receiver using an HDMI cable. Its primary function is to send the original, unprocessed audio data directly to the receiver for decoding and processing.
Essentially, passthrough transmits the original encoded bitstream over HDMI connections. Instead of the source device decoding the complex audio formats, it sends the raw, digital audio signal as it was originally encoded. This allows a connected audio receiver or soundbar, which typically has more advanced audio processing capabilities, to perform the decoding and rendering, often resulting in higher fidelity audio playback.
This is especially useful when using an audio receiver connected through HDMI, as mentioned in the reference, allowing the receiver to handle high-quality audio formats.
Supported Audio Formats
Based on the provided reference, passthrough is supported for specific types of audio bitstreams, including:
- Dolby Digital (AC-3)
- Dolby Digital Plus (EAC-3)
- Dolby Atmos (EAC-3 JOC - Joint Object Coding)
Using passthrough with these formats ensures that the advanced audio features and surround sound information are preserved and processed correctly by the connected audio system, providing the intended immersive experience.
