Why the TV is silent
| Device | DTS | Dolby Digital (AC3/E-AC3) |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung 2018 and newer | No (officially not supported on 2025 TVs) | Yes |
| LG 2020–2021 | No (“DTS codec is not supported”) | Yes |
| Roku TVs and players | Passthrough to a receiver only | Most models: no |
| Fire TV, Chromecast with Google TV | Passthrough only | Yes |
| Budget Android TVs, Magcubic/HY300-type projectors, BenQ | No | Often no (no licence) |
| Sony Bravia (Android/Google TV), Xiaomi Mi Box S, Nvidia Shield | Yes (core) | Yes |
If a file has several tracks and the first one is DTS, the TV often shows no audio menu at all — it only lists tracks it can decode.
The fix
- Choose your TV above (type the model, e.g. UE55NU7100 or OLED55CX).
- Drop the file — you’ll see every track and the verdict.
- Switch to “Prepare videos” and press Start. The sound is converted to AAC stereo (or AC3 5.1 if your TV decodes it) with clear dialogue; the video is copied, so an episode takes a minute or two.
Your browser can’t decode DTS by itself, so CompressLab uses a WebAssembly build of FFmpeg for that track — slower than the rest, but entirely on your computer.
Questions
Can I just switch the audio track on the TV?
Only if the file has another track the TV can decode — and many TVs only show the audio menu while the video is playing. If every track is DTS, the sound has to be converted.
Will a soundbar or receiver fix it?
Sometimes: if the TV passes DTS through over HDMI ARC/optical and the receiver decodes it. Many TVs (Samsung 2018+) don’t pass DTS from their own USB player either.
Do I lose 5.1 surround?
For TV speakers stereo with a boosted centre channel sounds clearer. If you use a receiver and the device decodes AC3, choose “Keep 5.1”.
Last updated: 2026-10-30