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Answered

Dolby Atmos on Arc Ultra: Plex app on Sony TV vs Apple TV 4k

  • December 29, 2025
  • 2 replies
  • 40 views
J

Hi, 

I have recently upgraded my entire Home Cinema setup and am getting results I don’t fully understand.

When I play Dolby Atmos content (media in local network, often DDP with Atmos) I get different results shown in te Sonos app depending on where I play it:

  • Plex app, client on Sony TV (Google TV) → Sonos app displays “Dolby Atmos” 
  • Plex app, client on AppleTV 4K (3. gen) → Sonos app displays “Multichannel PCM 5.1” 

My question:

Is Sonos simply not ‘labelling’ the audio format correctly in the Sonos app when playing via AppleTV, or is the audio actually being ‘downgraded’ to 5.1 and the Atmos being lost?

Just for context, my setup is 

  • Sonos Arc Ultra (connected to TV via HDMI, eARC)
  • Sony Bravia 8 II
  • Apple TV 4K
  • (Plex server running on macmini, content stored on NAS)

Best answer by Jamie A

Hi ​@justsomebloke, welcome to the Sonos Community!

I’m sorry to hear that you’re not seeing Dolby Atmos on the app when playing through your Apple TV.

What you see in the Sonos app is what the system is receiving. If the audio format is different from what you expect then it’s likely something is being changed before it gets to your Arc Ultra. Since Google TV is showing Dolby Atmos, then it’s likely some setting on your Apple TV that needs adjusting.

From what I can find when looking around online, Apple TV decodes audio (such as Dolby Atmos) into LPCM and passes it using a Dolby MAT container. I’m not sure if this would cause the Sonos app to display Multichannel PCM 5.1, but there are a few settings you’d can adjust on the Apple TV to make sure it’s sending the correct format, as well as checking that your TV settings are correct. These settings are commonly shared on the community and reddit, which are the following: 

TV:

HDMI Input Audio Format: Bitstream

Digital Sound Output: Pass Through

eARC Support: On

Apple TV:

Change Format: Off

Dolby Atmos: On

I don’t use Apple TV or Plex myself, but I hope this information helps. My reply to you will also push your thread into the recently active section of the forum where other forum members who do have a similar setup can provide their assistance.

2 replies

Jamie A
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  • Jamie A
  • Sonos Staff
  • Answer
  • December 30, 2025

Hi ​@justsomebloke, welcome to the Sonos Community!

I’m sorry to hear that you’re not seeing Dolby Atmos on the app when playing through your Apple TV.

What you see in the Sonos app is what the system is receiving. If the audio format is different from what you expect then it’s likely something is being changed before it gets to your Arc Ultra. Since Google TV is showing Dolby Atmos, then it’s likely some setting on your Apple TV that needs adjusting.

From what I can find when looking around online, Apple TV decodes audio (such as Dolby Atmos) into LPCM and passes it using a Dolby MAT container. I’m not sure if this would cause the Sonos app to display Multichannel PCM 5.1, but there are a few settings you’d can adjust on the Apple TV to make sure it’s sending the correct format, as well as checking that your TV settings are correct. These settings are commonly shared on the community and reddit, which are the following: 

TV:

HDMI Input Audio Format: Bitstream

Digital Sound Output: Pass Through

eARC Support: On

Apple TV:

Change Format: Off

Dolby Atmos: On

I don’t use Apple TV or Plex myself, but I hope this information helps. My reply to you will also push your thread into the recently active section of the forum where other forum members who do have a similar setup can provide their assistance.

    J
    • justsomebloke
    • Author
    • Contributor I
    • December 30, 2025

    Thanks for confirming the Arc Ultra behaviour, and the tips on which settings to double-check.

    I suspect the issue lies somewhere inbetween Plex and AppleTV.

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