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

Just wanted to share that the LG 55EG9100 OLED TV will pass through 5.1 for native applications (Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, etc.) but will NOT do 5.1 passthrough via HDMI for external sources like Blu Ray players or the XBox One, PS4 or XBox 360.

Frustrating, but the incredible picture on this TV and absolutely dead perfect black levels (even better than my Panasonic GT30 that it replaced) is enough for me to still be incredibly happy with the TV.

As a work around, for about two years now, I have been using this optical switch. http://amzn.com/B00BB0GY1C

For external sources, I send an toslink connection out of my source and into the switch and then send the one output on the switch to the Sonos Playbar. The switch has its own remote control, but it is very tiny and pretty crappy. However, the switch will sync with a Harmony remote for even more convenience. It works perfectly and should be an optimal solution for most of the users on this forum that want Dolby 5.1 from all sources through their Playbar.

Good advice Evan, I have an almost identical setup. It's worth adding that by NOT passing audio through the TV there is a potential for getting silence from Blurays encoded with DTS but no DD5.1. What is then needed is a Bluray player that will transcode DTS to DD5.1, which is true of at least some games consoles and Samsung Bluray players.

There is also a monoprice HDMI switch with optical output that is often recommended on this forum.

The Monoprice HDMI switch is probably a better solution because you don't get video passed through one cable and audio passed through another (which could create lip sync issues, but hasn't for me to this point), but until my switch fails me (two years so far and still in perfect working order), I'm taking the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" approach.

Just wanted to share that the LG 55EG9100 OLED TV will pass through 5.1 for native applications (Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, etc.) but will NOT do 5.1 passthrough via HDMI for external sources like Blu Ray players or the XBox One, PS4 or XBox 360.

As a work around, for about two years now, I have been using this optical switch. http://amzn.com/B00BB0GY1C

For external sources, I send an toslink connection out of my source and into the switch and then send the one output on the switch to the Sonos Playbar. The switch has its own remote control, but it is very tiny and pretty crappy. However, the switch will sync with a Harmony remote for even more convenience. It works perfectly and should be an optimal solution for most of the users on this forum that want Dolby 5.1 from all sources through their Playbar.

Thanks for this information, Evan. I have been planning to upgrade my TV to an LG OLED 65", so a bit disappointed to learn it will not pass through Dolby 5.1 from external HDMI-connected sources. Just so I am clear, what do you do for the audio when you use the native apps in the TV set? I presume you also run the optical connection from the TV to the switch, so that all audio (from external sources as well as the TV output) runs through the switch to the PLAYBAR?

Many thanks!

Hi KenS and EvanS. I too am planning on upgrading to the LG 65EF9500 OLED 4K TV and currently have the Sonos system (playbar, sub, and 2 surround play1's). I'm currently using the monoprice HDX-401TA HDMI splitter (with an optical output) with my 8year old Panasonic plasma tv. This has worked well for me. However, my concern now is I don't want to use this same HDMI splitter with the OLED 4K TV since its not transmitting 4K video (since its not a HDMI 2.0/HDCP 2.2). And by using EvanS' optical switch may work better for the OLED 4K setup, it may not work for devices that don't have both HDMI and Optical Output. For example, the new Amazon 4K FireTV box does not have Optical Output; It only has HDMI output. Using this optical switch will not work in this case. I am disappointed that LG does not output DD5.1 via its optical output for external devices. I'm open to suggestions on workarounds.

Hi,

Just wanted to say I picked up a Philips 55" 4K TV (55PUT4900) at Argos today for £499 to replace my Samsung 51' Plasma that lacked 5.1 pass through. The new Philips supports Dolby 5.1 from a HDMI source to the optical out on the back.

Here's a Playbar solution that I've been using successfully for several years.

Components:
Panasonic TC-P60GT50 TV (this model only provides PCM through its optical out port unless content is coming via the TVs internet connection)
FiOS QIP 72322 Cable Box
Apple TV 4th gen
Octava HD41-ARC HDMI/Optical audio switch with ARC support

Connections:
Cable Box to HDMI port 1 on switch
Apple TV to HDMI port 2 on switch
Switch HDMI out to HDMI-ARC port on TV
Switch Optical Out to Playbar
TV speakers set to Off

This configuration supports DD5.1 audio for cable content, internet content streamed by the TV, and internet content streamed by Apple TV.

This solution should work with any TV that has an HDMI-ARC input port.

Hope this helps.

Hi Steve, your setup is similar to mine where I'm using the Monoprice HDMI splitter with optical out. Works perfectly as you stated above. My initial question is when using a new 4K TV, what should we use when the 4K TV's optical output still does not support DD5.1 audio. For us, using our current HDMI splitter will work but both splitters are not HDMI 2.0 compatible; thus, will not output 4K video. Do anyone know if there are new HDMI 2.0 splitters with optical output?

James, I believe that the current version of the Octava switch (June, 2015) supports 4K video but anyone needing this should check with Octava support to make sure. They are very responsive.

Anyone knows if the Sony KDL-42W705B pass pass 5.1? Thanks