Arc - Vizio and Atmos

B
Userlevel 3
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My Sonos Ark arrived today. I had some reservations but, it’s 2020 and I can’t believe how irritating this is. 
 

2019 Vizio M Series Quantum (M658-G1)

Apple TV 4K

XBox One S 

 

ATV - Supports Atmos 

XBox - Supports Atmos 

Vizio TV - Supports Atmos (with certain apps) 

 

I’ve adjusted all the settings, tried different settings, and no matter what I do the Arc won’t do Atmos. The best I get is DD+ 5.1.
 

Apparently with Vudu I could Atmos strait from the TV app … but this is Canada. No Vudu. 
 

So I have three atmos capable players. A new Atmos sound bar. My TV and Apple 4K are current models. 
 

And yet… no Atmos. It’s ridiculous. Not sure to blame Vizio. Sonos. Apple…. between them they just don’t talk. 

Beam. 2x Play:1 - 2x Play One (gen 2) - Sub - 2x Play 5 - Move

50 replies

Airgetlam

I have a P75-F1, and confirmed with a Vizio rep yesterday that none of their TVs will pass a Dolby Digital Plus signal from an HDMI input to the HDMI ARC output. He was eager to convince me to invest in a Vizio soundbar instead.

Bruce
E

I have a Vizio M70 (M706-G3) and a Apple TV 4K. I’m able to get Dolby Atmos. Double check your settings, firmware and replace all cables with new 8k HDMI.

Airgetlam

Understood. My comments were about the ability to pass Dolby Digital Plus from an HDMI input to the HDMI ARC output. Vizio says it isn’t possible on their TVs. 

Bruce
H
Userlevel 6
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And no, I never use the TV’s internal apps. Just DirecTV and the AppleTV 4K device.

Same here (but I only use Apple TV 4K). I logged into the TV’s internal apps just to check and see if I could get Atmos, and if so, what it sounded like.  

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

There are two versions of Atmos, one carried by TrueHD/MAT, across eARC only, and the other across Dolby Digital Plus. If your Sonos controller is showing Atmos, then you’re getting one or the other. 

Bruce
UncleZ
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I have Apple TV 4K + Sonos Ark+ Vizio P55-F1

 

While using the ATV 4k i only get Dolby Digital 5.1.  However when using native Netflix app i get Dolby Digital Plus 5.1

 

I have few questions?

 

  1. Can i get DD Plus 5.1 using ATV 4K?
  2. Do i need “8K” cable? does it matter?
  3. Any way to get atmos without chnaging the TV?  I feel like an idiot spending $1,900 on Sonos Arc + Sub to not get Atmos.

 

Here are some answers: 

  1. No, and especially not with that model TV
  2. Cables Matter, but no you don’t need an 8k cable. However, Cable Matters has a relatively inexpensive 8k HDMI from Amazon that’ll do the trick and carries 48gbps, more than enough for your data stream
  3. yes, but I’d recommend then considering something other than Sonos at that point. That TV won’t pass atmos to the Sonos, it’s falsely advertised by Vizio. You’d have to take the Apple TV into a receiver first, like a Denon AVR or Sony AVR, and then video out to the TV and optical audio out to the Sonos. It would be a nightmare of a setup, considering at that point you might as well just go traditional surround speaker setup. There are a few third party devices that’ll help...you’ll quickly find they all limit your Sonos to one input device, you won’t be able to use anything with it but the Apple TV. 
S
Userlevel 3
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Tried with Apple TV 4K and I’ll I’m getting is DD (not even DD+) and definitely no Atmos. 

 

At least built in apps are giving me DD+.
 

However, I rented Blade Runner 2049 from the built in Vudu app and that does give me Atmos. Seems to be the only app that does. TV confirms Atmos when I click info and so does the Sonos app system info (Atmos DD+). Will watch it tonight to see how pronounced the effects are. 
 

Clearly the TV and Arc are able to get it done but the apps need to be updated to support it. I’m not sure if that’s something that need to be updated by Vizio or by Netflix/ Prime Video...

B
Userlevel 3
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I have an 8K cable from the ATV to the Vizio and the Sonos HDMI cable from the TV Ark port to the ARK.
 

Vizio firmware is up to date unless then automatic update is lying to me. ATV is up to date. 
 

Any ideas? I’m really perplexed. It seems inconsistent! 
 

May I ask what firmware revision your TV is on? 

Beam. 2x Play:1 - 2x Play One (gen 2) - Sub - 2x Play 5 - Move
E

 

E

The TV’s speakers and surround setting should be off for it to pass Dolby Atmos. Digital output should be auto

H
Userlevel 6
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The TV’s speakers and surround setting should be off for it to pass Dolby Atmos. Digital output should be auto

Out of sheer curiosity could you check something for me, @ejhardin? On one of my other threads about my experiences I mention that I’ve had some odd behavior where the TV (and the Sonos app) both THINK they’re getting Atmos but absolutely cannot be (e.g. on DD5.1 tracks from 30 year old movies). I have not been able to consistently reproduce this issue but it has happened to be twice and I’m kind of wondering if it could be happening to you as well  

Could you check something that you know for sure absolutely isn’t in Atmos and see what the TV and the app report? 

Fingers crosses you’re really getting Atmos (and would be great to see that at least some Vizio sets are passing Atmos correctly). But since most others are reporting actually seeing Atmos listed under “Immersive Audio” in the ATV Video and Audio settings It gives me some pause. 

Arc + Sub 3 + One SLs = Awesome and Loving It!
B
Userlevel 3
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Thanks @Highfalutintodd. I’ll have a play when the kids are settled later! But I think I had the settings the same. 
 

My TV firmware is completely different but current. 
 


 

 

Beam. 2x Play:1 - 2x Play One (gen 2) - Sub - 2x Play 5 - Move
H
Userlevel 6
Badge +7

I have a P75-F1, and confirmed with a Vizio rep yesterday that none of their TVs will pass a Dolby Digital Plus signal from an HDMI input to the HDMI ARC output. He was eager to convince me to invest in a Vizio soundbar instead.

If the Sonos app is to be believed, that’s incorrect. I’m getting Dolby Digital Plus out of my ATV through HDMI-ARC (but not Atmos).

And I’m sure he WAS eager to convince you to buy a Vizio soundbar instead. 😎

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

You have a P75-F1? I thought I’d tried every combination of settings, between the Apple TV and the Vizio, but I’d be happy to learn differently, and prove the CS rep was wrong. I even looked at the manual that is part of the TV, and it doesn’t mention Atmos at all, only Dolby Digital. Teach me, Highfalutintodd kenobi, you’re my only hope ;)

And what apps are you using on Apple TV? I was checking Amazon Prime and Apple Movies. 

Bruce
H
Userlevel 6
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You have a P75-F1? I thought I’d tried every combination of settings, between the Apple TV and the Vizio, but I’d be happy to learn differently, and prove the CS rep was wrong. I even looked at the manual that is part of the TV, and it doesn’t mention Atmos at all, only Dolby Digital. Teach me, Highfalutintodd kenobi, you’re my only hope ;)

And what apps are you using on Apple TV? I was checking Amazon Prime and Apple Movies. 

Ah, young padawan, I’m afraid I have not been clear. While I do have a Vizio, mine is an E70-F3. You can read all about my experiences over here: 

https://en.community.sonos.com/home-theater-228993/sonos-arc-apple-tv-4k-vizio-e-series-e70-f3-6842077

I know no Vizios (at least through the 2019 models) have eARC, but I’m assuming (maybe stupidly) that most of the recent models should generally handle HDMI-ARC the same way. I’m getting DD+ out of just about everything that’s a 5.1 source from the Apple TV, but no Atmos. I’m getting Atmos out of the built-in Plex and Netflix apps (definitely not Disney+ and I’ll have to remind myself about Prime Video because I rarely use it).

If I learn anything else I’ll post it in this thread or the one linked above. Good luck, and may the force be with you. 😎

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

Ah, no, the HDMI ARC is not handled in the same way as the non-exist at eARC on my TV. If you have eARC in that model, I can completely understand you getting Dolby Digital from most everything. 

If you do check Prime Video, I’m told the 4K versions of Jack Ryan are supposed to be Atmos enabled, although they dont seem to say so in the app. 

Bruce
Airgetlam

I’m confused. Looking at page 42 of the manual for the E70-F3 shown no mention of eARC?

Bruce
Airgetlam

Ah, I see. You’ve only gotten Atmos from internal apps, and not from the Apple TV. 

Bruce
H
Userlevel 6
Badge +7

Ah, I see. You’ve only gotten Atmos from internal apps, and not from the Apple TV. 

Correct. No eARC on my model, and no Atmos via Apple TV 4K. 

Arc + Sub 3 + One SLs = Awesome and Loving It!
H
Userlevel 6
Badge +7

Understood. My comments were about the ability to pass Dolby Digital Plus from an HDMI input to the HDMI ARC output. Vizio says it isn’t possible on their TVs. 

According to the Sonos App, it is - at least for the E70-F3. Watching Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D on Netflix right now via Apple TV 4K and this is what the app is showing as the audio signal it’s receiving: 

 

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

Interesting. I don’t have Netflix to test with, just Amazon and Apple’s own apps. 

Bruce
Airgetlam

And no, I never use the TV’s internal apps. Just DirecTV and the AppleTV 4K device.

Bruce
H
Userlevel 6
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Interesting. I don’t have Netflix to test with, just Amazon and Apple’s own apps. 

I can check Amazon and Apple TV+ in a few minutes. 

Arc + Sub 3 + One SLs = Awesome and Loving It!
H
Userlevel 6
Badge +7

Interesting. I don’t have Netflix to test with, just Amazon and Apple’s own apps. 

I can check Amazon and Apple TV+ in a few minutes. 

Sonos Arc + Vizio E70-F3 + Apple TV 4K = 

  • Plex (5.1 sources): Dolby Digital Plus
  • Netflix: Dolby Digital Plus
  • Disney+: Dolby Digital Plus
  • Apple TV+: Dolby Digital Plus
  • Hulu: Stereo 2.0 (which apparently is all Hulu is capable of on Apple TV, shockingly)
  • iTunes Movie purchases: Dolby Digital Plus

This is what the Sonos App reports for all of these sources via “About My System”

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

Apple TV settings >Video and Audio> 

Video:

Format 4K Dolby Vision
Match Content Off

Audio:

Audio Output Living Room 4 K (HDMI)
Audio Format Auto

Reduce Loud Sounds Off

Navigation Clicks Off

Sound Effects and Music Off

Audio Mode Auto

Audio Language Default

Subtitle Language Auto

 

Vizio:

Audio

Speakers Off

Volume Control Display Off

Surround Sound Off

Volume Leveling Off

Balance 0

Lip Sync 0

Digital Audio Out Auto

Analog Audio Fixed

 

TV’s software version 5.0.7.3 (in System Information) no updates available.

 

So, what’s different? Can’t be the cable, otherwise I’d not be able to send Dolby Vision, and I do see that icon at the top of the TV being received. Is it just my one year younger TV isn’t capable?

Bruce

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