Blu Ray player that converts to Dolby Digital 5.1

Thank you for the additional information about codec licensing, most informative.

So, I’ve determined from this forum that if I upgrade my 2014 Samsung blu-ray player, I’ll be able to ditch my optical switcher. Currently, in my Samsung TV audio settings, Dolby Digital is grayed our; my only choices are PCM AND DTS Neo 2.5. My TV is a 2014 Samsung as well. Am I correct in assuming that the Blu-Ray does the converting and I’m good with my current TV?

What Blu-ray player have you got?, if it's Samsung have a good look through the audio menus first.

I've heard many people mention you can't select DD out on the Samsung TV's unless it is actually receiving it at the time, you may already have all the equipment you need?.

No, it’s grayed out on TV. I have the BD-F7500.

Keithmac... I've gotten a lot of answers and help in this forum. I'm hoping that the newer model blu-ray (8500) will decipher the audio signal successfully and pass that on to my Samsung TV. The audio menus for the BluRay player list all of the options but, when selected, they don't accomplish the task thus, I think, my not being able to select the same on the TV.

What Blu-ray player have you got?, if it's Samsung have a good look through the audio menus first.

I've heard many people mention you can't select DD out on the Samsung TV's unless it is actually receiving it at the time, you may already have all the equipment you need?.

Hi, Keith... I ended up ordering the BD-J6300 from Crutchfield. The advisor "seemed" knowledgeable and, I didn't need the added bells and whistles of the 8500 so, I'm giving this one a shot. If it doesn't work, back it goes and I stick with my optical switcher until I upgrade my TV in the distant future.

I thought I'd post my solution - thanks for everyone on this Forum who helped me. I bought a Samsung BD-J6300 to go with my Samsung UN50H6350 TV (2014). I fired it up, made the connections, removed the optical switcher from the mix and then applied the Dolby Digital 5.1 setting in the Audio Settings menu of the 6300. I got sound so, success in that regard. I attempted to apply the same DD 5.1 setting on my TV but, it remained grayed out no matter what kind of disc I put into the blu-ray player. My SONOS app continued to show that the Playbar was receiving/producing "Stereo" and not DD 5.1. I then set both blu-ray and TV to "PCM" and called it good. It appears that my "ancient" 2014 TV is the limiting factor. Or, my 61 year old brain. I currently have inquiries in to J-Tech and Flexson asking if their HDMI switchers work "on the fly" and will somehow get my SONOS to output The Full Monty and not something I need to settle for. A new TV isn't happening in the near term. Thanks to all who helped.

Samsung BD-H6500 converts dts to Dolby 5.1. I’ve connected it to an optical splitter (CYP AUD-41) so that I can connect it directly to my Playbase. This is because my Samsung TV doesn’t pass the Dolby signal from the Samsung DVD player to the optical out. (However it does pass the Dolby signal from an Apple TV.) Unbelievable I know.

I have this exact problem! Why does it work with Apple TV and not with a Blu Ray player??

Good to know ProfMadrid... I was hoping to eliminate optical switchers completely. What brand is the CYP AUD-41? Is it an automatic process or, does one have to use a remote? Also, do you plug your TV into a second port on the switcher so you can get audio through your SONOS when not using the BD-H6500? Thanks.

I thought I'd post my solution - thanks for everyone on this Forum who helped me. I bought a Samsung BD-J6300 to go with my Samsung UN50H6350 TV (2014). I fired it up, made the connections, removed the optical switcher from the mix and then applied the Dolby Digital 5.1 setting in the Audio Settings menu of the 6300. I got sound so, success in that regard. I attempted to apply the same DD 5.1 setting on my TV but, it remained grayed out no matter what kind of disc I put into the blu-ray player. My SONOS app continued to show that the Playbar was receiving/producing "Stereo" and not DD 5.1. I then set both blu-ray and TV to "PCM" and called it good. It appears that my "ancient" 2014 TV is the limiting factor. Or, my 61 year old brain. I currently have inquiries in to J-Tech and Flexson asking if their HDMI switchers work "on the fly" and will somehow get my SONOS to output The Full Monty and not something I need to settle for. A new TV isn't happening in the near term. Thanks to all who helped.

My Samsung LED TV is 8+ years old, I ended up using a KWMOBILE EDID emulator on the HDMI lead from my Samsung Blu-ray (and another one for my Virgin Media Tivo).

This allows the Blu-ray/ Tivo to supply 5.1 over the HDMI.

Basically when connecting HDMI inputs they do a "handshake", and the TV reports itself as a Stereo device hence why the Blu-ray only feeds the TV stereo signals. The EDID emulator goes between the TV and Blu-ray and tells the Blu-ray that the TV is 5.1 compliant.

Maybe worth a try for you? (try one first).