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

Further to my post above I can confrim exactly the situation on Samsung, or at least the H6700. As with the post regarding LG TVs above its related to the EDID. When you connect a device to the TV with HDMI it reports that it only supoprts PCM 2.0.
So, if the connected device changes its output format based on the EDID ie PCM 2.0 then the optical pass thru gets exactly that.
However, if the connected device has the option to fix the output format (and effectively ignore the EDID, SKy HD boxes in the UK are an example of this ) then the full dolby 5.1 signal gets passed through the optical output.

Thanks for posting. i have the same 6700 Samsung Tv, sky and a Sonos Playbar. Sky is set to DD audio output on HDMI, HDMI connection to TV, optical from TV to Playbar. TV speakers set to 'off'. Additional sound settings on TV show DD as being input and DD as output (selectable, not greyed out). However, no sound heard at all from Playbar. If i toggle either the sky HDMI audio or TV audio to normal/PCM respectively, i get PCM sound to the Playbar, playing as it should, albeit in stereo only. Internal TV sources, DLNA streaming & Apps pass DD to the Playbar via optical perfectly.

Really interested in your comment wrt EDID and your statement that DD does indeed get passed through on your set up. On my Samsung 6700, i am yet to get this to work. Any help much appreciated

Thanks for posting. i have the same 6700 Samsung Tv, sky and a Sonos Playbar. Sky is set to DD audio output on HDMI, HDMI connection to TV, optical from TV to Playbar. TV speakers set to 'off'. Additional sound settings on TV show DD as being input and DD as output (selectable, not greyed out). However, no sound heard at all from Playbar. If i toggle either the sky HDMI audio or TV audio to normal/PCM respectively, i get PCM sound to the Playbar, playing as it should, albeit in stereo only. Internal TV sources, DLNA streaming & Apps pass DD to the Playbar via optical perfectly.

Really interested in your comment wrt EDID and your statement that DD does indeed get passed through on your set up. On my Samsung 6700, i am yet to get this to work. Any help much appreciated

I read something at ask sonos site about samsung TV audio and 'DTS Neo' (in)compatibility.
see here
https://ask.sonos.com/sonos/topics/please-add-support-for-dts-neo-to-the-playbay?

Did you try updating the TV firmware to see if any more options become available ?

Yep, tried latest TV firmware, Samsung released 2602.4 a few days ago. Sadly no change. DTS NEO remains an additional audio out option, but not supported today by the Playbar.

I am having the same issue with the Samsung UN65HU8700FXZA, I have the latest firmware update and have called both Sonos support and Samsung support. Both to no avail. Does anyone have any information on getting this particular model to output the dolby digital 5.1 signal from the TV to the playbar?

I have purchased the ViewHD TOSLINK | SPDIF Optical Audio 3X1 Switch with 5.1CH Decoder and it works, but it is not the ideal setup. I would much prefer the TV to output the correct signal to the Sonos playbar.

I have the whole surround set up that includes the SONOS Playbar, Sub, and two Play 3's.

I have them connected to a VIZIO 70 inch P-series P702ui-B3 and I can confirm that is working.

You have to complete the following steps in order to work.

1. First go to your Vizio settings and under Audio select TV Speakers off.

2. Under the same sub menu of Audio select Digital Audio Out to Bitstream.

3. To confirm that its working go to your SONOS app and under Settings go to About My Sonos System. Under the PLAYBAR you will see Audio In and it should say Dolby Digital 5.1.

Note*** When I completed the steps I did not see Dolby Digital 5.1 under the Audio In in the Sonos App. The reason was that I was using my Direct TV Genie receiver and I did not have Dolby Digital selected.

To do this, under the Direct TV menu go to settings > Audio > Dolby Digital > Select ON.

You will have to be careful to make sure that if you are using an external receiver such as Direct TV, UVERSE, Apple TV etc.. to have Dolby Digital 5.1 selected.

Hope this helps to the Vizio owners!!
:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

I have the whole surround set up that includes the SONOS Playbar, Sub, and two Play 3's.

I have them connected to a VIZIO 70 inch P-series P702ui-B3 and I can confirm that is working.

You have to complete the following steps in order to work.

1. First go to your Vizio settings and under Audio select TV Speakers off.

2. Under the same sub menu of Audio select Digital Audio Out to Bitstream.

3. To confirm that its working go to your SONOS app and under Settings go to About My Sonos System. Under the PLAYBAR you will see Audio In and it should say Dolby Digital 5.1.

Note*** When I completed the steps I did not see Dolby Digital 5.1 under the Audio In in the Sonos App. The reason was that I was using my Direct TV Genie receiver and I did not have Dolby Digital selected.

To do this, under the Direct TV menu go to settings > Audio > Dolby Digital > Select ON.

You will have to be careful to make sure that if you are using an external receiver such as Direct TV, UVERSE, Apple TV etc.. to have Dolby Digital 5.1 selected.

Hope this helps to the Vizio owners!!
:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

Is there an onscreen message on the Vizio when you use the remote to adjust the volume?

Is there an onscreen message on the Vizio when you use the remote to adjust the volume?

You should only see a one time message saying TV speakers are off. If you continue to see an onscreen message with the volume level of the tv speakers you need to go to the VIZIO settings and under Audio select Analog Audio Out to Fixed. This will allow an external audio device ( sound bar or AV receiver) to control the volume.

Sharp LC-80LE632U with latest firmware
Bell Fibe HD TV receiver
HTPC for Netflix

Both sources connected via HDMI to the TV and then using optical out from TV to the Playbar. The TV is converting everything down to stereo.

When the Bell receiver audio output is set to stereo, everything gets sent over, but when the receiver is set to surround audio output, either nothing is sent, or just stereo. Most channels are quiet, but the audio streaming ones are passed (but still in stereo of course). When the Bell box was set to surround, on some rare cases, when switching inputs on the TV, for a few seconds the tv would pass audio to the Playbar, but would then cut out. Switching Bell box back to stereo output fixed that problem, but now I am not sending any surround data to the playbar. I suspect this is an HDCP protection issue with the TV?

Netflix via the HTPC is fine - but as noted, only in stereo.

I contacted Sonos technical support, and even though it is not an officially supported product, they recommend using an HDMI switch with optical audio output. I now have a Monoprice 107974 on order. Looks like this will remedy the problem, and should be able to deliver the full surround data from both sources to the Playbar without the TV hindering the audio output.

Here are my opinions on the Playbar and Sonos: Sonos technical support is super. Any time I need to call, I always get a friendly person on the phone and they are able to help resolve my issue. Very, very pleased with their customer service. I already have a multi-zone Sonos system in use for years now, so adding the Playbar was a natural extension to my audio setup. Sending my music library from the NAS drive, or streaming internet radio to the Playbar as another zone in the system is great. If you are already a current Sonos system user and are thinking of adding the Playbar to your TV, then I think it is a great product. If you do not have any Sonos components, and probably don't plan on investing into the ecosystem - making the Playbar your only component, then it is probably not the best fit. Some research on the net shows there are better sounding surround bars for less money, but the big value of the Playbar in my opinion is to add on to the existing multi-room ecosystem if you are already in it.

For Playbar sound quality: on stereo music sources, I am really impressed! Output is very clean, even at full volume. The vocal presence, and guitar tracks on certain albums are mind blowing. The Playbar also seems to provide a wider soundstage - as it would be trying to simulate a surround effect, and it does that very well. Even watching TV, or Netflix (although in stereo only), still sounds very good. Vocals and dialogue are clear. I am curious to hear what the difference will be like once I hook up the Monoprice box and see what the Playbar can do with a true surround signal.

After much research I recently purchased the following setup and can confirm everything works (ie. 5.1 from all inputs).

Sony KDL55W829 LCD Television
Samsung BD-H6500 Blu-ray player
Sky+ HD Box
Sonos Playbar + SUB

There is no need to adjust settings on TV to enable 5.1 passthrough via optical other than changing "Speakers" from "TV speakers to Audio System".

You can also have the volume control sync with the Playbar by setting "headphone/audio out" to "audio out" and "audio out" to "variable"

To enable on the fly transcoding of DTS to Dolby 5.1 you need to change Blu-ray "Digital Output" setting from "PCM" to "Bitstream (Re-encoded Dolby D).

I can also confirm that the TV passes through Dolby 5.1 from the both the TV and Blu-ray player Netflix apps.

Got the monoprice switch box and hooked it up to all the gear. Now with both sources being routed first through the switch and then to the Playbar, I am getting 5.1. Confirmed this with the Sonos app. Listened to some Game of Thrones - man this thing rocks!:D


Sharp LC-80LE632U with latest firmware
Bell Fibe HD TV receiver
HTPC for Netflix

Both sources connected via HDMI to the TV and then using optical out from TV to the Playbar. The TV is converting everything down to stereo.

When the Bell receiver audio output is set to stereo, everything gets sent over, but when the receiver is set to surround audio output, either nothing is sent, or just stereo. Most channels are quiet, but the audio streaming ones are passed (but still in stereo of course). When the Bell box was set to surround, on some rare cases, when switching inputs on the TV, for a few seconds the tv would pass audio to the Playbar, but would then cut out. Switching Bell box back to stereo output fixed that problem, but now I am not sending any surround data to the playbar. I suspect this is an HDCP protection issue with the TV?

Netflix via the HTPC is fine - but as noted, only in stereo.

I contacted Sonos technical support, and even though it is not an officially supported product, they recommend using an HDMI switch with optical audio output. I now have a Monoprice 107974 on order. Looks like this will remedy the problem, and should be able to deliver the full surround data from both sources to the Playbar without the TV hindering the audio output.

Here are my opinions on the Playbar and Sonos: Sonos technical support is super. Any time I need to call, I always get a friendly person on the phone and they are able to help resolve my issue. Very, very pleased with their customer service. I already have a multi-zone Sonos system in use for years now, so adding the Playbar was a natural extension to my audio setup. Sending my music library from the NAS drive, or streaming internet radio to the Playbar as another zone in the system is great. If you are already a current Sonos system user and are thinking of adding the Playbar to your TV, then I think it is a great product. If you do not have any Sonos components, and probably don't plan on investing into the ecosystem - making the Playbar your only component, then it is probably not the best fit. Some research on the net shows there are better sounding surround bars for less money, but the big value of the Playbar in my opinion is to add on to the existing multi-room ecosystem if you are already in it.

For Playbar sound quality: on stereo music sources, I am really impressed! Output is very clean, even at full volume. The vocal presence, and guitar tracks on certain albums are mind blowing. The Playbar also seems to provide a wider soundstage - as it would be trying to simulate a surround effect, and it does that very well. Even watching TV, or Netflix (although in stereo only), still sounds very good. Vocals and dialogue are clear. I am curious to hear what the difference will be like once I hook up the Monoprice box and see what the Playbar can do with a true surround signal.