Crackling and signal loss when streaming 5.1 material

[SANAFABICH]

So this is my set up:

Roku Stick or Fire TV Stick connected to my LG TV. Audio goes out from the TV via a toslink optical cable to my rather ancient LG AIO 5.1 system, which only supports DTS and Dolby Digital.

And this my problem:

When streaming 5.1 movies on Netflix or Prime Video, I do get 5.1 sound but I also get occasional crackling and loud pop noises. Sometimes I get a couple of seconds of silence (loss of signal?); sometimes it never comes back and I have to change from optical to TV speakers, and go back to optical for it to return. As mentioned, this only happens when the movie has a 5.1 sound track.

Now, I know this AIO HT is quite old, and I do plan on buying a new one. But I want to know! Why is this happening? At first I thought it was the Dolby Digital Plus / Atmos track that streaming services use, which my HT isn't compatible with. I don't have this problem with Blu-Rays (player is connected via a coaxial cable) that have a DD+ track, but I thought maybe streaming services use a different kind of DD+?

I had a Roku Stick, so I bought a Fire TV Stick 4K just for this reason, since this stick does decode DD+ into regular DD, AFAIK. But I'm still getting the same crackling noises even when the Fire TV is set to output DD.

So what is it that's causing this problem? Is it the optical cable? Maybe it's faulty. Is it DD via optical cable that isn't fully supported? Is it my TV? I'm drawing a blank here, and I thought maybe you guys could help me solve this mystery!

[slimdude]

From what you're describing, it sounds like something is wrong with the fire stick, if you're not having this problem when playing a disc. If you were having the same issue with the discs, then it would be your receiver. The connection are correct so that's not it.

A while ago, I was having video issues with fire stick that I had that I bought from Target. The picture kept blinking in and out or there wasn't a picture at all. So I called Amazon and told them about the problem I was having, and they told me to return it, and they've sent a new replacement, and I had no problems since. So it's possible that you could have a bad fire stick. Contact Amazon and tell the problem that you're having, and they'll send you replacement, if it's still under warranty and if not, Amazon may still replace, or will work something out for you.

[SANAFABICH]

Originally Posted by slimdude

From what you're describing, it sounds like something is wrong with the fire stick

Thanks for your reply.
The same thing happens when using the Roku Stick, so it's definitely not the Fire TV. And now that I remember, it has also happened with some MVK or MP4 files played from the USB port that are encoded with DD or DD+. So maybe DD / DD+ have issues when using an optical cable?

[slimdude]

Originally Posted by SANAFABICH

Thanks for your reply.
The same thing happens when using the Roku Stick, so it's definitely not the Fire TV. And now that I remember, it has also happened with some MVK or MP4 files played from the USB port that are encoded with DD or DD+. So maybe DD / DD+ have issues when using an optical cable?

Now I see. Try turning everything off and turn it back on and see if that'll help. It's sounding more like It's the optical cable. Does your optical connector have a red light on the back of the receiver.