With 4K bluray players starting to emerge now, seems we really need to start keeping straight which ones will allow those of us with Sonos Playbars enjoy some semblance of Dolby sound when certain 4K blurays only offer DTS. (Note, I haven't yet purchased a 4K bluray, so am unaware of the typical sound offerings.)
But we went through this once already, for regular bluray players, with many threads devoted to outlining the multiple Samsung models of bluray that decode DTS to Dolby 5.1 (I ended up buying a Sony that also does so). Now let's do the same for 4K players.
So far we have the Samsung UBD K8500 (which seems to clearly decode DTS to dolby.) Now what about the Philips? The Panasonic? The Xbox One S?
Anyone have any idea?
Page 2 / 9
Really hoping there's a legit option for 4k HDR10 and Dolby Vision in 2017 for us Sonos Home Theatre users... honestly the DTS to DD conversion thing is such a huge shame on an otherwise excellent system. I refuse to accept that I'll have to listen to stereo sound on a $1500+ system when watching a Dolby Vision blu-ray!
The Oppo does NOT convert DTS to DD. I contacted the company and they responded.
At this point, the only 4k bluray player that converts is still the Samsung. Hoping the new Sony will.
That's really disappointing. I really hope the Sony converts as well, because its unlikely we'll see a Samsung UHD player that supports Dolby Vision for at least another year. Had high hopes for Oppo... too bad.
A UHD player announced at CES this year, the LG UP970 will support HDR & Dolby Vision. I'm going to wait for more detailsto surface and hopefully it'll be able to downmix to DD 5.1.
Sonos, if you read this, we're getting tired of doing the Dolby Digital dance and want a Playbar that supports modern standards!
Thanks to reading this forum, I've just bought a Samsung UBD K8500 and I now have Dolby Digital 5.1 through my Playbar when watching UHD blu rays. Hooray!
Quick question though. I assume the only way to get DD 5.1 though the K8500 is to use the digital/optical port, and you can't send DD 5.1 through the HDMI port (at least that's what I've found)? Bit of a pain as it now means I need to buy an optical switch to easily change the Playbar input to come from either the K8500 or the TV's digital/optical output.
Quick question though. I assume the only way to get DD 5.1 though the K8500 is to use the digital/optical port, and you can't send DD 5.1 through the HDMI port (at least that's what I've found)? Bit of a pain as it now means I need to buy an optical switch to easily change the Playbar input to come from either the K8500 or the TV's digital/optical output.
No, you can send DD5.1 over HDMI. My HTPC is currently configured to do this. It sends it (via GeForce GT720) to my LG OLED TV over HDMI. The TV is set to send the audio out both the HDMI ARC channel (which I can't use) and also out it's optical port to the Playbar.
My K8500 sends DD through HDMI, and my TV passes it through. The TV is another variable though... some pass DD 5.1 through, some convert it to PCM... some have a setting to allow it to pass one format through, and will convert anything else to PCM (i.e. select DD to pass through, but if DTS is received, it gets converted to PCM).
I had the Samsung K8500 and it did do dts to dd conversion. However, as a player it was decent, not great. I returned it and decided to upgrade to the OPPO 203.
The OPPO is, unquestionably, better than the Samsung in every way...except it doesn't convert dts to dd. Oppos have been touted as handling every format so I just assumed the 203 would do the conversion.
Well, I've emailed with OPPO and stressed that this is essential for Sonos owners. This is the reply I received....
John,
Unfortunately the player will not be able to convert Dolby Digital to DTS or DTS to Dolby Digital. This is something that we have asked the engineers to look into supporting, but at this time the player does not support his kind of conversion.
Best Regards,
Customer Service
OPPO Digital, Inc.
It sounds promising but, please, I encourage the Sonos community to reach out and encourage this capability. Give them a call or email - please.
I would love for Sonos to offer some viable solution to the crippling dts and, even, the hi res audio format limitations. However, it is far more likely that this upgrade will be implemented by OPPO much sooner. A firmware upgrade is coming for Dolby Vision support. Please reach out so we can empower a Sonos-friendly dts to dd firmware upgrade capability.
Thanks.
The OPPO is, unquestionably, better than the Samsung in every way...except it doesn't convert dts to dd. Oppos have been touted as handling every format so I just assumed the 203 would do the conversion.
Well, I've emailed with OPPO and stressed that this is essential for Sonos owners. This is the reply I received....
John,
Unfortunately the player will not be able to convert Dolby Digital to DTS or DTS to Dolby Digital. This is something that we have asked the engineers to look into supporting, but at this time the player does not support his kind of conversion.
Best Regards,
Customer Service
OPPO Digital, Inc.
It sounds promising but, please, I encourage the Sonos community to reach out and encourage this capability. Give them a call or email - please.
I would love for Sonos to offer some viable solution to the crippling dts and, even, the hi res audio format limitations. However, it is far more likely that this upgrade will be implemented by OPPO much sooner. A firmware upgrade is coming for Dolby Vision support. Please reach out so we can empower a Sonos-friendly dts to dd firmware upgrade capability.
Thanks.
Yes, I also emailed OPPO about this. I got a similar reply, but without the mention of them having their engineers looking into it. Maybe, just maybe these DD5.1 requests are adding up?
The OPPO is, unquestionably, better than the Samsung in every way...except it doesn't convert dts to dd. Oppos have been touted as handling every format so I just assumed the 203 would do the conversion.
Well, I've emailed with OPPO and stressed that this is essential for Sonos owners. This is the reply I received....
John,
Unfortunately the player will not be able to convert Dolby Digital to DTS or DTS to Dolby Digital. This is something that we have asked the engineers to look into supporting, but at this time the player does not support his kind of conversion.
Best Regards,
Customer Service
OPPO Digital, Inc.
It sounds promising but, please, I encourage the Sonos community to reach out and encourage this capability. Give them a call or email - please.
I would love for Sonos to offer some viable solution to the crippling dts and, even, the hi res audio format limitations. However, it is far more likely that this upgrade will be implemented by OPPO much sooner. A firmware upgrade is coming for Dolby Vision support. Please reach out so we can empower a Sonos-friendly dts to dd firmware upgrade capability.
Thanks.
Same situation - I bought the Samsung, was very disappointed in the performance/picture. Though it nicely converted DTS. My eye is on the new Sony X800. My non-4K bluray player is a Sony and it converts DTS to Dolby, so fingers crossed on this new one. As someone else mentioned, LG has a 4K bluray player coming out too, so another option. The bind we Sonos owners are in is picture vs. sound. If it were about picture, I'd go with the Panasonic (though pricey) or Oppo. For sound, literally Samsung is our only current option. Why can't we have both?
[quote= If it were about picture, I'd go with the Panasonic (though pricey) or Oppo. For sound, literally Samsung is our only current option. Why can't we have both?[/quote]
Exactly. Sonos prices it's products at a premium level. But, for the expensive Playbar they are seriously crippling it. We owners shouldn't have to be scrambling around trying to find a Blu-ray player that will successfully communicate with the Playbar. All the other soundbars on the market (including ones for $100) support the common audio streams (DTS, Dolby TrueHD, etc).
Yes, the Sony UPB-X800 is one to keep an eye on and see if it will do DD5.1. But, Sony only supports HDR10. While the LG UP970 does both HDR10 & Dolby Vision (like the Oppo 203). So, I'm hoping when the full specs are released it will downmix to DD5.1.
Exactly. Sonos prices it's products at a premium level. But, for the expensive Playbar they are seriously crippling it. We owners shouldn't have to be scrambling around trying to find a Blu-ray player that will successfully communicate with the Playbar. All the other soundbars on the market (including ones for $100) support the common audio streams (DTS, Dolby TrueHD, etc).
Yes, the Sony UPB-X800 is one to keep an eye on and see if it will do DD5.1. But, Sony only supports HDR10. While the LG UP970 does both HDR10 & Dolby Vision (like the Oppo 203). So, I'm hoping when the full specs are released it will downmix to DD5.1.
My K8500 sends DD through HDMI, and my TV passes it through. The TV is another variable though... some pass DD 5.1 through, some convert it to PCM... some have a setting to allow it to pass one format through, and will convert anything else to PCM (i.e. select DD to pass through, but if DTS is received, it gets converted to PCM).
Thanks MikeV. Weird, I'll have another play as the TV passes Sky's DD 5.1 sound thought the HDMI cable to the Playbar, yet the K8500 connected to the MHL HDMI port (for HDCP2.2 support for UHD Blu ray) doesn't seem to get passed through??? Could be that it's the K8500 is not transmitting it through HDMI (but yours does), or my TV (Samsung UE55HU7500) treats this port differently somehow. I'll let everyone here know if I fix it, but for now I have an optical switch box with remote to switch the optical input into the Playbar (between TV and K8500).
I've found this list of TV's and their pass-through capabilities handy.
http://www.rtings.com/tv/tests/inputs/5-1-surround-audio-passthrough
Though I didn't see your particular model on this list
http://www.rtings.com/tv/tests/inputs/5-1-surround-audio-passthrough
Though I didn't see your particular model on this list
Interesting, thanks for the link. It's weird, as DD5.1 is definitely being passed through the Sky TV box which is plugged into the first HDMI port on that TV (labelled "HDMI STB"). I need the K8500 to be plugged into the HDMI MHL port for the UHD support annoyingly. At least it all works now via the optical cable, and I have a cool remote control to swap the Sonos optical input between the TV and K8500 so it instantly switches between stereo and DD5.1 (good for demos)! 🙂
Yes, the Sony UPB-X800 is one to keep an eye on and see if it will do DD5.1. But, Sony only supports HDR10. While the LG UP970 does both HDR10 & Dolby Vision (like the Oppo 203). So, I'm hoping when the full specs are released it will downmix to DD5.1.
I have a funny feeling the LG won't do it - but just a gut. Seems that only Sony and Samsung recognize this feature. We'll see though - sounds as though LG will be released sooner than the Sony. The thing about this feature is, it's so obscure and almost hidden, may not even be noticeable reading the specs/manual. Someone will have to buy the player and try it to see if we get the conversion to 5.1.
Well, here we go - Sony is taking pre-orders for the UPB-X800. Can't wait to determine if it will transcode DTS to Dolby...
I'm pulling the trigger on a 4k HDR setup this summer and I'm terrified of having to jump through all the hoops I had to go through to get my 1080p home theatre setup with Sonos 5.1 sound.
When people ask me about the system the first thing I do is ask them if they actually care about surround sound because 90% of people won't be able to do all this crap to get it to work.
Really hope the LG or the Sony works-- and really hope that Sony adds DV support for their machine. Choices are so slim right now for us Sonos customers.
When people ask me about the system the first thing I do is ask them if they actually care about surround sound because 90% of people won't be able to do all this crap to get it to work.
Really hope the LG or the Sony works-- and really hope that Sony adds DV support for their machine. Choices are so slim right now for us Sonos customers.
I recently came across an article on Engadget about the soon to be released Sonos PlayBase. I was assuming that Sonos would have woken up and "seen the light" and have added an HDMI input on this brand new product. But..... No!. The PlayBase has only a single optical input! Well, this pretty much seals the deal on any future PlayBar model getting the ability to accept anything better than DD 5.1 (via HDMI).
I'm seriously tired of dealing with this and am probably going to sell off my Playbar, Sub, and 2- Play1's and get a different surround system. One that uses present day features - which is basically just about every other soundbar on the market.
I'm seriously tired of dealing with this and am probably going to sell off my Playbar, Sub, and 2- Play1's and get a different surround system. One that uses present day features - which is basically just about every other soundbar on the market.
I too noticed the optical only input on the Playbase shots released. I'm withholding my outrage for now as these are unconfirmed shots and could be for a prototype.
I find it hard to believe that even with the new CEO taking the company in a new direction they could make such a glaring mistake. Hopefully there is either an HDMI port, a software work around (which is probably impossible) or an additional component box being released that connects to Sonos Playbars and Playbases that can convert non-dolby 5.1 inputs from other sources into Optical friendly DD 5.1.
I think the last option would be the best one as it would allow loyal Sonos customers who have the Playbar to finally have a working solution to easily and effectively get surround sound for their home theatre systems.
I find it hard to believe that even with the new CEO taking the company in a new direction they could make such a glaring mistake. Hopefully there is either an HDMI port, a software work around (which is probably impossible) or an additional component box being released that connects to Sonos Playbars and Playbases that can convert non-dolby 5.1 inputs from other sources into Optical friendly DD 5.1.
I think the last option would be the best one as it would allow loyal Sonos customers who have the Playbar to finally have a working solution to easily and effectively get surround sound for their home theatre systems.
I'd think that if this "playbase" is to be released soon, the specs for it would have been locked down long before the new CEO took the job.
But I'm also reserving judgement, and hoping that these pictures are fakes. I'll be very disappointed if it's just a form factor change, and not some substantive other changes. I'm anxious for an official statement from Sonos on the device. But I'm not going to hold my breath, either. They have the potential for grabbing another couple of thousand of dollars from my bank account, if it's great. If it's a simple refactoring of the current stuff, I don't see any need to get my wallet out.
But I'm also reserving judgement, and hoping that these pictures are fakes. I'll be very disappointed if it's just a form factor change, and not some substantive other changes. I'm anxious for an official statement from Sonos on the device. But I'm not going to hold my breath, either. They have the potential for grabbing another couple of thousand of dollars from my bank account, if it's great. If it's a simple refactoring of the current stuff, I don't see any need to get my wallet out.
And the frustration continues - my sony upb x800 bluray is on order. I expect it monday or tues. However, looking around online, I found an unboxing video on YouTube where someone goes through all the menu items of this player - doesn't seem the "convert" function is there among the audio options. Unbelievable. Will confirm, of course, when I get my player.
Unimaginable that we Sonos playbar owners' only option for watching 4K movies in DTS is with one Samsung bluray player at this point.
Unimaginable that we Sonos playbar owners' only option for watching 4K movies in DTS is with one Samsung bluray player at this point.
Ugh. Thanks Carson. I'll be waiting for your update. I still have my fingers crossed that the soon to be released LG player will have this function.
Hi Carson. I have the sony upb x800 on order, as well - arriving this week. I saw that unboxing video so I'm not that hopeful. And, as it's looking like the "playbase" may offer no updated audio technology, I'm a bit in shock. I hope I'm wrong.
Sonos is such a great system but the company just seems to be systematically handicapping what could be an entirely brilliant, home theater solution by not allowing access to updated technology.
If I get my player first, I'll report the outcome.
Sonos - please, hear our plea!
Sonos is such a great system but the company just seems to be systematically handicapping what could be an entirely brilliant, home theater solution by not allowing access to updated technology.
If I get my player first, I'll report the outcome.
Sonos - please, hear our plea!
Sonos is such a great system but the company just seems to be systematically handicapping what could be an entirely brilliant, home theater solution by not allowing access to updated technology.
If I get my player first, I'll report the outcome.
Sonos - please, hear our plea!
I agree completely. I went through and returned 2 other wireless 5.1 systems (Vizio & Sony) before I tried Sonos. I won't go into the details of how lousy they were. The Sonos system is brilliant. Sounds great and also has far better software/firmware than the competition. But it has this one painful exception and extremely frustrating limitation. I was gutted when I saw the same lack of inputs with the brand new PlayBase. What are they smoking over there?
I hope soon you'll have good news to report.
Anyone have any update on whether the new Sony X800 has the option to transcode audio to DD5.1?
I saw just saw that the Sony site had the user manual available for the new UBP-X800 4K player. After looking at the audio output options, the only "downmix" option is to 2 channel, or the fake surround mode of Dolby Pro Logic or NEO:6. Bummer.
So, I either have to settle for the Samsung K8500 which is a mediocre player at best or maybe it's time to sell my Sonos system on ebay and get a "real" sourround system. Because DD5.1 is already old and it's just going to get harder and harder finding hardware that can interface with it.
Sony manual
https://esupport.sony.com/US/p/model-home.pl?mdl=UBPX800&template_id=1®ion_id=1&tab=manuals#/manualsTab
So, I either have to settle for the Samsung K8500 which is a mediocre player at best or maybe it's time to sell my Sonos system on ebay and get a "real" sourround system. Because DD5.1 is already old and it's just going to get harder and harder finding hardware that can interface with it.
Sony manual
https://esupport.sony.com/US/p/model-home.pl?mdl=UBPX800&template_id=1®ion_id=1&tab=manuals#/manualsTab
Enter your E-mail address. We'll send you an e-mail with instructions to reset your password.