HDMI Sound Not Working with Dell Monitor

ober37

Using RetroPie 4.0.2 and I cannot seem to get audio working over HDMI. I have read countless forums and links around addressing sound related issues, but have not been able to find a fix.

/boot/config.txt has been updated with the following:

hdmi_group =1
hdmi_group=16 (note, matching output of...)
hdmi_force_edid_audio=1
dtparam=audio=on
hdmi_drive=2
config_hdmi_boost=4
disable_audio_dither=1
hdmi_force_hotplug=1

HDMI has been set for audio in both the raspberry pi and emulation station settings
retroarch.cfg has been updated with

audio_out_rate=44100
audio_driver=sdl

At this point, I can get audio just fine out of my headphone jack but just not my monitor. BTW I am using a Dell U2715H monitor.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

BuZz

Please post your complete /boot/config.txt (please format it as mentioned on https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/3/read-this-first)

I added formatting to your post above as an example.

From terminal do you get any sound from the monitor when doing speaker-test -c2 (ctrl+c to exit) ?

ober37

Thanks @BuZz

The speaker-test command did not produce any output after changing back to HDMI for audio.

Here is my config.txt

http://pastebin.com/9RBvCNDq

suprjami

@ober37

Sorry if this is a silly question, but that model of monitor looks like it needs either speakers plugged into the Line Out jack or the Dell AC511 soundbar accessory, it doesn't look like it has internal speakers. I just wanted to check you've got either speakers or soundbar to actually output the sound?

Try put config_hdmi_boost=4 up to config_hdmi_boost=11. The default is 7 so you've actually reduced the power of the HDMI signal. There's a lot of old outdated info around about this setting, not your fault.

You'll need a keyboard for this one - go into the ES RetroPie menu, then Audio, then Mixer, and look through the different soundcards. I think you press F6 to see. Is there only the one inbuilt one (called bcm or Broadcom or something) or is there another one for the monitor? If there are multiple, does changing this work?

If none of that helps, then you've configured everything correctly to force sound out the HDMI. I would guess it's a problem with the monitor.

ober37

@suprjami :) Not a silly question, I am a dumb a$$ :) We can close this thread off, it was an issue with my lineout :( Sorry guys, but thank you!

suprjami

@ober37 All good dude, it's very easy to overlook the simple solutions, we've all been there before :) Have fun!

glennlake

@suprjami That's why the first question asked when someone's computer won't boot is "Is it plugged in?"

edmaul69

@ober37 can you mark this topic as solved for others who might stumble across this thread.

exon

anyone can be a dumb ass. i thought hdmi=group need to be changed to 2 for monitors.

certenly when you want to use an VGA monitor with a cheap ebay converter works exelent.

if the monitor has no speakers it's needed tot force the sound out of the 3.5 audio jack witch can be easy done by using the retropie script ajustments

have fun

suprjami

@exon said:

i thought hdmi=group need to be changed to 2 for monitors.

It depends on the resolution you want to output.

hdmi_group=1 has "TV" resolutions and refresh rates, and also sends the audio out the HDMI

hdmi_group=2 has "monitor" resolutions and refresh rates, but does not send the audio out the HDMI

If using a resolution in group 2, or if using a HDMI-to-VGA adapter which usually detects as a "monitor" in group 2, then you can force HDMI audio out with hdmi_drive=2

Most TVs support common monitor resolutions as well (1024x768, 800x600, etc) and most monitors these days support at least the common TV resolutions (1080p, 720p, etc) so the only practical difference between "1080p 60Hz" and "1920x1080 60Hz" is what happens with the audio.

There's a full list of all supported resolutions and refresh rates a little way down on this page: http://elinux.org/RPiconfig#Video