I have a very strange audio issue that I'd like advice on.
I recently replaced my NUC DC3217BY with the NUC6i7KYK. The computer sits under my TV for media playback, video calling, and gaming.
My TV is a Panasonic plasma from 2008 with Full HD resolution. The surround amp is a Marantz NR1601 (HDMI1.4a) with 7.1 surround.
Windows is set up to output 7.1 with 24-bit audio @ 96kHz. This setting is common between the two NUCs.
For media, I stream YouTube or Netflix, play video files using VLC, and play DVDs/Blu-Rays using WinDVDPro.
With my DC3217BY I used WinDVDPro11, on the NUC6i7KYK I use WinDVDPro12. The drive is a Pioneer BDR-XU03 connected to one of the rear USB3.0 ports of the NUC.
The DC3217BY setup was flawless. It is only nearly flawless with the NUC6i7KYK.
I can play everything, but when I open WinDVDPro12 to play a DVD or Blu-Ray, I notice the PCM indicator on my amp blinks off for about half a second every 10-20 seconds with an accompanying break in audio from the speakers. There is no issue with the video playback at all.
If I close WinDVDPro, the audio glitch continues on the same cadence regardless of what programs I open or what media I play.
The only way to get it to stop is either to put the computer into and out of standby or select a different audio playback device from the Windows 10 volume dialogue and then switch back to HDMI.
While WinDVDPro is open, if I change audio output to the headset jack or my Bluetooth headphones, there is no glitching on those outputs. When I revert to HDMI, the glitching resumes.
I have downloaded the Intel Driver Update Utility. However, when it scans my computer it keeps throwing up the same software and drivers as out-of-date. Attempts to install recommended versions fail. The graphics driver and the audio driver, however, are up-to-date. The chipset, Thunderbolt and a couple of others (including CIR) are flagged as wrong (I am not using the Thunderbolt port yet, the CIR seems to work without issue).
I have tried to run the HDMI v2.0 firmware update, but it will not install until I connect a HDMI v2.0 compliant device, which I do not have.
I don't believe I can blame WinDVDPro for the glitching as all it has to do is decode the audio and video from any disc that is playing, which it does correctly with all my other audio devices and there is no issue with the video at any point.
The fact that the issue starts when WinDVDPro starts is suspicious, but closing WinDVDPro does not fix it (I have to adjust audio output or put the computer to sleep).
The HDMI cables are all 1.4 high-speed and are 3' or 4' in length, so signal distortion does not seem likely (and anyway, audio is fine with every program except WinDVDPro).
My Marantz receiver is compatible with the audio settings I have.
Are there any known incompatibilities with HDMI audio that I can investigate?
Why doesn't the driver update utility work correctly to update all the drivers it says are outdated?
I have tried altering the settings for audio in Windows, but no sample rate or dynamic range bit-depth has any different effect. I have tried changing the way WinDVDPro works with audio from the DVD/Blu-Ray discs, but again no change.
