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marky_mark_2018
Contributor I
November 19, 2017

Passing Dolby 5.1 from Samsung UHD6500 to Playbar - works great now!

  • November 19, 2017
  • 12 replies
  • 2919 views
Make sure you update all software on your tv, blu-ray player, and set-top cable box. I made two changes on my Samsung blu-ray player bd-f5900 (changed digital output setting to the 4th menu choice - Bitstream (Re-encoded Dolby Digital) and set Downmixing Mode to Surround Compatible); and two more changes on my tv - I changed the HDMI Audio Format to Bitstream and turned HD Audio setting to On. Then, I changed a setting in my ATT dsl cable box from digital output Stereo to Surround Compatible. Now, all my Hi-Def content shows up as Dolby Digital 5.1 input on my playbar - all my 5.1 movies, netflix, etc. Sounds great!
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    nifoxke
    nifoxke
    Prodigy I
    December 21, 2017
    IMHO, if you have reasonably recent samsung equipment (tv and blu-ray player), or any other branded equipment for that matter, you should be able to make all necessary changes in your hardware's software menus (see my original post for details) to ensure everything Dolby 5.1 passes through to your playbar using the standard digital audio cable between your tv and the playbar. You shouldn't need any digital splitter boxes, extra hdmi cables, or other voodoo. Before you even try to get this to work, you MUST update all your hardware's software. If your hardware won't update wirelessly, just plug in a network cable to your wifi router and it will work. I had to make software adjustments to my tv, blu-ray player, and set-top dsl cable box. Keep in mind your original content must be in hi-def formats to have any benefit to pass through (I subscibe to hi-def cable channels and hi-def Netflix, etc.). This entire problem could be solved for most people using their existing hardware if Sonos did a better job of explaining it. I'm certain many people buy sonos stuff thinking 5.1 is a no-brainer, can't get it to work properly, and end up returning it - and they'll very, very unhappy.

    I did my fair share of research before making the investment in my 5.1 setup. Which is why I reached out to Samsung themselves who stated my TV will not pass through 5.1 via optical for anything other than antenna and the built in apps. Other research I did indicated that it's a fairly common thing among Samsungs to not pass through 5.1. So I bought my extractor and optical switch ahead of time so that I knew with certainty that everything would work. I didn't mind having to buy these items as they were inexpensive and easily controlled with my Harmony remote.

    Now, I do agree that any modern TV should have the ability to pass through 5.1 whether they're on a newer software/firmware or not. It seems like a pretty basic thing that any TV should be capable of. It's unfortunate that the TV can be hang-up when investing in an expensive system such as Sonos.
    fyton2v
    Lyricist II
    December 21, 2017
    So, I'm wrong, I think. They original post mentioned new software on the TV and I thought my TV downloaded new firmware. I had recently turned on WiFi, so new firmware seemed to be the likely cause of the 5.1 surround I'm now enjoying without the extractor. But my Apple TV recently updated too. So now it seems like my Apple TV is capable of sending 5.1 to my TV, regardless of the HDMI handshake.

    I can tell you that, with certainty, the Apple TV 4K is now capable of convincing my particular Samsung TV to output Dolby D via it's S/PDIF out. It's not a universal thing though. Only the Apple TV works. My Roku Stream stick can't do it. I have both of the HDMI streaming devices set to output Dobly D audio. The Roku just transmits PCM. Hope the Apple TV continues to do it's thing.
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