List of TV’s that will pass 5.1 from HDMI Sources to Playbar

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370 replies

gardino71
Userlevel 2
May I ask why you use the switch if your TV does in fact pass DD5.1? You could simplify the cables by just connecting them via HDMI to the TV and then connecting the TV to the Playbar via optical.
Or am I missing something?

The Samsung Blu Ray player and Apple TV only pass through Dolby 5.1 through the optical when it's plugged directly into the Playbar. The TV will not pass through Dolby 5.1 from the HDMI lead from the Blu Ray or Apple TV (PCM Stereo only). Therefore when all sources are plugged into the switcher and then into the Playbar you get Dolby 5.1 from all .
F
Userlevel 2
Hi,

I've potentially looking at buying Sonos, my requirements are
1. 5.1 surround sound in living room for music and TV (so looking to buy the play bar, sub and a pair of play 1s or play 3s
2. Outdoor speakers for my deck.

I've got a few questions I'd really appreciate some help with:
1.I've just bought a new Samsung TV, UA60ES6500 Samsung LED TV. I am also going to buy a new Apple TV. Does the sound bar work properly with Samsung?
2. I want outdoor speakers and was thinking the Bose 151SE. I believe I just buy the Sonos Connect Amp and then can link the Bose outdoor speakers as well. Is this right and anything I need to be aware of?
3. I already have a Bose Soundlink Air speaker which I've loved. If I get the Sonos Connect Amp, will this work as another speaker for indoors?

Thanks heaps
Cantello
Userlevel 2
Badge +4
[...]my Samsung UE46f6740 does in fact pass 5.1 sound through optical
[...]
My set up -UK
TV - Samsung UE46F6740 (with built in FREESAT Tuner)
Samsung BD 6500 Bluray player (converts DTS to Dolby Digital 5.1)
Apple TV 2
CYP AUD41 4-WAY OPTICAL SWITCHER

TV, Blu Ray player and Apple TV all go in to the optical IN on the switch. The OUT cable goes to the Playbar. All are also connected through HDMI. This is a large amount of cables but the system works as it should

May I ask why you use the switch if your TV does in fact pass DD5.1? You could simplify the cables by just connecting them via HDMI to the TV and then connecting the TV to the Playbar via optical.
Or am I missing something?
buzz
The "5" in "5.1" signifies the L-Front, Center-Front, Right-Front, Right Surround, and Left-Surround channels. These five channels are full range. The ".1" signifies the LFE (Low Frequency Effects) channel, which is not full range. The LFE channel is reserved for the thuds and thumps, but it is traditional for the playback system to optionally route the bass for some or all of the "5" channels to the Subwoofer if smaller speakers are being used. It is also traditional to fall back gracefully if the Center, Surrounds, or Subwoofer are not present. For example, if the Subwoofer is not present, the LFE is distributed to the Left and Right Front and Center dialog is routed to the Left and Right Front if a Center speaker is not present.
gardino71
Userlevel 2
Gardino71, I note you have the Samsung BD-6500 which (like most Samsung bluray players it seems) can reencode DTS to Dolby Digital 5.1. Does this sound just as good as Dolby Digital 5.1 when played direct from the source material (eg a DVD or bluray with a DD 5.1 soundtrack)? I would be grateful for your thoughts as I am thinking of buying a Samsung player to get around the lack of DTS decoding.

ps You will only get 5.1 if you have the Sub - which, by the way, I would highly recommend as it instantly and significantly improves the sound from the Playbar.

I have found the sound to be no different when converted from DTS and it comes up as Dolby 5.1 on the About My Sonos. Also I do have a Sub which is a great piece of kit for both music and TV. I was fairly sure you needed the sub to have 5.1 sound but I didn't want to post a comment and find it to be incorrect as I did earlier in the thread
A
Userlevel 1
Badge
Gardino71, I note you have the Samsung BD-6500 which (like most Samsung bluray players it seems) can reencode DTS to Dolby Digital 5.1. Does this sound just as good as Dolby Digital 5.1 when played direct from the source material (eg a DVD or bluray with a DD 5.1 soundtrack)? I would be grateful for your thoughts as I am thinking of buying a Samsung player to get around the lack of DTS decoding.

ps You will only get 5.1 if you have the Sub - which, by the way, I would highly recommend as it instantly and significantly improves the sound from the Playbar.
gardino71
Userlevel 2
Cheers folks. Thanks for setting up this thread. I've a Playbar and two Play:3 set up in my living room. My TV is a Samsung UE46D7090LSXZG connected via optical with the Playbar. TV gets input via HDMI from an AppleTV (latest gen.), a Samsung BD-F7500 blu-ray player and an IPTV receiver.

My problem: I have no experience with any surround setup and I'm kinda lost right now because I cannot hear if the sound is 5.1. I must say I'm not sure if I really can differentiate between normal Stereo, Dolby Surround and Dolby Digital 5.1. Ergo I cannot say if the TV passes 5.1 through optical.

Is there any test or something else i can do?

If you go to your Sonos app/controller then select settings>About my Sonos (bottom of list) it will tell you what the Playbar is outputting.Either Stereo, Dolby 2.0 or Dolby 5.1. I don't think you will get full 5.1 sound without the Sub although I might be mistaken on this point.
Looking at your set up which is similar to mine albeit yours are higher spec models, you should be able to get Dolby 5.1. My set up is explained in the post above
T
My Sony passes DD5.1 through the optical no problem - KDL-32W653A
gardino71
Userlevel 2
Apologies for my earlier post, my Samsung UE46f6740 does in fact pass 5.1 sound through optical. In the sound settings it was only allowing me to select PCM, that was until I found a film (C4HD UK) that broadcast DD 5.1 sound and when I checked in the About My Sonos it confirmed it was 5.1 sound. I am therefore managing to get Dolby Digital 5.1 through all sources when it it is broadcast
My set up -UK
TV - Samsung UE46F6740 (with built in FREESAT Tuner)
Samsung BD 6500 Bluray player (converts DTS to Dolby Digital 5.1)
Apple TV 2
CYP AUD41 4-WAY OPTICAL SWITCHER

TV, Blu Ray player and Apple TV all go in to the optical IN on the switch. The OUT cable goes to the Playbar. All are also connected through HDMI. This is a large amount of cables but the system works as it should
F
Userlevel 1
Badge +1
Finally found the right setting and I can now confirm that this Sharp LED model does pass 5.1.
T
Userlevel 2
Cheers folks. Thanks for setting up this thread. I've a Playbar and two Play:3 set up in my living room. My TV is a Samsung UE46D7090LSXZG connected via optical with the Playbar. TV gets input via HDMI from an AppleTV (latest gen.), a Samsung BD-F7500 blu-ray player and an IPTV receiver.

My problem: I have no experience with any surround setup and I'm kinda lost right now because I cannot hear if the sound is 5.1. I must say I'm not sure if I really can differentiate between normal Stereo, Dolby Surround and Dolby Digital 5.1. Ergo I cannot say if the TV passes 5.1 through optical.

Is there any test or something else i can do?
H
Userlevel 2
Hi celestian02,

Thanks for your reply, yes the TV is playing DD 5.1 when watching tv.

I use MplayerX on the Mac mini.
As for the PS3 I will check the settings.
J
Userlevel 2
I can also confirm that my Samsung PS64F8500 passes DD5.1 from an HDMI source to optical out from for example Plex on my Roku, however, it won't pass DD5.1 plus from Netflix, at least it won't from my Roku streaming stick, although it does with the Samsung Netflix app.
J
Badge
As I said earlier in the thread, I can confirm that after the most recent firmware update my Samsung PN60F8500AF now fully supports passing 5.1 from an HDMI source through to the Playbar. When I first bought this TV it would not pass 5.1 from any HDMI source but now it all works great without the need for an HDMI switch, etc.
gardino71
Userlevel 2
Unfortunately no Sumsung TV passes 5.1 through optical, although there are rumours of a firmware update that may allow it. Until then it's PCM stereo only.
R
Userlevel 3
Badge +2
I have a Samsung UE40B6000 Led TV, Does someone know if this TV output 5.1 via optical?
C
Userlevel 2
You have DD 5.1 when watching TV, right? But not in any case when an HDMI device is connected?

Anyhow:
PS3: look in your audio settings, I know you have to specify somewhere what the audio output is and you can even specify whether it should convert DTS to DD 5.1

Mac Mini: What do you use on your MacMini to watch movies? Plex? XBMC? VLC?
As for current Plex and XBMC releases, you have to enable audio passthrough for AC3 in their settings. For VLC, I don't know.

Note that next XBMC release will fix DTS to DD 5.1 conversion and should be later ported to Plex as well.
H
Userlevel 2
Hi guys,

I can confirm that my Sony BRAVIA KDL46HX750 is passing Dolby digital 5.1 through Optical.
But when hooked (HDMI) on my PS3/Mac mini it just play stereo.
Any tips/help is welcome.
J
Userlevel 2
Monday I bought a Samsung LED F8500 (55"), I can confirm that when using an optical cable the TV is passing trough 5.1 dd.

That was one reason for not buying a Sonos Playbar, but that doesn't seems to be an issue anymore.
B
Userlevel 2
LG 47LM670T . This is one of the LG 2012 models . I assume that the 2013 models will have similar specs . I have the Playbar hooked up to the TV optical out , with the TV connected to a Sky Plus Box over HDMI. The Playbar seems to output whatever Sky is transmitting ,either Dolby 2.0 or Dolby 5.1, or plain stereo .
ratty
the HDMI can only carry 2.1 surround sound

That would come as startling news to everyone, if it were true.
S
Badge
I emailed Samsung to inquire about which of their TV sets will pass DD 5.1 optical audio from an HDMI source. Not the response I was hoping for with the rumors of firmware updates enabling this functionality. Here is their response.

I understand that you are looking for a Samsung TV that allow DD 5.1passthrough from HDMI sources.

I will provide you with the necessary information.

Thank you for choosing Samsung. We value you business with Samsung.

Currently, no Samsung TV can pass 5.1surround sound through optical connection from an HDMI source and at this moment there is no firmware update available to allow 5.1 sound pass through from an HDMI source. TV can pass 5.1 surround sound through Optical out only when the source is Antenna or cable from wall. As the HDMI can only carry 2.1 surround sound to TV, it is not possible to get the 5.1 surround from TV.

Alternatively, you can connect the Samsung TV to Sonos 5.1 system using an optical cable and amplify the 2.1 input from Samsung TV to 5.1 sound on the external sound system.
A
Userlevel 2
Anybody with experience with a LG LM7600?
I'm really thinking to sell my Bose Cinemate and get a Playbar
J
Badge
I can confirm that after the most recent firmware update my Samsung PN60F8500AF now fully supports passing 5.1 from an HDMI source. When I first got my Playbar the TV lacked support and I used a switch. Then I got frustrated at the switch and just lived without 5.1. Much to my surprise the firmware fixed the issue and I'm getting 5.1 from my cable box and apple tv. My xbox one doesn't support DD yet but I'm sure they will fix that soon.

Good news to anyone looking for a plasma that is 5.1 compatible with the Playbar because the Samsung is the best looking set I've owned and is a step up from the non-kuro Pioneer Elite that it replaced.
D
Hi,

My old Panasonic 50" plasma P50G10 does support DD5.1 over the air, but does not do 5.1 HDMI to optical pass.

I have a new sony 55" XBR55X850A (4K-UHDTV) being delivered tomorrow and I hope it does do DD5.1 HDMI pass. ;(

I can finally confirm that the Sony 4k 55" TV - XBR-55X850A - Does do DD5.1 pass via HDMI to Optical without any issues. Also does DD5.1 from all built in Apps that support 5.1 (Like Netflix), and from over the air TV.
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