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ttt1111
Contributor I
July 3, 2018
Answered

Sonos Beam - how to get Netflix 5.1?

I'm looking to add the Sonos Beam to my two Sonos Ones in order to get a surround sound while watching Netflix. It doesn't look like any of the current streaming devices (Chromecast, Roku, Amazon, my Sony x720E TV) allow me to do that, as they output DD+ and the Beam only accepts DD.

To me, this seems like such a basic use case for this device. Do any of you have a suggestion how I could make it work?

Happy to buy the Beam today, but need to know that I can use it for the advertised use case 🙂
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    Paulw123
    Paulw123Answer
    Virtuoso
    July 4, 2018
    Ryan says your tv will downgrade DD+ to DD with hdmi handshake?
    From beam thread:-
    "The Beam will play stereo PCM, multiple channels beyond that won't be played. With HDMI-ARC, a handshake with your TV will assure that Dolby Digital 5.1 is sent for the best sound when your source is in Dolby Digital Plus or Dolby Atmos."
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    32 replies

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    DanielCCM
    Trending Lyricist I
    November 29, 2018
    Surrounds, yes.... 😃
    vazandrew
    Enthusiast I
    November 29, 2018
    Ok. So not sure what you mean by permanently in surround mode. If the content is in 5.1 the rears will always be used. Sonos will use Pro Logic to simulate surround when fed a stereo signal, but it will still depend on the source material.
    DanielCCM
    Trending Lyricist I
    November 29, 2018
    Basically my previous amp had a mode where it took a stereo signal from the TV and reproduced it over all the speakers (5 and the sub).... I was wondering if that behaviour could be replicated in the Sonos Beam ecosystem.... 🙂
    vazandrew
    Enthusiast I
    November 29, 2018
    Yes, that it was I was referring to above when I said "Sonos will use Pro Logic to simulate surround when fed a stereo signal". However, this is dependent on a source. If it's a movie, say it's DTS or you're using a service that only sends stereo, then it can reproduce the surround fairly decently, but if it's a news broadcast that's in stereo then the rears won't be used.
      DanielCCM
      Trending Lyricist I
      November 30, 2018
      Understood... That's a step back for me though.. lol! even though the quality of the sound has improved... the experience of having permanent 5.1 sound... even in 2.0 news broadcasts... is something I'll miss... lol!
      vazandrew
      Enthusiast I
      November 30, 2018
      It’s not really permanent 5.1 sound though, it’s matrixing the stereo signal for a source that is only meant to be stereo. Sonos is doing it the way it was intended.
      DanielCCM
      Trending Lyricist I
      November 30, 2018
      Great! Thanks for the clarification! Now I only need to know how to activate it... Because yesterday I was fiddling around with the settings but all I could hear was from the Beam... not the back Play 1...
      vazandrew
      Enthusiast I
      November 30, 2018
      Is this for all content or just certain things? What are you currently trying to play?
      DanielCCM
      Trending Lyricist I
      December 1, 2018
      I hear 5.1 movies alright but, contrary to what l was used to with my old Sony amp, news or other OTA DVB-T broadcasts just won't sound as good.. they won't use the back side speakers...
      vazandrew
      Enthusiast I
      December 1, 2018
      That is what I just covered above. That content is meant to be in stereo, and Sonos is presenting it the way it was intended.
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