Avid Contributor III

Answered

Multichannel PCM on Arc

328 replies
54144 views

Are you really not supporting multichannel PCM on the newly announced Arc?

Why? It’s not a licensing issue this time.

It seems like there is always something missing with your home theater products.

This topic has been closed for further comments. You can use the search bar to find a similar topic, or create a new one by clicking Create Topic at the top of the page.

DitteAnswer

Hi all,

We hear you. With a software update today, Arc now supports multi-channel LPCM, bringing new immersive sound experiences for gaming, Blu-ray discs, and more. To get support for multi-channel LPCM on Arc, download the latest Sonos S2 update from the app store and then update your system in the Sonos S2 app. After updating the app, go to Settings > System > System Updates > Check for Updates.

All the best,

Ditte

Show previous replies

R

ramesh231

Trending Lyricist I

Thank you Nicholas for the response.

Based on your response, I am understanding that Dolby Multi-channel PCM 5.1 is a better signal than Dolby Digital 5.1.

Final clarification, with eARC set to Auto on the Samsung Q70T TV, Netflix/Amazon Prime/Disney+ apps that have content listed as 5.1 ( on Sonos Beam shows as Dolby Digital 5.1 ), now on Sonos ARC it shows Dolby Multi-channel PCM 5.1, so this is the best format outputting?

N

Nicholas M

Sonos Employee

Thank you Nicholas for the response.

Based on your response, I am understanding that Dolby Multi-channel PCM 5.1 is a better signal than Dolby Digital 5.1.

Final clarification, with eARC set to Auto on the Samsung Q70T TV, Netflix/Amazon Prime/Disney+ apps that have content listed as 5.1 ( on Sonos Beam shows as Dolby Digital 5.1 ), now on Sonos ARC it shows Dolby Multi-channel PCM 5.1, so this is the best format outputting?

It’s difficult to say if it’s the best output formatting or not in your case because the source may just be transcoding a lower fidelity encoding into this higher one. In that case, you’re not really getting a different experience. In general though, the higher bitrate encodings are going to be your best bet so I would stick with Dolby Multi-channel PCM 5.1.

I work for Sonos but the views expressed here are my own.

R

ramesh231

Trending Lyricist I

Thank you for the response.

S

svomak

Enthusiast II

Needs this update! Hopefully it’s not too far away.

R

ramesh231

Trending Lyricist I

I have done further test on different sources and apps on Samsung Q70T and ARC and Beam. See my results. I think Sonos should fix the issue. For each test, I also have Diagnostics number for ARC if they want to check.

Airgetlam

When you say ARC, do you really mean the Sonos Arc, and not Audio Return Channel?

Bruce

J

jamesgbeaumont

Contributor I

If you have a 2019 LG OLED (B9,C9,E9, W9) and use an Apple TV 4K then I strongly advise you to not update to the 04.80.03 update until Sonos update the Arc with LPCM 5.1 support.

Because the TV after the 04.80.03 update supports LPCM 5.1 the Apple TV thinks (reads the TVs EDID) that it can now accept LPCM 5.1 so it sends LPCM 5.1 audio however because the Arc doesn't support it yet it then it only outputs 2 channels (Sonos app shows “Stereo 2.0” for all non Atmos content). Before the 04.80.03 update because TV didnt support LPCM 5.1 channels the Apple TV would just decode it to Dolby Digital 5.1 and everything worked well.

I along with a lot of other users have update the TV and we are all having issues. The only way around it is now to change the setting on the Apple TV to “Change Format to Dolby Digital 5.1” however this turns off Dolby Atmos.

This is only an issue with the Apple TV. I confirm everything is fine for the WebOS apps and other media devices.

Really need LPCM support more than ever for the Arc now

I have this problem too: LG C9 (on 04.80.03) with Apple TV 4K and Sonos Arc. Manually switching sound format isn’t practical (a pain for me, impossible to explain to rest of household) so we’re left relying on the TV’s apps and not using the Apple TV. Which is not what I want.

What I would really like to do, until Arc gets LPCM5.1 support, is downgrade the LG TV firmware but I can’t find from googling if/how to do this. Does anyone know?

R

ramesh231

Trending Lyricist I

I meant Sonos ARC.

Samsung Q70T has eARC HDMI connection which is connected to Sonos ARC or Beam. For Dolby Digital 5.1 content Beam is outputting Dolby Digital 5.1, however Sonos ARC is outputting Dolby Multi-Channel PCM 5.1. The chart is my test results with HDMI-eARC Mode setting to Auto and Turning it off. I don’t see the desired results using any method. I also have diagnostics numbers for helping t’shooting for Sonos team.