Roon --> AVR --> Projector / HDMI outputs reset whenever I turn on/off projector

Roon Software Discussion
1

I understand that this is very likely an OS level or even hardware related problem, but maybe someone already ran into it and has a solution. I’m sure it also applies to TVs.

I’m listening to Roon via HDMI out on my Windows 10 PC, however it seems that Windows and/or Roon resets the available HDMI outputs whenever I turn on or off the projector. In that case I always have to reconfigure the audio output in Roon, which is very annoying.
This is a new problem. I recently replaced my older projector with a new BenQ HT2050 / W1110. Before my HDMI audio output was always identified as Yamaha RX-V667 (the AVR) in Windows’ available audio outputs. Now it’s only identified as that when the projector is off. Switching it on refers to the output as BenQ W1110. A nice feature on paper. However, at least in Roon, it’s no longer seen as the same, already configured, HDMI output.

Is there any way to disable this magic and have Windows recognize the output as the AVR regardless of the displays/projectors state? I understand that this probably an OS / device setting, not a Roon problem.

Has anyone run into similar issues with their TV connected to an AVR?

Edit: In case it matters, I’m using the HDMI output of my nVidia Geforce GTX 1060, which features 2 of them and thereby makes the guesswork during reconfiguration even more annoying.

2

Just an idea, but do you have ARC enable on the projector? If so, try turning it off to see if the behavior is removed.

3

I’m having very similar issues over here. I tend to believe that this is not a Roon-specific issue, but more likely something inconvenient in the HDMI protocols in genereral.
(HDMI can be a b*tch when source and ‘endpoint’ are not constant all the time…)

I’m by no means an expert on this. But from what I understand, HDMI is always doing some negotiation (‘handshaking’),between source and ‘receiver’ (‘sink’) of the signal.
During this handshaking, they tell each other of their audio and video capabilities. (For instance : I can process up to 96kHz, 24bit, 1080P, 60Hz, 3D, etc).
This handshaking is done, using information called ‘EDID’.

Your receiver stand-alone, might have some different A/V capabilities, than your receiver-coupled-to-your-TV-(or-projector). For instance : it might only play stereo in the latter case, or, it might only do 720p, while it does 7.1 and 1080p as stand-alone (I don’t know, it’s just an example).

In that sense, it seems quite logical that your endpoint ‘disappears’, dependent of the power state of your TV.
The capabilities of the ‘sink’ or ‘endpoint’ really do differ, depending if the TV is ON or OFF, and I feel they really should be treated as different devices (as they ARE different).

It’s not exactly cheap, but I know there are devices that can ‘copy’ the EDID information of a (chain of) device(s), and constantly present that information to the source.
Even when changes are made in that chain. Examples are ‘Gefen HDMI Detective’, “Dr. HDMI”, and probably many others.

I’ve ordered a Dr. HDMI today, and I’ll try to keep you informed how that works out. Will probably take longer than a week or two.

Other than such a device, I doubt that Roon could implement a solution to your issue :(. Seems to be ‘intended behaviour’ of the HDMI protocol, to me…

4

Yes, after some further investigation I’m pretty sure this is it. The fact that Windows constantly looks for new EDIDs and creates new outputs accordingly. For some reason my previous projector must have been a dumb projector that didn’t provide any device data. Good times.

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Hi @Michael_Feihstel!

I now realize that I never came back you in the promised ‘a week or two’. Busy life, the bridge was open and the train was late :blush:. I;m sorry!

Truth is: I do not give up easily, and I tried for many many weeks. But didn’t succeed in the end. And then forgot. And yes, busy busy life.

The Dr. HDMI is a nice little device. Works really well. But it didn’t solve this problem for me. Your mileage may differ, as you have a different receiver.

The Dr. HDMI didn’t play nice with my particular receiver; a Marantz NR1504. It did everything perfectly well, as as expected, with any device I have over here. Unless the Marantz came into play : in that case, I couldn’t get audio OR video output, at all. Hence : no solution for me.

What DID solve it : using the new ROCK operating system. Almost flawless in changing, or switching ON or OFF HDMI outputs, Only 1 little flaw : a slight dropout of less than a second, when powering down the TV. But no need to re-enable or re-configure an output.

In fact, I can even turn down ALL my HDMI equipment, including the receiver itself, and STILL have the same working output available, in ROON. I could only dream of that, in Windows :wink:.

Not sure if this could be a solution for you, though… It ‘feels’ like you are using this PC for other purposes, as well…