HDMI audio mystery

While installing a recording device I have run into something bizarre that I absolutely do not understand. I have two brand-new computers with HDMI output both running versions of tablet Windows 8.1. When I connect either of these devices to my Sony TV via HDMI, I can only get the left audio channel to work. I have tested this by opening Playback devices and setting the Sony as default, then running the sound check.

I have other media players with HDMI output. When I test these, both audio channels work correctly. I then tested the HDMI cable by using the same one that works with the media player and I still get only one audio channel on the computer.

I then connected one of the computers to another TV with HDMI input. The audio works on both channels.

To summarise: Sony TV works correctly with media devices but not the computers. The computers work correctly with a different TV. The cable is not the problem. Only the combination Sony/computers does not work.

Does this make any sense at all? Since it happens with two completely different computers the only common factor I can find here is Windows 8.1. Is there some kind of weird interaction going on between Windows and the Sony? Why does one TV work and the other not?

The TV that does work is an old one made before HDCP. That is the only other thing I can think of. However I am not trying to play any HDCP content on the computers. The Sony is a recent model, KDL Bravia.

I need to figure this out because I can only get a decent audio connection from the computers via HDMI. Does anyone have any idea what can be going on here?

 

I looked but couldn't find much on either machine, only the sound driver installation under Device Manager. I'm not yet comfortable finding my way around Win 8.1 so am not sure where else to look.

 

Hi rikki, Start > Control Panel > Sound > Speakers > Properties? Neil.

 

I didn't understand the intent of the question because I thought I explained all this in my initial post. Looking at speakers/properties in Control Panel is the same as opening playback devices and choosing properties there. In any case, I have done both just to double-check. The result is identical: It says I have two stereo speakers via the Sony, which is correct. When I run the test, sound only comes out of the left one. I can also choose the internal speakers of the computer. Then I get sound from both. If I connect a media player to the same HDMI input of the Sony, I also get sound from both channels. The problem only occurs when I try to output sound from a computer to the Sony.

 

Thank you all for your help. I finally found the answer. It was an obscure setting in the Sony that I previously overlooked in spite of going through it many times. I have no idea what it is for and I normally don't use the Sony sound except with the satellite receiver, which isn't affected for some reason.