Skip to main content
CarsonPlower
Trending Lyricist I
August 14, 2016

4K/UHD bluray players that decode DTS to Dolby?

  • August 14, 2016
  • 217 replies
  • 51511 views
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?
    This topic has been closed for further comments. You can use the search bar to find a similar topic, or create a new one by clicking Create Topic at the top of the page.

    217 replies

    Show previous replies
    Musicallife100
    Lyricist III
    March 4, 2017
    Hi tom12...I got my upb x800 today and it pains me to share that there doesn't seem to be any dts to dd conversion.
    Carson - did you get yours? Am I totally missing an option to allow this?

    Worse still, the player is definitely a cut above the Samsung K8500. Build is solid, it's quick, and the picture is beautiful. Close in quality to the Oppo, making it a terrific bargain - but not a viable option for Sonos users.

    With Sonos, seemingly, stuck in the audio codec dark ages, it's just becoming more and more painful to stay loyal.
    Sonos - just an hdmi breakout box - it could change our world!
      tom12
      Enthusiast II
      March 4, 2017
      I figured as much after reading the Sony manual online. Well, the new LG 4k player is supposed to be released on Monday the 6th. I'm going to wait and see if it has this feature. If it doesn't than I'll have to strongly consider selling my Sonos system, or maybe I'll try out the Samsung player.
      Yeah, if Sonos or anyone could come up with a device to transcode to DD5.1 it would fix this issue. Otherwise I really like the Sonos sound.
      Musicallife100
      Lyricist III
      March 4, 2017
      I'm going to have to try the LG player, as well. I've purchased and returned the Philips, Samsung (it converts but I hoping there was a better player), Oppo, and, now, the Sony.

      If the LG doesn't do it...I'm beginning to feel the same way as you.

      I have no engineering prowess but...are there any engineers on these boards who could create a breakout box or something to, as you stated, transcode to DD5.1? Sell it to Sonos users directly. Offer up as a proof of concept, reveal that there is a sizable community willing to buy it, and, ultimately, license it to Sonos? Anyone?
      tom12
      Enthusiast II
      March 5, 2017
      I think I'm going to switch over to the Bose SoundTouch 300 system. It's obvious that Bose has made this system to be a direct competitor with the Sonos system. The price is the same. BUT - it has HDMI with DTS support. Glad I kept all of the Sonos boxes, because it looks like these are going up for sale on ebay real soon.
      Colm
      Avid Contributor III
      March 6, 2017
      no optical out on the upb x800 either which is strange..Sony removed the optical from the ps4 slim as well....is this the end of Sony and optical? do Sony TV's pass 5.1 over hdmi?
      CarsonPlowerAuthor
      Trending Lyricist I
      March 7, 2017
      Ugh. Confirming on my end, too - the Sony UPB x800 appears to have no setting/way to transcode DTS to Dolby 5.1 sound. I'm really bummed. I completely agree with everything Musica mentioned - it's truly painful because this is really one quality 4k bluray player. Far and away nicer quality than the Samsung. Absolutely better picture. Better remote. Better setting displays. Better everything. But now I refuse to buy back that Samsung player, which I already had and returned. So as of right now, I'm just giving up on watching 4K blurays. Just gonna wait it out until more choices that transcode hit the market. Hopefully we can get to the bottom of the LG soon and share our info.
      opsman
      Lyricist III
      March 7, 2017
      Hi Guys, i've been chatting on the Official X800 Owners Thread on AVS forums and have been told that it can:-
      "The player will internally decode all flavors of DTS (HD Master Audio, etc) and Dolby to PCM...up to 7.1 channels as long as BD Mix audio is set to 'off'. There's no need to convert DD to DTS first". Have any of you tried this option?
      Sony KD-XR65A80j, Panasonic Ubd9000 (discs), Samsung UBD-M9500 (media files) , Sonos Arc, Sub (gen 2) , 2 x Era 100's, 4 x Play 1's, 1 x Move
      CarsonPlowerAuthor
      Trending Lyricist I
      March 7, 2017
      Hi Guys, i've been chatting on the Official X800 Owners Thread on AVS forums and have been told that it can:-
      "The player will internally decode all flavors of DTS (HD Master Audio, etc) and Dolby to PCM...up to 7.1 channels as long as BD Mix audio is set to 'off'. There's no need to convert DD to DTS first". Have any of you tried this option?       I saw that discussion too - I honestly don't think they understood what the question was. All these bluray players have specs that state they can "decode" DTS, dolby, etc...but that just means they can play any type of audio format. The issue here is we need to "Trans-code" DTS to Dolby. And this player - unless I missed something (I tried every audio setting possible) seems that it will not.
      Musicallife100
      Lyricist III
      March 7, 2017
      Hi. I, too, saw that discussion (since that's what we have to do - scour discussion boards to glean information for workarounds to try to make this aging technology work). Like Carson, I tried that - and every combination I could manage - and, sadly, nothing fed a DD 5.1 signal.
      opsman
      Lyricist III
      March 7, 2017
      Oh Bugger - I was hoping that the X800 would be the answer to all our prayers!! I thought we'd see a new Playbar out later this year with HDMI and DTS but with the release of the Playbase I think we're well and truly scuppered. Better start looking at alternatives for my Bar & Sub?
      Sony KD-XR65A80j, Panasonic Ubd9000 (discs), Samsung UBD-M9500 (media files) , Sonos Arc, Sub (gen 2) , 2 x Era 100's, 4 x Play 1's, 1 x Move
      Show more replies
      Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement