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Contributor I
Mar 11, 2013 9:35 AM UTC

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

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.
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370 replies

Contributor I
Mar 11, 2013 10:36 AM UTC
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...
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Lyricist III
Mar 12, 2013 1:37 AM UTC
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.
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Lyricist III
Mar 15, 2013 4:52 PM UTC
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.
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buzz
Grand Maestro
Mar 15, 2013 5:57 PM UTC
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.
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Contributor I
Mar 15, 2013 11:38 PM UTC
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.
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Sonos Staff
Mar 18, 2013 8:05 PM UTC
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.
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Lyricist II
Mar 18, 2013 9:49 PM UTC
Thank you. This is a really helpful post. Much appreciated.
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Lyricist I
Mar 21, 2013 10:08 AM UTC
Philips 55PFL8007 works with 5.1 pass through with input from AppleTV and DVB-S receiver
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Contributor I
Mar 21, 2013 3:07 PM UTC
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.
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Lyricist III
Mar 24, 2013 4:18 AM UTC
Can anyone confirm any of the Vizio e60 or e70 sets passing 5.1 successfully?

Severum
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