Avid Contributor I

Solving the 5.1, DTS issues with the Playbar

205 replies
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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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A

aldude

Trending Lyricist I

Wow, what a long topic about this problem...

In the first post a little hardware device is mentioned, but the link does'nt work anymore.

Does anybody have a name on a little converter/switch etc.. So my DTS sound can be played?

Hi,

I'm in the UK and recently got this from Amazon:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/ViewHD-TOSLINK-Digital-Optical-Switcher/dp/B00G188Z7A

... and it's very good. It has an IR receiver on a wire that can be stuck to the TV or somewhere in sight so the unit itself can be hidden round the back. It's extremely small and also comes with power supply and small remote.

I have it arranged like this: inputs are TV optical out, Xbox 360 and Samsung Blu-ray player (BD-F6500). Output to Playbar of course. There is no audio delay whatsoever that I can detect.

But I see that you want to play your "DTS sound". This won't actually work as the Playbar cannot handle DTS signals, only stereo, PCM or Dolby Digital 5.1. There isn't any little box that I'm aware of that will convert DTS to DD5.1 on the fly. Some Blu-ray players, like mine and also the PS3 & PS4 will also covert Blu-ray DTS tracks to DD5.1 on the fly though.

J

jiwony

Contributor I

(edited)

The beta patch (soon to be an official patch in March) for XBox One will allow for DTS signals to be changed into Dolby 5.1 surround sound. I played a Bluray movie (Dark Knight Rises) with the DTS sound track from XBox One and XBox "transformed" that sound track to Dolby Digital 5.1 when sending it to my Vizio television and ultimately to the Sonos SoundBar. I was able to verify that I was getting distinct surround sound from my rear Sonos speakers.

Kind of an expensive workaround if you aren't interested in the Xbox games. It's a shame that Sonos decided not to support DTS.

Bluray movie --> Xbox One --> HDMI --> Vizio TV --> optical --> Sonos PlayBar and rear speakers

A

aldude

Trending Lyricist I

The beta patch (soon to be an official patch in March) for XBox One will allow for DTS signals to be changed into Dolby 5.1 surround sound. I played a Bluray movie (Dark Knight Rises) with the DTS sound track from XBox One and XBox "transformed" that sound track to Dolby Digital 5.1 when sending it to my Vizio television and ultimately to the Sonos SoundBar. I was able to verify that I was getting distinct surround sound from my rear Sonos speakers.

Kind of an expensive workaround if you aren't interested in the Xbox games. It's a shame that Sonos decided not to support DTS.

Bluray movie --> Xbox One --> HDMI --> Vizio TV --> HDMI --> Sonos PlayBar and rear speakers

Good news that the Xbox One will support DD in less than two weeks! (Confirmed by Engaget over optical: here.)

Can you let us know what happens to a DTS signal when it is input to the Xbox one? e.g.:

Blu-ray player --> HDMI --> Xbox One --> HDMI --> TV?

Or... (which will be my setup)

Blu-ray player --> HDMI --> Xbox One --> Optical --> Playbar?

If the Xbox One converts input DTS to output DD5.1 it will be the first "in the middle" device I've heard of to do the conversion on the fly. Exciting stuff!

J

jiwony

Contributor I

Whoops, I meant that the optical cable is between the Vizio TV and the Sonos playbar, thanks for catching that. I corrected my original posting.

I think the XBox is "transforming" the DTS soundtrack from the Bluray to a Dolby 5.1 surround sound. When I open up the Sonos App on my iPhone to check, I see that the Sonos Playbar is processing Dolby 5.1, even when the Bluray being played has DTS soundtrack only.

Good news that the Xbox One will support DD in less than two weeks! (Confirmed by Engaget over optical:

Can you let us know what happens to a DTS signal when it is input to the Xbox one? e.g.:

Blu-ray player --> HDMI --> Xbox One --> HDMI --> TV?

Or... (which will be my setup)

Blu-ray player --> HDMI --> Xbox One --> Optical --> Playbar?

If the Xbox One converts input DTS to output DD5.1 it will be the first "in the middle" device I've heard of to do the conversion on the fly. Exciting stuff!

S

speedyyellow

Lyricist III

The xbox has an hdmi input as well right? Can you test if it converts a DTS signal received on this input to DD5.1 on output?

K

KirkT

Lyricist III

The following emails are a communication I had with Sharp when buying my TV for my new basement reno. I don't know of any other Sharp models, but mine will pass through the above. It also says the same (not verbatim). I will try to find that online ant post.

On Dec 31, 2013, at 12:48 PM, Sharp Support wrote:
Dear Valued Sharp Customer,

Thank you for contacting Sharp Electronics of Canada Ltd.
I will be happy to assist you today. Yes the unit does send a Dolby Digital signal though the Optical port.

We thank you in advance for your cooperation
Very best regards,
Crystal R
Customer Care Specialist
Customer Care Centre
Sharp Electronics Of Canada Ltd.

--Original Message--
From:
Date: 12/30/2013 6:15:16 AM
To:
Subject: Email sent from Sharp Canada Contact us page

Hello,

I just purchased a 70le757u and I am looking at different audio options.
The one question I have is does this Tv send out a Dolby Digital signal though the Optical (Toslink) cable?

I have a Sharp LC-60LE757U and it Will pass Dolby Digital through Optical Out from the HDMI inputs.

Also I just purchased a Samsung BD-F5900 Blu-ray player and it allows you to set the HDMI out to convert DTS to Dolby Digital 5.1

B

bkswain

Also I just purchased a Samsung BD-F5900 Blu-ray player and it allows you to set the HDMI out to convert DTS to Dolby Digital 5.1

Is that correct? I asked in a different thread and was told that it only does the conversion on the optical output. If it does convert on HDMI output, then I might have to give this player a try.

Thanks!

A

artguy

Lyricist I

In my quest to solve the DTS issue - I purchased an Octava 4x1 HDMI switch with individual HDMI and optical inputs and outputs. I also have the OPPO BDP-103 and couldn't get any DTS encoded Bluray to play properly - regardless of settings.

I emailed OPPO and asked what to do. Here's the reply:

Kurt,

Unfortunately the player will not be able to re-encode audio into Dolby Digital. It can do this for DTS if the title is Blu-ray and uses BD-JAVA, but it can't do this for DVD-Video, non-JAVA Blu-ray, or convert into Dolby Digital. This is unfortunately not something that we will be able to add through a future firmware release.

Best Regards,

Customer Service
OPPO Digital, Inc.
2629B Terminal Blvd.
Mountain View, CA 94043

So unlike the PS3, the OPPO can't create a Dolby digital 5.1 signal via the optical toslink output. I can confirm the PS3 does this. The OPPO is truly an amazing device, and I recommend it highly. It will however NOT solve the DTS center channel issue with the play bar.

And FYI - if anyone wants to purchase one of these, but is put off by the cost - they always have refurb units available at a pretty good discount. I bought mine this way, and saved some cash. It was packaged as new (quite beautifully I might add) and so far has performed flawlessly. It works very well for streaming media from a NAS too.

M

mattg

Lyricist I

Hi, I have a Samsung F8000 55", and I just want to say that the firmware I updated to very recently does indeed pass 5.1 from a connected HDMI to the optical out of the television.

I don't have a Sonos, but I do have a very good Pioneer receiver that has a front display with lots of feedback on it. At first it was only displaying that it was receiving PCM stereo. I had to play from my HDMI source (FOXTEL iq2 STB) a 5.1 source program.

Once this occurred, the Dolby Digital option was available to be selected in the Samsung sound setup menu.

The pioneer amp then sprang to life displaying it was decoding a full 5.1 dolby mix.

I then went back to normal 2 channel program and back again to 5.1, it all followed very well, all be it a slight audio bump, but that is the amp doing it's switch.

So in summary, the 2013 Samsung F model 8 series can for sure pass 5.1 dolby digital out it's optical.

B

bdsdnfam

Lyricist III

I know it's not 100% but I have no complaints. Soundbar, Sub, (2) Play 3's, Oppo BD-103 and Monoprice 4x1 HDMI Switch.

Added a Roku Stream Stick and I run it all with a Logitech Harmony 890.

Say what you want but it's pretty kick *** to me!

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