I'm trying to send Dolby 5.1 from Apple TV to Sonos Beam. Beam is connected to a Samsung TV via HDMI with ARC on Samsung TV. Apple TV is connected by HDMI to TV. I can't find anything in the menus that would not be turned on to pass Dolby 5.1, but all I get is stereo. Any ideas?
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Dolby 5.1 to Sonos Beam
- Thread starter SkiHound2
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My question too... I have a Sonos Beam with 2 Play 1s as surrounds and I get 5 channel surround sound automatically when watching content that supports it - I didn't actually have to do anything (once the Play 1s were paired with the Beam that is).
Try doing this:
Go to Settings > Video and Audio > Audio Format and turn on Change Format. From here choose the following:
- Dolby Digital 5.1: Plays audio on multiple speakers and a subwoofer, like a 5.1 speaker setup.
Only the Beam, though I thought I was supposed to get simulated surround sound from the Beam only. I'm pretty sure the Sonos app was saying Dolby 5.1 as input from my Fios cable box using the same set up. STB to TV by HDMI, TV to Beam via ARC HDMI. Cut the cord and no longer have the stb. Probably not a big deal with just the Beam but I was considering adding two Sonos One's. That would seem to be a waste if I can get actual 5.1 to pass through.
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I've tried changing the output to Dolby 5.1 with no difference. Indeed, the Sonos app at this point doesn't not identify an input source type. Perhaps it's actually passing 5.1 and I'm just aware. But, previously it said 5.1 from a FIOS STB. As I noted in my prior response, I'm thinking about adding two Sonos Ones and want to make sure they'll be of value.
[doublepost=1565741062][/doublepost]Interestingly I have just been through this same scenario - ATV4K, Samsung TV, Sonos Beam and then added the Sub and IKEA speaker lamps as surrounds.
Initially I did not seem to get a 5.1 effect when ATV4K was set to “Best Available” but changing this to “Change Format” and choosing 5.1 seems to have created the effect I was expecting. You might also want to check that the Samsung HDMI format is set to Bitstream.
1/ I would check the HDMI Pass-through settings on the Samsung. It seems it somehow recognizes 5.1 content as 2ch or down-mixes 5.1 content to 2.0. Check the TV manual if you can enforce DD 5.1 passthrough if it is set to automatic. You can learn more about it from this thread here : https://eu.community.samsung.com/t5/TV/Problem-with-audio-passthrough/td-p/470240.
2/ Make sure the original content you are trying to play was actually recorded in 5.1. AFAIK the Beam doesn't have the capability to virtualize 2.0 content into 5.1. For that you'll need a AV receiver.
3/ It could be that the content you’re trying to play is 5.1 DTS and not Dolby Digital 5.1 and that HMDI pass-through is not available for this type of content. Again check in the TV manual.
2/ Make sure the original content you are trying to play was actually recorded in 5.1. AFAIK the Beam doesn't have the capability to virtualize 2.0 content into 5.1. For that you'll need a AV receiver.
3/ It could be that the content you’re trying to play is 5.1 DTS and not Dolby Digital 5.1 and that HMDI pass-through is not available for this type of content. Again check in the TV manual.
