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Racin929
Avid Contributor I
April 20, 2013

Solving the 5.1, DTS issues with the Playbar

This thread is specifically for those who are trying to understand the Playbars 5.1 and DTS issues.

As most of you know the Playbar does not convert DTS signal. It also will only convert 2.0 to SIMULATED PCM 5.1 signal. If you can live with the simulated signal, then you are ahead of the game. IF you want PURE unadulterated 5.1 from your DirecTV or Cable, you WILL most likely have to buy a switch like this one. http://www.monoprice.com/products/7974
Or a Bluray converter like this one.
http://www.oppodigital.com/blu-ray-bdp-103/

MOST tvs will not convert true 5.1. There are some on this thread that say they do, but most dont. I found this out the hard way by buying one of Samsungs highest end tv's, only to find out that 2.0 is all im ever gunna get.
A $75 switch is a bargain IMO to have such sound to the Playbar the way it is intended. IF you want 1080p up convert video and and 5.1 audio, then a simular Bluray like the Oppo is for you.

Concerning movies that are only on DTS:
Oppo can convert the DTS signal to PCM 5.1 as well. I do not know about the Switch, because I do not have one.
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    205 replies

    Show previous replies
    Zeppelin
    Contributor I
    September 17, 2013
    i just got it. works great. if i need to convert dts, i will use the Oppo blu ray player. I use the monoprice switcher for the dierctv genie that has NO optical out.

    Hi,

    concerning the Monoprice HDMI Toslink Switch:

    How does it work if you have multiple devices? Eg one cablebox, one htpc and a console? I plug all of the devices into the Monoprice switcher and have one HDMI going to the TV? So how do I switch between the different devices?

    And does the playbar automatically switch back to TV sound if I just stop music playback?

    Greets
    Racin929Author
    Avid Contributor I
    September 17, 2013
    All my devices go thru the Monoprice switch. Cable, Oppo bluray, PS3.

    The switch has a remote with channels 1-4
    Cable is on channel 1 PS3 2 ect...
    WATEVER is playing thru the channel comes thru the SONOS.

    The Monoprice switch has 4 inputs 1 output.
    birelwf
    Lyricist I
    September 20, 2013
    Guys is there an alternative to the Monoprice as they don't seem to be available in the UK, I would like to be able to get the Playbar but not sure what the output is from my Panasonic TV Optical output. I have a number of devices connected currently, Sky HD, Sony DVD Player, Xbox 360, there was an option on Amazon UK but cant post this link being a newbie to the forum

    thanks
    Geebee
    Avid Contributor III
    September 20, 2013
    Hi birelwf,

    I had the same problem in The Netherlands. I bought the Octava HD41-ARC. This is a high quality switch. More expensive but can be bought in Europe easily.

    Works as expected, no problems at all.
    Zeppelin
    Contributor I
    September 21, 2013
    Concerning the future of the playbar:
    Are there any hints that Sonos will sometime soon bring out a new edition of the playbar which would solve our problems?
      ratty
      ratty
      September 21, 2013
      Concerning the future of the playbar:
      Are there any hints that Sonos will sometime soon bring out a new edition of the playbar which would solve our problems?
      Sonos don't publicly announce their product development roadmap, but what 'problems' did you have in mind? Sonos have already indicated that DTS is 'under consideration'.

      As for HDMI switching, IIRC there have been statements that this was an area with which they didn't want to get involved. The Playbar is therefore reliant on the S/PDIF signal it's being fed from the TV or any alternative device.
      JohnG
      Avid Contributor I
      September 29, 2013
      The problems I'd have in mind for them fixing for the next version of this can be summed up by the phrase 'flawed design' in my opinion :(

      The fact that there's only one input and that is an optical one means that it excludes a lot of people from achieving proper 5.1 surround sound unless they're willing to keep going around the back of the system and changing which device is plugged into it.
      jgaepi
      Avid Contributor I
      November 25, 2013
      Someone please explain to me about this Oppo BDP-103. Three times the quality for three times the price? I have a Octavia switcher on order that supposedly will automatically downgrade DTS signal to PCM 2.0.

      Is it still worth buying the Oppo?
      Broseanrichard
      Contributor I
      November 27, 2013
      according to sony most of there high end tv's have always supported dd from optical and the newer oppo blu-ray players support dts to dd converting. i tried my play bar on both the sony tv i have and the oppo blu-ray player and it plays just fine for dd content. for the oppo i set the hdmi audio to bitstream and the optical audio to bitstream and it worked fine using th optical on either the oppo or sony tv

      edit: i quess only my dd recorded blu rays say dd 5.1 on sonos controller via oppo or tv. My dts recorded blu rays say unsupported when plugged into oppo and say stereo with plugged in to TV
      Braveanthony
      Lyricist I
      November 29, 2013
      All my devices go thru the Monoprice switch. Cable, Oppo bluray, PS3.

      The switch has a remote with channels 1-4
      Cable is on channel 1 PS3 2 ect...
      WATEVER is playing thru the channel comes thru the SONOS.

      The Monoprice switch has 4 inputs 1 output.

      Hi.
      In your setup, when playing dts disc on ps3 does the ps3 convert dts to dd5.1 and outputs via hdmi into the switch?
      Also, the monoprice switch indicates that it supports 1080p@60hz. Does that mean it would downgrade 120hz source to 60hz?
      Thanks
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