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Hi all, I have a challenge for you…

I have a PS5 connecting to the game port on a Samsung Q90 TV and then the Q90 connecting to to a Sonos beam Gen 2 via the E-arc port. I have 2 x Play:1’s serving as surround speakers. I have the ps5 set to output the audio stream as bitstream to the TV. TV is set to “pass-through” on the audio settings. I am trying to play a blu-ray from the PS5 which I can see (from the PS5 screen) is outputting as LPCM 5.1, 48khz. However, when I look at the Sonos app it shows up as Stereo PCM, so it seems to be down mixing. If I put my ear really close to the rear surrounds I can just about hear a faint noise, but it’s not what you would call surround sound. Has anyone come across this?

 I think the config is okay - if I play a blu-ray from the ps5 using Dolby true-HD 5.1 it plays fine in all it’s surround sound glory and shows up on the sono app as True-HD. I am also getting good surround sound from Amazon Prime, so I think this problem is related to LPCM 5.1 only. Any ideas?

I believe there is an issue with multichannel LPCM Samsung 2020 models pass-through over e-arc (I don’t have a Samsung to confirm though, I just stumbled across some posts whilst investigating LG LPCM issues). On PS5, I guess this would impact any output other than Dolby Bitstreams :(

https://www.avsforum.com/threads/2020-samsung-q90t-owners-thread-no-price-talk.3138076/post-61764686

https://us.community.samsung.com/t5/QLED-and-The-Frame/Buyer-beware-2020-QLED-eARC-LPCM-issues/td-p/1598450/page/16

https://en.community.sonos.com/home-theater-228993/multichannel-pcm-via-samsung-6850578

@Huggybaby On the PS5, the Audio Format (Priority) setting should be set to Linear PCM not Bitstream. You also need to tap the Options button on the controller, select the “…” and change the Audio Format setting to Linear PCM too.

Thanks both. - I appreciate your input. I am at work at the moment but will read through more thoroughly and report back when I get home. 

@Huggybaby On the PS5, the Audio Format (Priority) setting should be set to Linear PCM not Bitstream. You also need to tap the Options button on the controller, select the “…” and change the Audio Format setting to Linear PCM too.

Thanks GuitarSuperstar. I checked and this is how I had it already set. Does no harm checking thought so thanks for the advice.

I believe there is an issue with multichannel LPCM Samsung 2020 models pass-through over e-arc (I don’t have a Samsung to confirm though, I just stumbled across some posts whilst investigating LG LPCM issues). On PS5, I guess this would impact any output other than Dolby Bitstreams :(

https://www.avsforum.com/threads/2020-samsung-q90t-owners-thread-no-price-talk.3138076/post-61764686

https://us.community.samsung.com/t5/QLED-and-The-Frame/Buyer-beware-2020-QLED-eARC-LPCM-issues/td-p/1598450/page/16

https://en.community.sonos.com/home-theater-228993/multichannel-pcm-via-samsung-6850578

Thanks RANDUSR23296; I believe you have hit the nail on the head. Seems 2020 Samsung devices do not support LPCM via EARC, which is weird as it is just passing the stream onto the Sonos for decoding, but it is what it is. At least I know what the problem is now!

I believe there is an issue with multichannel LPCM Samsung 2020 models pass-through over e-arc (I don’t have a Samsung to confirm though, I just stumbled across some posts whilst investigating LG LPCM issues). On PS5, I guess this would impact any output other than Dolby Bitstreams :(

https://www.avsforum.com/threads/2020-samsung-q90t-owners-thread-no-price-talk.3138076/post-61764686

https://us.community.samsung.com/t5/QLED-and-The-Frame/Buyer-beware-2020-QLED-eARC-LPCM-issues/td-p/1598450/page/16

https://en.community.sonos.com/home-theater-228993/multichannel-pcm-via-samsung-6850578

Thanks RANDUSR23296; I believe you have hit the nail on the head. Seems 2020 Samsung devices do not support LPCM via EARC, which is weird as it is just passing the stream onto the Sonos for decoding, but it is what it is. At least I know what the problem is now!

Hey! Did you ever figure this out? I have the exact same set up and have no idea what to do as I am getting no surrounds and Sonos is showing 2.0. 

Hi Jdcueva. We know what the problem is, but there is no fix. As mentioned above, Samsung 2020 models don’t pass LPCM through to Sonos Beam properly. So it’s down to Samsung to come up with a fix, but given it’s a 2020 model I don’t suppose there is much money going into R&D, so I think we are stuck with it.

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