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[curiousMonkey]

I just noticed this problem in the last month or so. I was not sure what was happening so it me a while to catch on. At random intervals, the HD Display Windows Audio driver stops seeing my preamps. The device will not reappear if I power cycle the preamp but a reboot of Windows does fix the problem.

Initially I was using an Anthem AVM 70 preamp and I discovered that the Anthem room calibration software (ARC) would still talk to the preamp when in disappeared from Windows Audio device list so apparently the HDMI connection was still working. But I would have expected power cycling the AVM 70 to be sufficient for the device to reappear in Windows.

A few days ago I swapped out the AvM 70 to send it back to Anthem for a warranty issue. My dealer loaned my an NAD T187 preamp, which is about 12 years old, as a replacement. Today I was playing some music using JRiver and once again the audio device disappeared (this time in the middle of a song). So it seems like there is something special about the HDMI connection to my HTPC, but I can’t decide what the next step should be.

[Awesome Donkey]

Have you tried changing HDMI cables?

[curiousMonkey]

My cables have been working for a while now. They could be the issue but I have been running some other tests because I have noticed a pattern in the failure.

If I start playing PCM audio, the failure occurs within about 45 minutes and I have to reboot the PC to get it back. I wondered why I could not recall seeing the failure with a movie but I realized that the audio is typically encoded Dolby Digital or DTS even if it is an older movie with simply mono or stereo audio. This morning I played a movie with PCM mono audio and once again the preamp disappeared around 45 minutes into the movie.

[curiousMonkey]

As I expected, I reproduced the same failure using the new Windows Media Player, some CD tracks and the audio device configured to play back CD quality sound. I added all this information to the thread I started at Microsoft so I will wait and see what suggestions they have.

[JimH]

Well done to find the pattern.

[curiousMonkey]

I had some more time so I finally tried another HDMI cable. I think it is only HDMI 1.4 but that is fine for audio playback.

Once again, the audio stopped.

However, the act of swapping cables did make the audio reappear.

[Awesome Donkey]

Yeah, from things I've seen and heard from others over the years usually any issues like that 9 times out of 10 the issue was cable related, so that's why I mentioned it. Plus it's the lowest hanging fruit before going down a potential rabbit hole with diagnosing. Maybe try and find a HDMI cable that's certified. Most cables available, even a lot of expensive ones aren't certified. Even if it's not the problem, still good to have around.

I currently use these certificated HDMI cables for all my AV needs (and I can't complain about them at all): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Y825VFH/

[tzr916]

Hmm, Windows hdmi EDID issue? Might have to insert something between like:
https://atlona.com/product/at-etu-sync/ (as little as $30 on eBay)

To trick Windows into thinking the HDMI connection is always ON.

[curiousMonkey]

I did another cable swap to try the cable I normally use with my 4K Bluray player, which I believe is a high speed certified Monoprice cable. This time the preamp did not reappear and I had to restart Windows.

The subsequent audio test failed just like all the others.

I see the recommended cable is 2m, I really want to try and find something shorter if possible.

This problem may be cable related, but I think most system changes are related to Windows updates and updating the Intel video driver directly from their site. All of the cables are at least one year old and worked fine before I built this new system 6 months ago.

[JimH]

The length doesn't matter.  The certification does.  The cable should be labelled. 

[zybex]

Hmm, Windows hdmi EDID issue? Might have to insert something between like:
https://atlona.com/product/at-etu-sync/ (as little as $30 on eBay)

To trick Windows into thinking the HDMI connection is always ON.

This. You can test this by disabling sleep and screen power off in Windows settings.

[curiousMonkey]

I ordered a new 8K certified HDMI cable: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CFFCR781?psc=1&smid=AKXVBT49GGF3B&ref_=chk_typ_imgToDp

Let’s see what happens when it arrives.

[zybex]

8K is really overkill, this 4.6K one is more than enough!

[Awesome Donkey]

Is that a near 5,000 euro cable?!?

Anyways, the 8K stuff is just a buzzword gimmick that doesn't really matter that much. What does matter in this case is the certification. Maybe that 5K cable's certified too!?!? I certainly hope so!

[curiousMonkey]

The system failed again with the new cable.

[JimH]

You're probably down to EDID.

[curiousMonkey]

This. You can test this by disabling sleep and screen power off in Windows settings.

Confirmed EDID is the issue. Played for over an hour with power settings on "Never".