Record the source rate and current output
If motion is uneven in Kodi, begin with one known local sample and the actual display route. Record the source frame rate where available and the television or monitor’s reported output. A high-resolution picture and smooth motion are different properties, so keep the comparison focused on timing.
Use the same slow pan or moving subject in every test. Keep audio and subtitle selections unchanged. A changing network stream or different encode can introduce another cause of stutter and make a display-setting comparison inconclusive.
Inspect the refresh-rate switching choice
Kodi documents Adjust display refresh rate as changing the display rate to match the content where the hardware supports it. Its start and stop behavior is configurable. Record the current choice, then test one deliberate change and observe both the display transition and subsequent motion.
A brief blank during a mode change is a different result from a stream freezing during stable playback. Keep those events separate in your notes. Avoid assuming the television’s general high-refresh specification means every required mode is available through the connected port, receiver and operating system.
Review playback synchronization as a different control
The Kodi guide distinguishes Sync playback to display, which alters playback speed to fit the output timing. It also documents that this disables audio passthrough. Read that interaction before enabling both controls simply because their names sound related.
Choose whether a controlled speed-sync comparison is appropriate for the task and retain the initial state. Inspect the same motion passage and listen to the same audio. If the receiver’s mode changes, record that along with the picture result rather than calling the whole route unchanged.
Retain one understood combination
After comparing the relevant settings independently, keep the configuration that fits the actual display and listening requirements. Test returning to the menu after playback as well as starting the video. A mode suitable for the film can interact differently with interface rendering.
Retain the sample identity, settings and observed output in device notes. The expected outcome is an understood timing choice, not a universal recommendation to enable every synchronization option. It does not increase the source frame rate, certify all HDR modes or guarantee identical behavior on another operating system.
Questions answered
Are Adjust display refresh rate and Sync playback to display the same operation?
No. Kodi distinguishes changing display timing from changing playback speed. Test their effects separately.
Why did audio passthrough change after enabling playback sync?
Kodi documents a passthrough interaction for Sync playback to display. Include the audio route when assessing that setting.
Sources & further reading
Official references for the subjects discussed. Service terms and device software can change.