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All,

Would you mind listing your TV and mode/year in this thread if you have tested it and confirmed it will pass DD 5.1 to the Playbar and from what source. This will help those of us in the market for a new TV and playbar.



Thanks



MikeB.
I found this thread very difficult to follow!



I have tried to list the tvs which people say are 5.1 passthrough able



LG 55LX9500

42PFLG008K/12

Samsung PN43D490

Samsung UN55C6500VF

Samsung UN*JU7100

Samsung TV - UE46ES8000U

Sony 46EX400

Sony KDL32EX400

Sony KDL55EX720

Sony kdl-46nx713

Sony KDL46EX400

65x8505

Sony KDL55EX500

Sony KDL xxNX800/KDL-xxNX810

Sony KDL-37W5500

Sony XBR 55HX929

Sony Bravia 55W905A

XBR-55X850A

Vizio XVT3D554SV

vizio E601i-A3

Philips 55PFL8007

Mfr: LG Model: LM8600 Firmware: 04.34.02

Sony 55" HX925

Vizio XVT553SV

Sony model KDL-60EX645

samsung UE55ES8000

LG LW550T

LG 47LA740V

LG 55" 3D Smart LED-TV 55LA660V

LG 47LM670T

Samsung PN60F8500AF

LG 60" Plasma-TV 60PN650T

Toshiba 50L5200U

Samsung 55UNF6300

Samsung LED F8500

Samsung PS64F8500

LG42LH5000

LG 60PM670S

Sharp's Aquos LC-60LE650U

Samsung UN60H6300* - after being pretty upset for a few months at my Sonos 5.1 Home Theater setup and my need to switch optical from diff connections, I tried something that was shared earlier in this thread. I hooked my ATV to the HDMI, ran the optical from the TV to the Playbar, and made a critical change in my samsung's settings....Sound > Additional Settings > Audio Format > Dolby Digital. I have DD 5.1 being passed through for my HDMI
Based off our testing, these models are able to pass 5.1 through the Optical Out of the TV.






  • LG 55LX9500
  • Samsung PN43D490
  • Samsung UN55C6500VF
  • Sony 46EX400
  • Sony KDL32EX400
  • Sony KDL46EX400
  • Sony KDL55EX500
  • Sony KDL xxNX800/KDL-xxNX810
  • Vizio XVT3D554SV




These have worked with external components such as, Bluray, Apple TV and Cable boxes.
Can we start populating this thread with known valid sets passing 5.1 from HDMI? I would love to get some confirmation of supported sets. I am sure many others as well.
Note that the configuration below is after going into the Service Menu (used a Harmony remote and access password 0413) and changing EDID from PCM to AC3. I don't know if this is required as I changed this from the start.



Mfr: LG

Model: LM8600

Firmware: 04.34.02



How is audio passed from HDMI inputs to TOSLINK: PCM and 5.1

Are analog audio inputs passed through to TOSLINK? unknown

Is audio from IP streaming (if any) passed through as PCM stereo? Yes 5.1? No, DD2.0 [only tested built-in Plex client]

Can the TV's speakers be switched OFF? Yes

If switched OFF are there any annoying on screen messages when a TV IR volume command is received? Yes (workaround is to use different mfg signal for PlayBar controls)
I really just want to find a damn TV that will handle the HDMI switching and output 5.1 but that is proving difficult.



I'm still trying to figure out what Sonos was thinking with the Playbar design, since it's so difficult to find a TV that actually outputs 5.1 over optical. I started a whole thread on that so I won't rehash again here, but I'm stumped what they expected us to do. Did they expect us to all get HDMI switchers or optical routers? Did they expect us to figure out what TVs can do this seemingly impossible task?
This is a great list and living thread that'd be great to keep going. I'm going to sticky it here on the board so it's easy to access. We don't maintain a complete list of devices that pass Dolby but let's see what we all can do here about updating this thread with the latest devices we've found which do.What would be really helpful would be a printable list / summary of the TVs that PlayBar is fully 5.1 compatible with.



Having to search this 2 year old thread looking for what TV to buy is just not viable. Say we want to buy a new TV (which we do!) and we want to ensure it will work in full 5.1 with our PlayBar (which our current TV does not) then a list we can take to the store or use for an internet search is the way to go. Looking for a new TV, finding a great one and then having to double check if it works with PlayBar and finding it does not, is going to be a real pain!
This is a great list and living thread that'd be great to keep going. I'm going to sticky it here on the board so it's easy to access. We don't maintain a complete list of devices that pass Dolby but let's see what we all can do here about updating this thread with the latest devices we've found which do.What would be really helpful would be a printable list / summary of the TVs that PlayBar is fully 5.1 compatible with.



Having to search this 2 year old thread looking for what TV to buy is just not viable. Say we want to buy a new TV (which we do!) and we want to ensure it will work in full 5.1 with our PlayBar (which our current TV does not) then a list we can take to the store or use for an internet search is the way to go. Looking for a new TV, finding a great one and then having to double check if it works with PlayBar and finding it does not, is going to be a real pain!




That's a good suggestion, we'd probably have to start with curating this thread into a more condensed list and then spread out from there. If it helps, we have a list here of TVs that we've seen not to work for some reason with workarounds where available: https://sonos.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1931/



Unfortunately that list isn't complete, it gets updated as we find TVs and there are constantly new brands and models coming out.
Samsung UN*JU7100 series does not pass Dolby Digital 5.1 from HDMI to Optical. It does pass 5.1 DD through the native TV applications. This is very frustrating.
I found this thread very difficult to follow!



I have tried to list the tvs which people say are 5.1 passthrough able



LG 55LX9500

42PFLG008K/12

Samsung PN43D490

Samsung UN55C6500VF

Samsung UN*JU7100

Samsung TV - UE46ES8000U

Sony 46EX400

Sony KDL32EX400

Sony KDL55EX720

Sony kdl-46nx713

Sony KDL46EX400

65x8505

Sony KDL55EX500

Sony KDL xxNX800/KDL-xxNX810

Sony KDL-37W5500

Sony XBR 55HX929

Sony Bravia 55W905A

XBR-55X850A

Vizio XVT3D554SV

vizio E601i-A3

Philips 55PFL8007

Mfr: LG Model: LM8600 Firmware: 04.34.02

Sony 55" HX925

Vizio XVT553SV

Sony model KDL-60EX645

samsung UE55ES8000

LG LW550T

LG 47LA740V

LG 55" 3D Smart LED-TV 55LA660V

LG 47LM670T

Samsung PN60F8500AF

LG 60" Plasma-TV 60PN650T

Toshiba 50L5200U

Samsung 55UNF6300

Samsung LED F8500

Samsung PS64F8500

LG42LH5000

LG 60PM670S

Sharp's Aquos LC-60LE650U
My Samsung UE55JS9000 passes 5.1 through optical to my Playbar
Hi,



Just want to add LG 47lh3000 to the list of compatible Tv's that will pass through 5.1 DD to the 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.
Anyone knows if the Sony KDL-42W705B pass pass 5.1? Thanks



Ive got a 42W-653A which works fine so the answer is probably yes.
This thread is impossible to try to search. Is there a wiki somewhere we could create?



In meantime I’m wondering if a Samsung 65MU8000 (http://www.samsung.com/us/televisions-home-theater/tvs/4k-uhd-tvs/65--class-mu8000-4k-uhd-tv-un65mu8000fxza/) will pass DD5.1 through optical for playbar.



Anyone know?


While it would be of some benefit to them, you're essentially asking Sonos to maintain a list of what other company's products will do. The optimal person to ask if a device will pass DD5.1 through optical is the company selling it. It's second-hand information from anyone else.
Sorry mods, I posted this elsewhere but think it belongs here. Could you add the TV to the master list please?



I’ve found another TV that works:



Panasonic 50-EX700B



I assume that also means the other sizes of 700B, along with the 600B and 750B ranges will also work. I got a pretty awesome Black Friday deal from John Lewis including a free 5 year warranty.



By “it works” I mean that it passes 5.1 on to the Sonos via optical. My set up is:



Sky+ HD Box > HDMI > TV HDMI 1

Panasonic Blu-Ray > HDMI > TV HDMI 2

TV > Digital Optical > Playbase



It all looks and sounds fantastic. The TV is 4K, and streams Netflix and Amazon Prime in 4K/HDR, and they also output in 5.1. The Blu-ray upscales to 4K and is outputting 5.1. Sky HD is HD only (no Q yet!) but is outputting 5.1.



Panasonic don’t seem to feature in any of the earlier posts and wider tests, so I was delighted to get this working and to share it with you all as an option!



I had to fiddle with the settings quite a bit on all parts of the chain, so if anyone attempts the same set up and gets stuck, give me a shout

I hooked my playbar directly to an apple tv 3 and PS3 optical in plugged via hdmi to a panasonic viera thl32 directly and all I can get is 'stereo'. Without a sub and 2 play 3's I don't see how you are expecting 5.1. And even so, we will get a 'simulated' 5.1...
Check and see if your Apple TV sound setting is set to Auto. If so, change to Dolby and your TV may well receive it and send it on over the optical. My Samsung was receiving stereo from the Apple TV until I made this change. Now my Playbar gets Dolby 5.1 over optical from Samsung via HDMI from Apple TV.
I think that this would be a good idea, but I worry about the quality and timelyness of the data submitted. A simple claim that, "my [mfr] set works", is not very useful.



We would need:

Mfr

Exact model number

firmware level

Number of inputs and type

Number of outputs and type

How is audio passed from HDMI inputs to TOSLINK? PCM stereo? 5.1? DTS --> PCM Stereo?

Are analog audio inputs passed through to TOSLINK?

Is audio from IP streaming (if any) passed through as PCM stereo? 5.1?

Can the TV's speakers be switched OFF? If switched OFF are there any annoying on screen messages when a TV IR volume command is received?



And, we would need the submitter to accept "ownership" of this data, respond to challenges about its accuracy, and follow up to report issues created and resolved after a (TV or SONOS) firmware update.



There would need to be sufficient disclaimers to protect SONOS from liability.



---



Maintaining the database could consume someone's free time. At minimum there should be a data submission form that would collect and format the data. A well done form would update the database automatically.



Potentially, a user could donate server space and host the database.
Check and see if your Apple TV sound setting is set to Auto. If so, change to Dolby and your TV may well receive it and send it on over the optical. My Samsung was receiving stereo from the Apple TV until I made this change. Now my Playbar gets Dolby 5.1 over optical from Samsung via HDMI from Apple TV.



You are referring to the "Dolby" option under "Audio" in settings?

If so, I tried that, Samsung TV (LN55B650), and still just stereo.
Thank you. This is a really helpful post. Much appreciated.
Philips 55PFL8007 works with 5.1 pass through with input from AppleTV and DVB-S receiver
My Loewe 40 Individual passes DD5.1 via optical to my Sonos Playbar, I am very impressed with the sound on both movies/TV and music.
Can anyone confirm any of the Vizio e60 or e70 sets passing 5.1 successfully?



Severum
Based off our testing, these models are able to pass 5.1 through the Optical Out of the TV.






  • LG 55LX9500
  • Samsung PN43D490
  • Samsung UN55C6500VF
  • Sony 46EX400
  • Sony KDL32EX400
  • Sony KDL46EX400
  • Sony KDL55EX500
  • Sony KDL xxNX800/KDL-xxNX810
  • Vizio XVT3D554SV




These have worked with external components such as, Bluray, Apple TV and Cable boxes.




I would imagine that the 60" versions of these tv's would work as well.
I urge anyone looking to make this work who intends on connecting their sources to the tv HDMI try this IN STORE. It doesn't work. It didn't on one of the above Sony models. We tried for 2 hours. No good. Until I find a grey market HDMI stripper, I'm stuck with dumbed up audio.