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TheHeadlessPoster
Enthusiast I
June 8, 2020

Arc Arrived - Initial Impressions

I was lucky enough to pick up my Arc preorder from a store in Sydney today. I’ve set it up and it’s paired with a Panasonic 65” GZ1000 (which only has ARC, not eARC). Here are some initial observations. 

  • Apple TV 4K - YES - confirming I’m getting Dolby Atmos via ARC while watching 4K iTunes movies
  • Built in Apps - YES I’m getting Dolby Atmos from built in apps such as Netflix and Prime
  • The Bass on the Arc surprised me. I’m adding a Sub Gen3 this week regardless - but I can see how some people won’t need to add a Sub for everyday viewing
  • The dialogue is very clear - I thought the speech enhancement was on by default when I first set it up cos it was very clear - but it wasn’t on, which was a pleasant surprise
  • With the GZ1000 I haven’t seen any lip sync issues yet on either FTA channels or from the Apple TV 4K

 

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      26 replies

      Ryan S
      Ryan S
      Retired Sonos Staff
      June 8, 2020

      Thanks for sharing! Glad you’re enjoying :) 

      Mark good posts by pressing the like button, and select the best answer on questions you've asked to help others find solutions.
      Highfalutintodd
      Prominent Collaborator I
      June 8, 2020

      I was lucky enough to pick up my Arc preorder from a store in Sydney today. I’ve set it up and it’s paired with a Panasonic 65” GZ1000 (which only has ARC, not eARC). Here are some initial observations. 

      • Apple TV 4K - YES - confirming I’m getting Dolby Atmos via ARC while watching 4K iTunes movies

      It’s great to see more confirmation that Apple TV 4K can pass Atmos without needing eARC. However, it looks like your TV has some degree of Atmos functionality built-in already so you may be one of the lucky few. Will be super interested to see who gets Atmos from Apple TV 4K via regular ARC and who doesn’t (come on, Vizio owners, let’s hear your input as well!). 

      Regardless, @TheHeadlessPoster, enjoy your Arc! The rest of us await with jealousy! ;-) 

      Arc + Sub 3 + One SLs = Awesome and Loving It!
      mcconkeb
      Lyricist II
      June 8, 2020

      How did you setup it?  I have ARC also and Apple TV and not getting Atmos.  I plugged in my Arc to the ARC.  I have the latest Apple TV software.  The only option I see is Dolby 5.1.

      Highfalutintodd
      Prominent Collaborator I
      June 8, 2020

      How did you setup it?  I have ARC also and Apple TV and not getting Atmos.  I plugged in my Arc to the ARC.  I have the latest Apple TV software.  The only option I see is Dolby 5.1.

      Could be a limitation of your TV. If your TV doesn’t support Dolby Digital Plus over HDMI-ARC, there’s no way Atmos will work (which is a concern many of us have, especially with Apple TV 4K). 

      (Also, note that you HAVE to have an Apple TV 4K to support Atmos; the Apple TV HD only supports up to Dolby Digital 5.1). 

      Arc + Sub 3 + One SLs = Awesome and Loving It!
        mcconkeb
        Lyricist II
        June 8, 2020

        Thank you for your quick response. I have a Sony X850E model. It says it outputs Dolby Digital Plus and have the Apple 4K TV. I wonder what I am doing wrong. 

        TheHeadlessPosterAuthor
        Enthusiast I
        June 9, 2020

        Thank you for your quick response. I have a Sony X850E model. It says it outputs Dolby Digital Plus and have the Apple 4K TV. I wonder what I am doing wrong. 

        Perhaps the X850E can’t convert the Dolby MAT stream from Apple TV 4K to Dolby Digital Plus. If it can’t, you may only get Atmos from internal apps that output Atmos over Dolby Digital Plus natively.

        Do you have a setting in your Sony TV to switch Dolby Atmos ‘on’? On my Panasonic, there’s a setting called Dolby Atmos that needs to be switched on for the conversion and pass-through to work.

          mcconkeb
          Lyricist II
          June 9, 2020

          Going internal I am getting Dolby Digital Plus 5.1. but not getting the option to switch to Atmos on the Apple TV 4K.  

          TheHeadlessPosterAuthor
          Enthusiast I
          June 9, 2020

          Going internal I am getting Dolby Digital Plus 5.1. but not getting the option to switch to Atmos on the Apple TV 4K.  

          I don’t know your Sony TV well enough - but sounds like it’s a TV limitation

          I also have a C9 77” OLED and it too is passing Atmos over ARC from an Apple TV 4K

          mewantsonos
          Trending Lyricist I
          June 9, 2020

          Can you notice the difference in 5.1 and atmos? 

            Highfalutintodd
            Prominent Collaborator I
            June 9, 2020

            @mcconkeb Looking at the specs for your TV it definitely seems to support Dolby Digital Plus over HDMI-ARC, which is awesome. If you’re getting Atmos / Dolby Digital Plus from the internal TV apps to the Sonos Arc (and are 100% certain you’ve got Dolby Digital Plus selected in, I think, Settings > Sound > Sound Adjustments > Advanced Settings > Input Related on the TV), but aren’t seeing the option to enable Atmos on the Apple TV 4K (Settings > Video and Audio > Audio Format > Immersive Audio), then I think your TV may just not be playing nicely with the Apple TV 4K. Which, I’m guessing, will put you in good company. 

            Please report back and let us know if you’re able to get it to work (and, if so, how!). 

            Arc + Sub 3 + One SLs = Awesome and Loving It!
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