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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

Finally found the right setting and I can now confirm that this Sharp LED model does pass 5.1.

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

My Sony passes DD5.1 through the optical no problem - KDL-32W653A

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

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.