Audio flags explained

The short explanation

Alongside the video flags sits a parallel set for audio. Each format gets its own control, usually with a sample rate and sometimes a channel count.

Where you run into it

This is where missing Atmos is usually solved. If TrueHD or Dolby Digital Plus is not advertised, the source will not send it, whatever the receiver is capable of.

It also works in reverse, which is under-used. Removing a format the chain claims but handles badly forces the source down to something that works — better than a system that drops out every time a particular soundtrack appears.

How the DR HDMI 8K handles it

The DR HDMI 8K's audio flags cover L-PCM (mode, sample rate, bit width), TrueHD (mode and sample rate), DD+ (mode and sample rate), DD (mode), DTS-HD MA (mode and sample rate), DTS, and one-bit audio. Both EDID readouts show the resulting Dolby, DTS and PCM support on each side.