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My set up is a Sony x900H (2020) with eArc sending audio to a Sonos system (Arc + 2 Play Ones + Sub).  It is running Android 9.

When I stream a movie from Netflix that is designated as Atmos - the Sonos app S2 confirms Atmos in the big TV screen on the Sonos app and also in the System > About  My System > Sonos System info: Arc Sound In .

 

When I stream from another source like Disney + the best I can get is Dolby Digital 5.1.  Nothing in Disney+ is marked anything other than 5.1.  Working with their support chat is a perfectly good way to waste an hour.  They blamed, Android, Sony and Sonos for their failure to provide Atmos content.

 

When I stream a movie marked Atmos from a movie app using MX Player Pro as my media player, with the proper Atmos/TrueHD codec, the best I can get is 5.1 or Dolby Digital Plus 2.0.

 

Any thoughts? Tips? Tricks? Magical incantations? to try would be appreciated.

 

I think this can sometimes depend on a variety of factors including TV/device firmware and/or the version of the App available for the particular device in use ...and in some instances the type of subscription.


When I first had my LG C9 TV, some Apps did not support Atmos (or the LPCM codec either) and later App-updates and device firmware fixed those things.. I think the rollout of some updates, not only varied by device-type, but also by Country too. In the case of Netflix I also needed to subscribe to their more expensive Ultra HD service.
 

My Amazon Fire-stick 4K still does not support Atmos on Netflix here in the U.K. but I believe it has been rolled out to the US. I just get DD+ but the TV in-built Netflix App now supports Atmos.

 

I think there’s also sometimes a case where some TV’s may not pass the atmos audio through its HDMI ports (might need to wait for firmware update etc.)

 

So those are some things you may want to look into and consider. However if it works on one App on from a particular device it shows the Sonos Arc is working okay - it will only play the type of audio being sent/received, so the answer ‘likely’ lies elsewhere other than the Arc Receiver.


Pretty sure Disney+ still doesn’t support Dolby Atmos audio on Android TV.


@Ken_Griffiths   Thanks for the response.  I have eliminated most of those considerations - I have a high speed ethernet rated HDMI cable running from the Sony eArc HDMI port to the Arc.  As stated, Netflix runs Atmos with no issues at all.  And yes, I subscribe to their Ultra HD service.

What confuses me is that when I asked my son to load Disney+ on his TV this morning, he got offered Atmos sound instantly (although he is in the US.

 

As noted in my name, I am in Canada.  So that may be a factor.

@GuitarSuperstar  - as noted, Disney+ supports Atmos and their support person was only interested in telling me that it must be Android’s fault, since Android 9 in her words “does not support Atmos”.  I pointed out to her that that was wrong, as my Android TV is Android 9 but I get Atmos from Netflix.

I may try a FireStick or an Nvidia Shield and see what happens.


Disney+ supports Dolby Atmos audio but not currently on the Android TV’s native app. It should work on the Fire TV Stick, Fire TV Stick 4K and Nvidia Shield though.

What is your son playing Disney+ through?


Disney+ supports Dolby Atmos audio but not currently on the Android TV’s native app. It should work on the Fire TV Stick, Fire TV Stick 4K and Nvidia Shield though.

What is your son playing Disney+ through?

 

Nvidia Shield…. good catch!!  Thanks!