I posted this in another forum and have never had the type of audio issues suggested, but maybe there is something you can try!
I might have finally got my theater setup to not have any audio drops. I've never had too many, but even one was annoying. My main focus was to eliminate any drops from Kaleidescape and get back to using the audio output from my Lumagen. I’ve picked up some suggestions about audio drops and finally implemented them all. So far, the results are great. It maybe just one of these things that did the trick or a combination of several. My primary components are Strato C, Trinnov Alt32, Lumagen 5348, JVC RS4100. Also, have Apple TV and other sources, amps, etc.
Rack
Over the years in making changes to my primary rack, it pretty much was a mess. This advice came from Adam Pelz:
“Same advice I give every integrator and client that I work for, and the same advice I give myself on projects that I'm personally with involved during the installation and commissioning : 3m passive cables, from Ethereal, AVPro BulletTrain, or Tributaries. New 8k passive cables are OK to use.
Use long sweeping turns, don't coil the excess cable, route away from any power. I did some unscientific testing on some projects, and I am of the strong opinion that although many cables easily pass bench tests, when you put that same cable in an actual real world installation, routed near lots of power supplies and other sources of RFI/EMI, and enclosed in a metal cage (rack), success drops.”
Based upon Adam’s suggestion and watching some YouTube rack videos, I pulled out everything from my rack and basically started over. Starting at the top, the rack is divided into Power/Conditioning, Audio/Video, and Amplification. I switched my Trinnov Alt32 to use DB25 connectors. All power related cables are on one side and audio/video signal type cables on the other. Any power bricks were moved way out of the way and not close to anything audio/video related. My HDMI cables now use “long sweeping turns” (yes, they were all coiled up).
Cables
I did switch 2 of my cables AVPro Edge BT-10KUHD-030 Bullet Train 3M Meter 10K 48Gbps HDMI Cable. One going from my Strato to the Lumagen and the other from the Lumagen audio out to my Alt32 (I have the older 7 port version, but used Port 7 as often recommended)
Startup sequence
I’ve tried many. Folks have suggested Projector, Lumagen, Trinnov, Strato or Projector Trinnov, Lumagen, Strato. However based on feedback from Kris Deering (we have very similar equipment), I switched mine to exactly what he suggested:
“I have my Lumagen turn on before anything, an it turns on my Trinnov via a trigger output from the Lumagen to the Trinnov. Projector and K turn on around the same time. Haven't had any issues with this routine.”
Lumagen setup
I changed my source input to the suggested 1, 3, 5, 7, 9… I also now make sure the all sources are OFF if not being used. This includes using Discrete Off command for my Apple TV. I’ve checked this out several times and when I switch to other sources, they show no signal from the Lumagen info screen. Prior, I had the Apple TV on input 4 with my Strato on input 3. That pair may have not liked each other when the Apple TV was on. Who knows… I’m just using Output 1 (Audio) and Output 3 (Video) on the Lumagen
Good luck!