How to play AC3 on Android?

What is AC3?

AC3, also known as Dolby Digital, is an audio compression format developed by Dolby Laboratories for surround sound. It is commonly used for encoding surround soundtracks for DVD, Blu-ray, and digital broadcast media. The AC3 codec allows for up to six discrete channels of audio – left, center, right, left surround, right surround, and low-frequency effects (LFE).

The AC3 format is capable of encoding audio at bit rates ranging from 32 kbps up to 640 kbps. At higher bit rates, AC3 can support audio with sampling rates up to 48 kHz and up to 16-bit resolution. The format uses perceptual audio coding and supports Dolby Surround sound. AC3 audio is backward compatible with stereo audio.

While AC3 audio has widespread compatibility with media players and home theater systems, support on mobile devices such as Android phones and tablets is more limited. Many Android devices do not natively support AC3 decoding and will require a third-party app or workaround to properly play AC3 files. Understanding the compatibility options is important for anyone wanting to play AC3 audio on their Android device.

Why play AC3 files on Android?

AC3, or Dolby Digital, offers high quality audio that enhances the listening experience on Android devices. According to Lark Player, AC3 supports up to six channels of surround sound audio at bit rates up to 640 kbit/s. This allows for crisp, clear playback ideal for music, movies, TV shows, and more.

The AC3 format is widely used for encoding multichannel audio in many video and audio files, including Blu-ray discs, DVDs, broadcast TV, and streaming services. Being able to play AC3 files enables Android users to get the full high fidelity audio experience from their content without any quality loss from transcoding or downmixing to other formats.

By supporting AC3 natively in Android devices or through additional software, users can enjoy surround sound audio the way it was intended to be heard by content creators. This provides an enhanced entertainment experience closely matching theater or living room audio setups right on a mobile device.

Checking for AC3 Compatibility

Before trying to play AC3 files on your Android device, you’ll want to check if your device even supports the AC3 audio codec. Here are a couple ways to verify AC3 compatibility:

First, check your device manufacturer and model specs. Many newer Android models, especially from major brands like Samsung, LG, Sony and others, are capable of handling AC3 5.1 surround sound audio [1]. However, compatibility can vary across different devices so it’s best to check.

You can also go into your Android settings app and look for audio or video settings. Some devices have an option to specifically enable AC3 or 5.1 surround sound pass-through capabilities [2]. If you have this option in your settings, make sure to enable it.

Finally, try playing an AC3 file in a compatible video player app (covered next). If you can hear proper 5.1 audio, your device is AC3 ready. If audio is downmixed to stereo or doesn’t play at all, your Android likely lacks built-in AC3 support.

Using video player apps

Two popular video player apps for Android that support AC3 audio are VLC and MX Player.

VLC has included support for the AC3 codec for a while now, as discussed on Reddit. MX Player previously could not include AC3 support due to licensing issues, but recently added the ability to decode AC3 audio in a software update according to this tutorial.

To enable AC3 audio in VLC, open the app settings and ensure “Audio > Audio codecs > AC3” is checked. In MX Player, go to Settings > Decoder and choose “AC3” under Audio decoder. This will allow both apps to play AC3 audio tracks when playing compatible video files.

With the codec enabled, you can now open and play AC3 audio files or videos with AC3 audio using either VLC or MX Player on your Android device.

Installing AC3 Codecs

One of the easiest ways to enable AC3 audio playback on your Android device is to install an AC3 codec. Codecs are software components that handle encoding and decoding audio and video formats. By installing an AC3 codec, you enable your device’s media players to properly decode AC3 audio tracks.

You can obtain AC3 codec files from various third-party sources. For example, the AC3 Codec app from the Google Play Store provides a simple installer to add AC3 support [1]. Also, sites like ApkCombo host AC3 codec APK files that you can download and install [2].

Once you have downloaded a codec file, you need to install it on your Android device. The process is straightforward:

1. Enable “Install from unknown sources” in your Android settings. This allows installing apps outside of the Google Play store.
2. Open the file manager on your device and find the APK codec file you downloaded.
3. Tap the APK file to trigger the installation process.
4. Accept the app’s requested permissions to proceed.

After completing the install, your device will have the AC3 codec registered. Apps like MX Player and VLC will automatically be able to play AC3 audio. With the codec installed, you won’t have to worry about AC3 compatibility.

Converting AC3 to AAC

There are various tools available to convert AC3 audio files to the more compatible AAC format on Android devices. Some popular options include:

Aspose Audio Conversion – This free online app allows you to easily convert AC3 files to AAC without installing any software: https://products.aspose.app/audio/conversion/ac3-to-aac

FFmpeg – The free, open-source FFmpeg tool can be used to convert AC3 to AAC via the command line. An example syntax is: ffmpeg -i input.ac3 output.aac

XMedia Recode – This desktop program has a user-friendly GUI and can batch convert multiple AC3 files to AAC.

Converting to AAC allows the AC3 audio to be compatible with more Android devices and apps. The AAC format provides good audio quality while using less storage space. The conversion is quick and straightforward with the right software.

However, converting to AAC means losing the multichannel surround sound capabilities of the original AC3 audio. The audio is downmixed to stereo when converting to AAC. Users who require surround sound playback may want to look into other AC3 playback options on Android.

Streaming AC3 Audio

One way to play AC3 files on Android is by streaming them from a UPnP/DLNA media server. Many Android devices like phones, tablets and TV boxes support connecting to UPnP servers on the local network. This allows you to stream AC3 audio files stored on a NAS drive or media server like Plex or Emby.

To stream AC3 files, first make sure both your Android device and UPnP server are on the same WiFi network. On the Android device, open a UPnP client app like BubbleUPnP, Skifta or AllCast. Connect to the media server, then browse and play AC3 audio files. The app will decode and play the AC3 stream directly.

Another popular option is using Kodi to stream AC3 files. Kodi is an open source media center app available on Android. You can download Kodi and install the UPnP client add-on. Configure Kodi to connect to your UPnP server. Then navigate to your AC3 audio library and stream playback to Android. Kodi will automatically handle AC3 decoding and audio pass-through.

Streaming AC3 over UPnP avoids format compatibility issues and allows playing AC3 audio smoothly on Android devices. Enabling UPnP streaming only requires installing a client app, without needing local AC3 codec support.

Connecting external speakers

One way to play AC3 audio on Android is by connecting external speakers that support surround sound. There are a few options for connecting speakers:

HDMI

Many Android devices have HDMI ports that allow you to connect to an AV receiver or soundbar using an HDMI cable. This will pass the uncompressed AC3 audio signal to your external speakers (according to [source]). Just make sure your device and speakers both support HDMI ARC or eARC.

Bluetooth

Some Bluetooth speakers support the advanced audio Bluetooth codecs like aptX and LDAC which can transmit high quality audio from your Android device. Check your speaker specifications to ensure aptX or LDAC compatibility.

USB

You can connect external USB speakers or a USB sound card to pass AC3 audio from your Android device. Make sure the USB speakers/sound card specifically supports AC3 surround sound passthrough (according to [source]).

With the right wired speakers or sound system, AC3 audio can be passed through untouched via HDMI, Bluetooth or USB for full surround sound playback.

Troubleshooting Tips

If you experience issues playing AC3 files on your Android device, there are some troubleshooting steps you can try:

Audio sync issues – try adjusting the audio delay settings in your video player app. MX Player has an audio sync feature that can help align audio that is out of sync.

Audio noise/static – this is often due to incompatible codecs. Try installing or updating your AC3 codecs as mentioned in the “Installing AC3 codecs” section. VLC media player also includes many built-in codecs.

Compatibility problems – if you experience crashes or no audio when trying to play AC3, your device may not support it natively. Converting the AC3 audio to AAC can help improve compatibility as mentioned in the “Converting AC3 to AAC” section.

If issues persist after trying the above, check for any OS or app updates available for your device. Newer versions may add improved AC3 support. As a last resort, try resetting your device to factory default settings.

Future AC3 Support

Android is evolving to add native AC3 codec support directly into the operating system. As Android develops further, AC3 compatibility will become more widespread across devices and apps without needing separate plugins or conversion.¹

Many users report AC3 support is increasing over time, with more Android phones, tablets, TV boxes, and apps able to handle AC3 audio now compared to a few years ago. While there are still gaps, the Android ecosystem is clearly moving towards broader AC3 compatibility.

Some tech enthusiasts predict native AC3 support may land in a future version of Android, similar to how AAC and FLAC were added over time. Apps like Kodi and VLC already include their own AC3 decoding, and Samsung has started supporting AC3 audio passthrough on certain models.²

So in the years ahead, playing AC3 files on Android should become simpler and more seamless. For now, using the methods described in this guide can help access AC3 content. But the need for workarounds may gradually fade away as Android matures.