Additional update.
Turns out it kept dropping HDMI sync several times a day.
Only way to get it to sync up was too plug the pi back into the input and then switch back over once the input had come back up.
And while it had sync playback would be stuttering.
I finally got so fed up with it that I grabbed another laptop 2 generations newer.
Installed LE on It. Backed up the old install. Restored on the new laptop.
Replaced the cable.
It now works.