NUC6I7KYK (Skull Canyon NUC): Occasional Audio Dropout over HDMI

[PRyan4]

Hi

Been getting random, usually a couple each hour, of audio drop outs when connected from Skull HDMI port to Onkyo AVR, then to Sammy UHD TV, connected 4k 60hz.

AC3 or DD+ drop outs about 1 sec, PCM about half second.

All players (potplayer, MPC-HC and Windows Film & TV) exhibit same drop outs. Tried heap of different high quality HDMI cables, all same.

Skull, TV, Onkyo, all latest firmware drivers etc.

Similar thread issues here:

https://forums.intel.com/s/question/0D50P0000490OfCSAU/nuc6i7kyk-skull-canyon-nuc-occasional-dropout-of-dolby-digital-ac3-over-hdmi?wapkw=nuc6i7kyk++hdmi+audio+drops

Tried a MiniDP to HDMI active adapter from Skull MiniDp (to get 4k @ 60Hz), and so far no audio drops. But I lose Ycbcr (get black screen) using this method.

I trolled through a lot of forums/threads and this seems to be an issue with HDMI port on the NUC.

Has there been any update/resolution to this, or am I stuck using the adapter.

Paul

[n_scott_pearson]

I had a mDP-to-HDMI adaptor that suffered dropouts about once every 5 minutes. I replaced the adapter with Sabrent and eliminated the dropouts. I too was going to Onkyo 4K receiver.

...S

[PRyan4]

Hi Scott

I'm only suffering the drop outs when I use the HDMI straight out of the Skull. Through my mDP-to-HDMI, I haven't suffered any drop outs yet.

With the HDMI, I'm able to enable Ycbcr, but with the mDP-to-HDMI, I get a black screen on my TV. Can you enable Ycbcr with your adaptor to 4k TV?

Paul

[n_scott_pearson]

I've no idea; I've ​never tried. Why would I want/need to do that?

...S

[PRyan4]

Hi

It's an option in Intel panel besides RGB. Ycbcr works with direct HDMI out from skull but get audio drop outs.

You ever try/experience audio drop outs using direct HDMI out from Skull to Onkyo?

Paul

[n_scott_pearson]

No, but, depending on what NUC I have hooked up, I am almost always using mDP-to-HDMI or USB-C-to-HDMI adapter to connect to Onkyo. I did this to avoid issues with non-2.0 HDMI ports on older NUC models and it has just become habit.

Regardless of which NUC I have hooked up, I regularly use it to listen to music library and output through receiver​ and its 5.1 speaker system. I have never heard any dropout doing this with any of the NUCs.

I​ will give your config a try and see what happens...

...S

[PRyan4]

Thanks for that. In my experience, the drop outs usually occur 1 or 2 within an hour using HDMI out, very annoying when watching TV or Movie shows and even listening to music.

I did notice in other threads others having similar issues with the HDMI out. The mDP-to-HDMI workaround seems to be OK for now.

Paul