Smart TV owners often encounter a confusing item in the settings menu called an “audio program.” On Xiaomi and Redmi TVs running Android TVs, the term can confuse even the experienced user. Many people mistakenly believe that this is some separate music utility or hidden service, but in reality it is a system module processing the sound stream.
In fact, this name is used to describe a set of software algorithms that are responsible for decoding formats, equalizer operation and dynamic volume control. The quality of playback depends on how well the setting is configured. The misunderstanding of how the module works often leads users to fail to fully realize the potential of embedded acoustics or connected sound systems.
In this article, we will discuss in detail the functionality of the sound engine in the shell of MIUI TV and Google TV. You will learn how to properly configure the settings for movies and music, what formats your TV supports and how to solve typical problems with audio playback.
The essence of the concept of audio program in the Android TV system
When you see an audio program in the settings menu or app information, it's the Audio HAL (Hardware Abstraction Layer) system component, which is an intermediate layer of software that allows the Android operating system to interact with a specific audio chip installed on your Xiaomi TV motherboard. Without this component, the TV would simply not be able to play audio from the apps.
The main task of this module is to process the digital signal before sending it to a digital-to-analog converter. Depending on the model of the TV, whether it is a budget Redmi or a flagship Master Series, the capabilities of this module may vary. The audio engine is responsible for channel allocation, application of sound effects and synchronization of the video sequence with the audio track.
It is important to understand that the update of this component occurs with the firmware of the system. If you notice that after the update Settings → Device Preferences → About → System Update changed the sound, then the changes affected the algorithms of the audio program.
⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to remove or force system processes related to sound through the Developer Menu, which can result in the complete disappearance of sound in the system, which can only be restored by resetting to factory settings.
Today's TVs use complex codecs to compress and transmit sound. Audio software makes them compatible in real time. If you use streaming services like Netflix or Kinopoisk, this is the module that decodes streaming audio.
Supported audio formats and codecs
One of the key features of the built-in audio program is support for various audio coding standards. Xiaomi TVs are usually equipped with decoders capable of processing the most popular formats. However, the presence of support in hardware does not always mean that it is activated software for all applications.
The most common standard is Dolby Audio, a suite of technologies that allows you to create surround sound effects even through stereo speakers, which is often displayed as a separate switch on the settings menu, and is widely supported by the DTS format, which is often used in rips and some cable broadcasts.
To connect external systems via optical output or HDMI ARC critically important PCM (Linear PCM). It's uncompressed digital sound. If you plug in an expensive receiver, it makes sense to put the TV in transmission mode. RAW-signal to decode the external system, not the audio program of the TV.
Below is a table of compatibility of popular formats with typical models of Xiaomi TVs:
| Format | Description | Support for Xiaomi TV | Output interface |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCM | Uncompressed stereo or multichannel | Complete. | HDMI, Optical, Jack |
| Dolby Digital Plus | Compressed multi-channel sound | Depends on the model. | HDMI ARC/eARC |
| DTS | The Dolby Alternative | Partial (requires a license key) | HDMI, Optical |
| AAC | Standard for YouTube and Streaming | Complete. | All interfaces |
It is worth noting that DTS support on some global TV versions may not be available due to licensing restrictions in a particular region, in which case the TV will automatically convert the sound to PCM or produce a playback error.
Set up equalizer and sound profiles
The MIUI for TV audio setting interface allows the user to flexibly control the timbre. To access these settings, you need to go to Settings → Sound → Sound Mode. Here you can access preset profiles such as Standard, Film, Sport and Music.
The "Film" profile usually enhances the low frequencies to add the cinema effect and makes the dialogues more legible by raising the average frequencies. The "Music" mode, on the contrary, tries to align the amplitude-frequency characteristic (ACH) for a cleaner sound of the instruments.
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To view news channels or programs with active announcers, turn on the News or Voice mode, if it is available in your version of the software.
For advanced users, a hand-held equalizer is available. It's a set of sliders that fit different frequency bands. manipulating these sliders, you can compensate for the acoustic features of your room. For example, if there are many soft surfaces in the room that quench high frequencies, you can add a little bit of them.
Remember Auto Volume, which aligns the volume of ads and main content, and is especially useful when watching digital TV, where signal levels can vary greatly.
Work with external audio systems
The built-in speakers of TVs, even top-end Xiaomi models, are often inferior in quality to individual sound systems. Audio program allows you to flexibly configure the output of sound to external devices. Connection is possible via Bluetooth, optical output (S/PDIF) or HDMI ARC/eARC.
When using Bluetooth, it is important to consider latency. Standard SBC codecs can dissynchronize lip and sound. Audio program tries to compensate for this software, but for the ideal result, it is better to use aptX Low Latency codecs if they support both TV and headphones / soundbar.
☑️ Connecting the soundbara through HDMI ARC
To configure output via HDMI, you need to go to Settings → Sound → Digital Output. Here you should choose Auto or Passthrough mode. In Passthrough mode, the TV audio program minimally interferes with the signal, transmitting the original bit stream to the receiver for decoding.
⚠️ Attention: When switching to external acoustics via Bluetooth, the TV's built-in speakers automatically turn off. If the sound is gone after you plug in the headset, check if the mono-audio mode is activated in special features.
If you use an optical cable, make sure that the PCM output format is selected in the settings if your receiver can not decode Dolby Digital from the S/PDIF stream. Modern soundbars usually recognize the format themselves, but older models can be silent if you do not configure it correctly.
Sound problems and methods of their elimination
Even a well-functioning audio program can crash, and a common problem is desynchronizing audio and video, which is often the case when you play heavy content from a flash drive or when you run heavy applications, and the first thing you should do is try changing the audio format from Auto to PCM, which will reduce the load on the decoder.
Another common issue is periodic loss of sound, which may be due to overflow of the audio driver buffer, in which case it helps to reboot the TV completely shutting down for 1-2 minutes, which will clear RAM and restart all system services, including the audio module.
Hidden setup of engineers
If the sound is wheezing or distorted at high volume, check the equalizer settings. Maybe the bass amplification is twisted to the maximum, which causes the speakers to clip. Resetting the audio settings to factory values often solves the problem.
Using third-party applications to improve sound
Because Xiaomi TVs run on Android, users can install third-party apps from the Google Play Store. There are equalizer programs that intercept the audio stream and process it with their algorithms, sometimes more qualitatively than a standard audio program.
A popular solution is the Lesser AudioSwitch or Volume Control Plus, which allows you to force switch output devices and adjust the sound amplification (Boost), but it is worth remembering that third-party programs can conflict with the system settings of MIUI TV.
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Third-party equalizers require permission to access system settings without granting root rights or special permissions. ADB-The functionality of the teams can be limited only by software enhancement.
Installation of these utilities may require activation of Unknown Sources mode. Do this only for proven applications. Remember that any interference with the system audio stream increases the load on the processor, which on weak TV models can cause the interface to slow down.