No Dolby Digital 5.1 with Netflix through Chromecast

What 'splitter' do you have?

Please would you explain how you have connected the various devices.

I got myselft this one: https://allegro.pl/oferta/switch-hdmi-4k-hdmi2-0-4-wejsciowy-z-arc-dac-pilo-9505080805 .Apologies for polish, but it has for 4 HDMI inputs, one HDMI output, one optical output  and one analog output. It also has the possibility to turm on/off the ARC as well we select 2.0  5.1 sound for the optical output via its remote.

The way I made the connection was I plugged in the Chromecast to HDMI, my old plazma Panasoniic to the HDMI output (I tried both ARC and non-ARC HDMI of my tv) and Sonos Beam to the optical output. I also set 5.1 sound through that remote. The S2 app was claiming Sonos is getting 2.0 sound. Again, when I plugged in my cable box to the other HDMI output the sound on the optical output was 5.1, so the splitter seems to be fine (I think)

Is the Chromecast plugged into the TV HDMI or directly into an HDMI input on the switch?

Chromecast is plugged into the input HDMI on the switch. When I plug it to my tv I’m not getting 5.1 either (see the other topic)

@kiur Are you sure your older TV can pass through Dolby Digital 5.1 audio from an external media device? I have an older Panasonic plasma ST60 from 2013 and it can only play stereo 2.0 audio from any device connected to the TV’s HDMI ports.

@GuitarSuperstar no it can’t. That’s the point. This is why I previously asked this question: 

and per the suggestions I got this HDMI switch

Yes, I remember now. Let’s bring @Ken_Griffiths into the conversation since he made the original suggestion. Maybe he can provide some assistance.

The TV obviously isn’t playing a role here in the sound out to the Beam, so no need to consider that. The fact the TV cable box is working perfectly with the switch/extractor to give 5.1 Dolby Digital audio shows that the switch/extractor is doing it’s job correctly.
 

I would therefore look closer at the Chromecast sound-out settings and even try powering down that device completely for a minute or so and power it back on to renew its HDMI handshake. Also ensure the App in use on the device supports DD 5.1.
 

A simple power off/on of chromecast may sort it, hopefully, but ensure its audio-out settings are set correctly before doing that. 

Chromecast does not really have any sound-out settings. Nor has Netflix app (other than selecttion of a sound track for a particular movie)

Anyway, I powered Chromecast down for a few minutes, plugged it in to the switch, ran a movie from the Netflix app from both iPhone and Android mobiles, still 2.0 sound. Also, I’m not able to select a 5.1 track for this movie from the app - all the available options show Stereo. For sure this is a 5.1 movie as I’m able to select 5.1 from the Windows app for this movie. The problem is the Windows app does not allow to cast the movie to Chromecast. BTW, when I connect my laptop with the app directly through HDMI to the switch I’m getting the surround sound. This lets me think the problem is either with the Netflix mobile apps or the Chromecast or the combination of both

Any other ideas, guys? BTW, I appreciate all the help so far

kiur,

I reckon it’s down to the App and/or chromecast device as you mention. Just the fact your cable TV box works fine, shows it’s most likely going to be the issue. I will take a guess that the Chromecast device supports Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 rather than the older Dolby Digital 5.1. Unfortunately the Beam does not support the ‘Plus’ codec. I’m surprised however that there is no way to switch the audio-out to the DD5.1 codec in its settings. 

One answer would be to try a different device altogether, like a Nvidia Shield TV box, or Apple TV - maybe even borrow one from a friend or colleague, just for testing purposes… you need a device that supports DD 5.1.