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

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 have the F8000. I did all the firmware updates last night. The Dolby Digital option in the sound settings is STILL GREYED OUT. How did you confirm the upgrade worked?

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.

I have the 65" version of the F8000. The sound settings on the TV sound menu has the Dolby Digital still Greyed Out, after I was told no more updates are available. How did you confirm with this firmware update that you are getting 5.1 output?

I have the F8000. I did all the firmware updates last night. The Dolby Digital option in the sound settings is STILL GREYED OUT. How did you confirm the upgrade worked?

Are your tv speakers set to OFF?

Are your tv speakers set to OFF?

Yes. I've tried both ways -- off and on. Still greyed out. Updated the firmware (I think to 1117 or something like that) last night.

Can anyone tell me how to get Samsung 65" F8000 to output Dolby Digital to Playbar? I'm frustrated that Sonos doesn't have more information on this issue. I mean, if you market this system as a surround sound (with playbar, sub, and play:1s), then Sonos should be telling it's customers WHICH TV's have full dolby digital out through the optical. It should not be buried in some forum like this, where there are some saying it works, other saying it doesn't.

I had a similar issue after I updated the firmware until I verified that my cable box and apple TV were actually set to output DD over HDMI. Once they were set correctly (can be tricky based on different devices) my TV let me enable Dolby Digital, it was no longer greyed out. In contrast, my Xbox One has a known limitation where DD is not output via HDMI and the option is still greyed out on the TV.

I am able to confirm that my Playbar is seeing a 5.1 DD signal for cable and apple TV by looking at the about screen which lists each device and the input signal. 5.1 for cable/apple tv when the source supports it and stereo for Xbox One.

I had a similar issue after I updated the firmware until I verified that my cable box and apple TV were actually set to output DD over HDMI. Once they were set correctly (can be tricky based on different devices) my TV let me enable Dolby Digital, it was no longer greyed out. In contrast, my Xbox One has a known limitation where DD is not output via HDMI and the option is still greyed out on the TV.

I am able to confirm that my Playbar is seeing a 5.1 DD signal for cable and apple TV by looking at the about screen which lists each device and the input signal. 5.1 for cable/apple tv when the source supports it and stereo for Xbox One.

Thank you for your reply. I have checked my cable box's settings. It is supposed to be outputting 5.1 DD. In fact, when I plug the optical out directly into the box, I get 5.1 DD. But when I go through the tv to Sonos playbar, it says stereo (in the about screen). So it seems my Samsung is dumming the signal down to Stereo even though the cable box is giving it 5.1 DD.

Thank you for contacting Samsung.

I understand that you are enquiring about Dolby digital output from Samsung TV: UN65ES8000F to Sonos Playbar with Cox Cable box running HDMI to Samsung TV.

I would be happy to assist you with that.

TV allows your to select the Audio format that you would like to output the sound from the TV i.e. PCM or Dolby Digital. However, there are restrictions when the Dolby digital signal is allowed to be selected. Dolby digital will be available only when

1. TV is receiving the ATSC or QAM from Antenna or direct cable from wall, that is carrying the Dolby digital track.

2. When the TV is using streaming service like Amazon, Hulu etc that has a Dolby digital track.

In the above cases, you will be able to select the Dolby digital track for audio out from the TV. Dolby digital won't be available when you connect any external input device like Cable box, DVD using an HDMI cable.

Even though HDMI is capable of carrying a 5.1 audio signal because of HDCP (High Density-Bandwidth Content Protection) the TV cannot bypass decoded 5.1 audio content from the HDMI input to the optical output. Because of this Dolby digital output is not available with the HDMI input. It is common for all Samsung TVs.

You can refer more information from the below link :

http://support-us.samsung.com/cyber/popup/iframe/pop_troubleshooting_fr.jsp?modelname=UN46C8000XF&idx=347142&modelcode=&

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FOLKS -- this is a $3600 tv. It should not have this issue. Period. I'm taking mine back.

I did the lg service menu hack to enable ac3 and sonos is confirming that it is receiving 5.1 but the sound doesn't sound any different. I don't hear any separation of either the LCR channels or the rear effects.

Any suggestions?

I was pacing nervously as the Play:1 surrounds were great with music but silent while watching TV.

This was a Samsung TV belonging to someone else and I did not grab the model number... it was new within the last year or so.

Went into the AT&T cable box menu and enabled Dolby Digital (was off). No help, even though the Samsung sound menu indicated it would pass DD. On a whim I flippet back to the Samsung audio menu, turned it off (stereo) and then back on. Surround appeared miraculously in the Play:1s.

The off and back on sequence must have acted as a virtual reboot of sorts...

I confirmed the Sonos controller Settings:About indicated the PlayBar was receiving a stereo input before and a surround input afterwards.