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nashienet
Avid Contributor I
June 3, 2022
Answered

Surround sound setup but Sonos still says Stereo PCM

Hi,

My Panasonic Viera is set to 'surround' in the sound settings and it's connected to my Playbar with an optical cable.

But when I watch standard freeview TV and a movie on disney plus on my Roku; my Sonos app still reports a Stereo PCM output.

I am a bit nonplussed. Is there an obvious next step for me to check?

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GuitarSuperstarAnswer
Lead Maestro
June 3, 2022

Hi,

My Panasonic Viera is set to 'surround' in the sound settings and it's connected to my Playbar with an optical cable.

But when I watch standard freeview TV and a movie on disney plus on my Roku; my Sonos app still reports a Stereo PCM output.

I am a bit nonplussed. Is there an obvious next step for me to check?

It sounds like you have an older model Panasonic TV. They can’t pass through 5.1 audio from external media devices connected to HDMI. I have the same limitation with my Panasonic plasma from 2013. The only way I can get 5.1 audio is from the TV’s native VUDU app and from multichannel files played from a USB flash drive plugged into the TV.

"Receive with simplicity everything that happens to you." - Rashi
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2 replies

106rallye
106rallye
June 3, 2022

I’d check the Roku’s setting first, but I’ve read older Panasonic TV’s do not transfer surround that they get delivered from HDMI (your Roku) to the optical out. The Playbar needs Dolby Digital, so if your Panasonic does not output that from Freeview (take another look at the settings) you will not get surround from the Playbar.

    GuitarSuperstarAnswer
    Lead Maestro
    June 3, 2022

    Hi,

    My Panasonic Viera is set to 'surround' in the sound settings and it's connected to my Playbar with an optical cable.

    But when I watch standard freeview TV and a movie on disney plus on my Roku; my Sonos app still reports a Stereo PCM output.

    I am a bit nonplussed. Is there an obvious next step for me to check?

    It sounds like you have an older model Panasonic TV. They can’t pass through 5.1 audio from external media devices connected to HDMI. I have the same limitation with my Panasonic plasma from 2013. The only way I can get 5.1 audio is from the TV’s native VUDU app and from multichannel files played from a USB flash drive plugged into the TV.

    "Receive with simplicity everything that happens to you." - Rashi
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