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LPCM ETA for Arc?

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206 replies

N

Hi all.

 

I just wanted to add my experience.

Its been driving me mad having the same setup with the addition of a Fire Stick 4k…. no problems with my Sonos beam… but when I updated to the Arc I have been having some really random problems.

Before I go into detail… I want to reiterate what someone else has just said… at ALL times playing content purchased from the iTunes store such as 4K ATMOS movies they work fine.. and the ARC outputs in Atmos.

My problems stemmed from other apps on the AppleTV.  Netflix, and Amazon Prime.  Movies that were supposed to be 5.1 were coming out 2,0.   Atmos content was not working at all, and mostly coming out at 2.0.  Then, it decided to loose the centre channel so I could not hear the dialogue.

Researching the problem, I found this thread.  

I grudging accepted that I could not diagnose the issue and I started to use the Fire Stick (which has no problem outputting to the ARC in atmos) or the inbuilt LG apps (My LG is the OLED 2019 model with eARC)

This is so frustrating as ive checked my settings over and over… and there is something that just doesn't work.  Lots like this LPCM issue with the arc is to blame and I hope they fix it soon.

However… as I said.. ive got no problems whatsoever with iTunes content… its the only app on the TV that seems to do it correctly.  I just cant get my head around why one app works from the same box, and the others dont.

That explains it for me then as to why it works fine, as I only use it for the iTunes purchased stuff.

 

I just cant get my head around the problem.

The AppleTV is clearly capable of sending and ATMOS soundtrack to the ARC via the LG eARC port… and it clearly works for iTunes content...  However other apps from the same AppleTV do not work at all with varying degrees of weirdness.

Its certainly to do with firmware and correct format support but we are talking about 3 devices that are involved in this chain and the fault could be with any one of them.

So annoying at this is designed to be super simple - and yet its not.

 

 

R

Could it be that Apple fixed it in tvOS 14? I have kept my C9 on the old firmware but now I’m tempted. 

I’m not on tvOS 14, I’m on 13.4.8 but it might have happened with a recent Apple TV update regardless. 

My BX is on 13.11.10 and I’m in Australia if that makes any difference.

L
Userlevel 5
Badge +11

Hi all.

 

I just wanted to add my experience.

Its been driving me mad having the same setup with the addition of a Fire Stick 4k…. no problems with my Sonos beam… but when I updated to the Arc I have been having some really random problems.

Before I go into detail… I want to reiterate what someone else has just said… at ALL times playing content purchased from the iTunes store such as 4K ATMOS movies they work fine.. and the ARC outputs in Atmos.

My problems stemmed from other apps on the AppleTV.  Netflix, and Amazon Prime.  Movies that were supposed to be 5.1 were coming out 2,0.   Atmos content was not working at all, and mostly coming out at 2.0.  Then, it decided to loose the centre channel so I could not hear the dialogue.

Researching the problem, I found this thread.  

I grudging accepted that I could not diagnose the issue and I started to use the Fire Stick (which has no problem outputting to the ARC in atmos) or the inbuilt LG apps (My LG is the OLED 2019 model with eARC)

This is so frustrating as ive checked my settings over and over… and there is something that just doesn't work.  Lots like this LPCM issue with the arc is to blame and I hope they fix it soon.

However… as I said.. ive got no problems whatsoever with iTunes content… its the only app on the TV that seems to do it correctly.  I just cant get my head around why one app works from the same box, and the others dont.

That explains it for me then as to why it works fine, as I only use it for the iTunes purchased stuff.

N

Hi all.

 

I just wanted to add my experience.

Its been driving me mad having the same setup with the addition of a Fire Stick 4k…. no problems with my Sonos beam… but when I updated to the Arc I have been having some really random problems.

Before I go into detail… I want to reiterate what someone else has just said… at ALL times playing content purchased from the iTunes store such as 4K ATMOS movies they work fine.. and the ARC outputs in Atmos.

My problems stemmed from other apps on the AppleTV.  Netflix, and Amazon Prime.  Movies that were supposed to be 5.1 were coming out 2,0.   Atmos content was not working at all, and mostly coming out at 2.0.  Then, it decided to loose the centre channel so I could not hear the dialogue.

Researching the problem, I found this thread.  

I grudging accepted that I could not diagnose the issue and I started to use the Fire Stick (which has no problem outputting to the ARC in atmos) or the inbuilt LG apps (My LG is the OLED 2019 model with eARC)

This is so frustrating as ive checked my settings over and over… and there is something that just doesn't work.  Lots like this LPCM issue with the arc is to blame and I hope they fix it soon.

However… as I said.. ive got no problems whatsoever with iTunes content… its the only app on the TV that seems to do it correctly.  I just cant get my head around why one app works from the same box, and the others dont.

S
Userlevel 4
Badge +2

Could it be that Apple fixed it in tvOS 14? I have kept my C9 on the old firmware but now I’m tempted. 

L
Userlevel 5
Badge +11

My LG BX updated it’s firmware last night and as of today is passing Dolby Atmos through to my Sonos Arc (from an Apple TV 4K). Even says “Dolby Atmos” in my Sonos App!

So maybe LG adjusted their firmware to pass through something the Arc is compatible with while Sonos get their own firmware sorted?

I have been able to pass atmos from my apple tv 4k to ARC since the CX was released back in April.

Was it certain apps on the apple box that prevented this?

 

There was an issue where LG updated their firmware to accept LPCM, so the Apple TV 4K would send that (which the Arc isn’t compatible with) and you’d get no sound unless you forced ATV to output at 5.1

Not sure why your CX wouldn’t have that issue unless you didn’t update firmware or something? 

 

I have kept CX fully up to date.

I only really use my apple tv 4k for the apple content such as purchased movies but have never had an issue playing Atmos or DD 5.1 content.

My settings on CX are are set to passthrough with eARC on, and on the Apple box just the defaults Auto/atmos on.

On sonos App, it showed ATMOS DD+ or Dolby Digital 5.1

Strange.

I believe a new firmware is out in the UK, but currently Im on 3.10.44

Odd. It’s a confirmed issue by Sonos that they need to add LPCM support, you must have just been lucky somehow! 

It is odd I have read a few threads with issues on this and I’ve always wondered why I get no issue, but then I’ve seen other people mention they get atmos and DD5.1 perfectly fine as well.

R

My LG BX updated it’s firmware last night and as of today is passing Dolby Atmos through to my Sonos Arc (from an Apple TV 4K). Even says “Dolby Atmos” in my Sonos App!

So maybe LG adjusted their firmware to pass through something the Arc is compatible with while Sonos get their own firmware sorted?

I have been able to pass atmos from my apple tv 4k to ARC since the CX was released back in April.

Was it certain apps on the apple box that prevented this?

 

There was an issue where LG updated their firmware to accept LPCM, so the Apple TV 4K would send that (which the Arc isn’t compatible with) and you’d get no sound unless you forced ATV to output at 5.1

Not sure why your CX wouldn’t have that issue unless you didn’t update firmware or something? 

 

I have kept CX fully up to date.

I only really use my apple tv 4k for the apple content such as purchased movies but have never had an issue playing Atmos or DD 5.1 content.

My settings on CX are are set to passthrough with eARC on, and on the Apple box just the defaults Auto/atmos on.

On sonos App, it showed ATMOS DD+ or Dolby Digital 5.1

Strange.

I believe a new firmware is out in the UK, but currently Im on 3.10.44

Odd. It’s a confirmed issue by Sonos that they need to add LPCM support, you must have just been lucky somehow! 

L
Userlevel 5
Badge +11

My LG BX updated it’s firmware last night and as of today is passing Dolby Atmos through to my Sonos Arc (from an Apple TV 4K). Even says “Dolby Atmos” in my Sonos App!

So maybe LG adjusted their firmware to pass through something the Arc is compatible with while Sonos get their own firmware sorted?

I have been able to pass atmos from my apple tv 4k to ARC since the CX was released back in April.

Was it certain apps on the apple box that prevented this?

 

There was an issue where LG updated their firmware to accept LPCM, so the Apple TV 4K would send that (which the Arc isn’t compatible with) and you’d get no sound unless you forced ATV to output at 5.1

Not sure why your CX wouldn’t have that issue unless you didn’t update firmware or something? 

 

I have kept CX fully up to date.

I only really use my apple tv 4k for the apple content such as purchased movies but have never had an issue playing Atmos or DD 5.1 content.

My settings on CX are are set to passthrough with eARC on, and on the Apple box just the defaults Auto/atmos on.

On sonos App, it showed ATMOS DD+ or Dolby Digital 5.1

Strange.

I believe a new firmware is out in the UK, but currently Im on 3.10.44

R

My LG BX updated it’s firmware last night and as of today is passing Dolby Atmos through to my Sonos Arc (from an Apple TV 4K). Even says “Dolby Atmos” in my Sonos App!

So maybe LG adjusted their firmware to pass through something the Arc is compatible with while Sonos get their own firmware sorted?

I have been able to pass atmos from my apple tv 4k to ARC since the CX was released back in April.

Was it certain apps on the apple box that prevented this?

 

There was an issue where LG updated their firmware to accept LPCM, so the Apple TV 4K would send that (which the Arc isn’t compatible with) and you’d get no sound unless you forced ATV to output at 5.1

Not sure why your CX wouldn’t have that issue unless you didn’t update firmware or something? 

L
Userlevel 5
Badge +11

My LG BX updated it’s firmware last night and as of today is passing Dolby Atmos through to my Sonos Arc (from an Apple TV 4K). Even says “Dolby Atmos” in my Sonos App!

So maybe LG adjusted their firmware to pass through something the Arc is compatible with while Sonos get their own firmware sorted?

I have been able to pass atmos from my apple tv 4k to ARC since the CX was released back in April.

Was it certain apps on the apple box that prevented this?

 

R

My LG BX updated it’s firmware last night and as of today is passing Dolby Atmos through to my Sonos Arc (from an Apple TV 4K). Even says “Dolby Atmos” in my Sonos App!

So maybe LG adjusted their firmware to pass through something the Arc is compatible with while Sonos get their own firmware sorted?

F
Userlevel 1
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It does support LPCM as it is full eARC. I guess it properly reports the Sonos limitations over EDID to the ATV which my Panasonic OLED doesn’t do properly (neither does LG).

Highly recommend the Arcana for Sonos Arc users!

D
Userlevel 2
Badge +1

Ah ok thanks. Yeah presumably that box doesn’t support LPCM which is why Apple TV doesn’t send such signal to it. 

F
Userlevel 1
Badge

https://www.hdfury.com/product/4k-arcana-18gbps/

D
Userlevel 2
Badge +1

Now this is interesting - with Arcana and TVOS14, audio set to Auto - Atmos enabled, the ATV BITSTREAMS DD5.1 over eARC to my Sonos Arc. And it sends the full Dolby MAT stream, which is the point of the Arcana of course. So for me, this LPCM requirement is off the table but I can imaging it’s still needed for those TVs where this doesn’t work. Not sure though if TVOS14 has changed anything on this front.

What’s Arcana?

F
Userlevel 1
Badge

Now this is interesting - with Arcana and TVOS14, audio set to Auto - Atmos enabled, the ATV BITSTREAMS DD5.1 over eARC to my Sonos Arc. And it sends the full Dolby MAT stream, which is the point of the Arcana of course. So for me, this LPCM requirement is off the table but I can imaging it’s still needed for those TVs where this doesn’t work. Not sure though if TVOS14 has changed anything on this front.

B
Userlevel 4
Badge +7

Hi @ledzep1.

Welcome, thank you for reaching back to Sonos Community.

I'll submit a feature request to add LPCM to a supported audio format to our development team.

We don't have a timeline we can share for this feature, but we'll be sure to make an announcement if we have any updates.

In the meantime, you can check this link for the Supported audio formats in Sonos.

If you need help with any other information, please be sure to let us know.

 

Hi

I’m confused, do you Sonos support staff talk to each other at all? 

I thought LPCM was already in the works to be added sometime in the near future, confirmed by some sonos support staff on here already.

I mean with all the issues with the ARC currently it sounds very worrying when a support staff member responds as if he has no clue about LPCM already being confirmed as getting added eventually.

 

 

 

What on Earth has happened with Sonos support? You used to have Ryan and others here actually reading questions and following up. Now you get the support that looks like it’s come straight from the Philippines on behalf of some **** **** manufacturer.

LPCM support was promised months ago, we need an actual follow up here, as the wait is getting ridiculous.

1 x Arc, 1 x Beam Gen 2, 1 x Amp, 2 x Sonos In Ceiling Speakers, 2 x Sub, 9 x Sonos Ones, 5 x Symfonisk Lamp
F
Userlevel 1
Badge

“I'll submit a feature request to add LPCM” - reads to me this didn’t exist yet, is that the case? Because this was already promised months ago on this forum by Sonos staff.

L
Userlevel 5
Badge +11

Hi @ledzep1.

Welcome, thank you for reaching back to Sonos Community.

I'll submit a feature request to add LPCM to a supported audio format to our development team.

We don't have a timeline we can share for this feature, but we'll be sure to make an announcement if we have any updates.

In the meantime, you can check this link for the Supported audio formats in Sonos.

If you need help with any other information, please be sure to let us know.

 

Hi

I’m confused, do you Sonos support staff talk to each other at all? 

I thought LPCM was already in the works to be added sometime in the near future, confirmed by some sonos support staff on here already.

I mean with all the issues with the ARC currently it sounds very worrying when a support staff member responds as if he has no clue about LPCM already being confirmed as getting added eventually.

 

 

 

Mark P
Userlevel 5
Badge +14

Hi @ledzep1.

Welcome, thank you for reaching back to Sonos Community.

I'll submit a feature request to add LPCM to a supported audio format to our development team.

We don't have a timeline we can share for this feature, but we'll be sure to make an announcement if we have any updates.

In the meantime, you can check this link for the Supported audio formats in Sonos.

If you need help with any other information, please be sure to let us know.

Help others find useful content by clicking the like button and selecting the best answer to your question
L
Userlevel 5
Badge +11

SoCal - I don’t think that’s correct.

As for the rest of this thread, I can report that I am running the latest firmware on an LG E9 and do not have this issue.  My Apple TV is playing Atmos without having to do anything in the audio settings.  Just make sure your audio setting is set to “Auto” rather than “Pass Through” or PCM.

 

But what about when you’re trying to play DD5.1 content? On my system (Apple TV, LG C9, Sonos Arc, it plays Atmos content perfectly but the Sonos Arc sees DD5.1 content as Stereo 2.0.

 

So I connected my apple tv 4k up yesterday to my LG CX (eARC)

I can get atmos and DD 5.1 fine, without changing any settings on the apple tv 4k box, so why are some only getting stereo 2.0 with 5.1 content?

I admit I only tested using Apple iTunes content that I had purchased, but I don’t plan on using any other apps on this device so its fine for me it seems.

 

My Lg is set to passthrough with eARC on.

 

Does the issue lie with certain apps on the device or something, as the guy I quoted has a C9 so why does he have an issue and I don’t.

S
Userlevel 4
Badge +2

Any update on this or if we can beta test this?

L
Userlevel 5
Badge +11

Hi, again ewolkoff. Thanks again for your tremendous help. 

That worked - in that by changing the setting Sound > Additional Settings > HDMI Input Audio Format > Bitstream, I was then able to set the Apple TV to Atmos.

Can you explain how that is possible? That changing settings on one device impacts the options on another (ie, changes to a device downstream affects the primary device (4KATV, LGTV, ARC)?

However, despite Atmos being available from the Apple TV, as soon as I play any Atmos content from it (either via the iTunes Store or Disney, etc) there is no sound coming through the soundbar.

Back to square one. :(

TV is still set to Auto and not Pass Through?  Also are you sure it’s Atmos content?  I have noticed that with this setup DD 5.1 plays sometimes with no sound or no voices until I switch to Pass Through again.  That’s why the system is manual — you have to change the settings to play DD 5.1 vs. Atmos.

The issue before was that you told your TV to only accept a stereo PCM signal.  Apple TV saw that and stopped allowing you to send high bandwidth Atmos signals.  

 

 

 

Hi there, CX owner here, 

I have looked at you settings on previous pages, so is it a case of I can get atmos but if a movie or show on the apple tv 4k box is in 5.1 I need to manually change a setting on the apple box.

 

On my LG I have everything set to passthrough, eARC on e.g.

 

What setting is it on the apple tv that I would manually need to change to get atmos and then 5.1 until sonos release the LPCM update.

 

Thanks

E
Userlevel 4
Badge +5

I’m not sure if that’s the case: from what I understand the LG TV’s weren’t supporting multichannel PCM before, so they were always provided signal that was compatible in different way, like DD5.1 etc.

now they support it, so Apple TV and the like send it through, and TV can play it just fine on speaker or feed through to eARC… assuming that the device on there can understand it… and Sonos Arc can’t.

It is the case.  They weren’t supporting it - they were processing it to bitstream.  You can see posts about folks with LG TVs who did not upgrade their firmware and don’t have the issue. 

Wouldn’t that suggest that there’s a bug in LG firmware? That should pass on bitstream if connected to Arc instead of sending LPCM? I’ve done some googling since I got the Arc, and that doesn’t seem to be the conclusion. So I don’t know.

either way: as mentioned in couple of Arc reviews as well and this forum, Sonos did promise to bring LPCM to Arc. So I just hope it’s gonna happen sooner lather than later. 🤞

That’s exactly what I’m saying.  There is a bug/feature removal in LG’s latest firmware. 

D
Userlevel 2
Badge +1

I’m not sure if that’s the case: from what I understand the LG TV’s weren’t supporting multichannel PCM before, so they were always provided signal that was compatible in different way, like DD5.1 etc.

now they support it, so Apple TV and the like send it through, and TV can play it just fine on speaker or feed through to eARC… assuming that the device on there can understand it… and Sonos Arc can’t.

It is the case.  They weren’t supporting it - they were processing it to bitstream.  You can see posts about folks with LG TVs who did not upgrade their firmware and don’t have the issue. 

Wouldn’t that suggest that there’s a bug in LG firmware? That should pass on bitstream if connected to Arc instead of sending LPCM? I’ve done some googling since I got the Arc, and that doesn’t seem to be the conclusion. So I don’t know.

either way: as mentioned in couple of Arc reviews as well and this forum, Sonos did promise to bring LPCM to Arc. So I just hope it’s gonna happen sooner lather than later. 🤞

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