​@JabaJedi 

What information does your tv manual give about using Dolby Atmos? If there’s mentioned nothing about it, i suppose it can’t handle it. So the signal can‘t passthrough to the soundbar and that‘s reason for missing atmos. 

Yes you need eARC for ATMOS.

• ARC: Supports standard audio formats such as Dolby Digital, DTS, and PCM.
• eARC: Supports all the audio formats ARC can, plus high-resolution audio and advanced formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X via uncompressed 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound, and even 32-channel audio.

Maybe plug the Sonos HDMI Cable into a streaming box, Ultra HD DVD player or other device such as an HD Fury box.   HD Fury Link

​@bockersjv I think you are generalising a bit here. Not that it matters in this case, because OP’s TV does not do Atmos at all, but with TV’s that do Atmos, eARC is only necessary if you are using external players like a BD-player, that play uncompressed Atmos streams. Compressed Atmos streams (in DD+) can be transported over ARC. Most streaming services use DD+ streams for Atmos.

A 2017 TV is not going to support any form of Atmos.  You are going to need a new TV, or an extractor like the HD Fury.

Thank you for doing the job… I was too lazy to do it and really would appreciate  people give as much information as possible about TV devices. I left so much cookies on tv manufacturers web pages when searching for manuals and data sheets.

​@Schlumpf

Let ChatGPT be your friend, rather than trawling the internet for manufacturer info... I typed in “Does the Sony KD-49XE9005 support Dolby Atmos?” and this was the output within three seconds:

“The 2017 Sony KD-49XE9005 does **not** support Dolby Atmos.

While the TV supports Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, and Dolby Pulse audio formats, it lacks the necessary hardware and software capabilities to process or output Dolby Atmos audio. Specifically, it does not feature eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel), which is required for transmitting uncompressed Dolby Atmos audio from external sources. Additionally, the TV's built-in speakers are not designed to deliver the immersive sound experience associated with Dolby Atmos.

If you're seeking Dolby Atmos support, consider upgrading to a newer model that includes eARC support and enhanced audio capabilities.”

​@Rhonny 

Oh yes, I know you’re right. My personal problem is, at this point I don’t trust ai that much. But of course I have to change my mind on that…  

​@Schlumpf 

Indeed, there are concerns. But I’m not sure what ‘Big Brother’ would do with data that associates me with a question about a Sony TVs sound capabilities! I suspect they have bigger targets for their focus…!

You can’t even trust AI in that answer.  It says you need eARC for Atmos support, which is most certainly incorrect.   HDMI-ARC can support Atmos over DD+, which is the format used by 99% of the streaming sites out there.  I had a 2019 Samsung with HDMI-ARC that handled Atmos over DD+ just fine.  Unfortunately, 2019 is about the cutoff for Atmos support on ARC.  Matter of fact, my old TV got it through an update, it wasn’t even a standard when it was first manufactured. 

​@jgatie 

Here’s what AI has to say about that! ;)

“You're right that HDMI ARC can carry Dolby Atmos when it's delivered via Dolby Digital Plus, like on most streaming platforms. But in this particular setup, with a 2017 Sony KD-49XE9005 and sources like an Oppo UDP-203 and Apple TV 4K, the TV can't pass through Atmos over ARC — it lacks the software support for Atmos passthrough, even in compressed form. So while ARC can handle Atmos in some setups, it doesn't work with this TV and these devices.”

But I completely take your point about the form of Dolby Atmos that ARC can achieve...

Thank you for this advice, very useful. Assuming I want to keep costs down and keep my tv, which HD fury product would be best for 3 inputs (virgin tv, Apple TV and dvd) whilst outputting to the TV and passing atmos signals to the arc ultra?

For three inputs costs will be the highest if going with the hd fury, because itself it is quite expensive and also it supports just one source input. So you would need an additional hdmi switch as a second device. 
 

Take a look at the FeinTech VAX 04101 or the new AX340. They have 3 / 4 source inputs. I have both and they work quite good. 
The problem is that FeinTech (they are from Germany as me too… ) does not deliver out of the EU. But there are possibilities to order their products on Amazon with option of delivery out of the EU. 
For the VAX04101 their is an identical device of another brand called OREI. They sell from the US as far as I know. 

​@Rhonny 

Oh, I really don’t care about Big Brother regarding AI. Imo it’s the same with Alexa the last years.

My doubts are similar like those ​@jgatie mentioned. I think depending on how exactly you ask, the answer of AI can be somewhat misleading. 

Weirdly and only whilst watching Disney+ via Virgin box, my Sonos is reporting an Atmos signal. This is not the case if I do the same with Apple TV, I can only get pcm 2.0

could my hdmi cables be playing a part in the problem here?

​@JabaJedi 

In the Apple settings, under Audio Format, have you got Dolby Atmos set to On?

(But it may be that the Virgin box sends Dolby Atmos via Dolby Digital Plus, which the HDMI ARC port can handle. I don’t think the uncompressed Dolby Atmos sent by the Apple TV box will work for you).

All as described earlier. 

FWIW, it isn’t an impossibility for the HDMI cables to be too old (wrong HDMI version) to carry the Dolby Digital (Atmos) signal. You might want to double check them, they should be at least HDMI version 1.4 or higher to work. Older ‘versions’ won’t carry the signal. 

​@JabaJedi 
To forward the AppleTV atmos mat signal you will need an eARC connection. So that’s the reason why it doesn’t work.

But congrats your old TV seems to be able to handle compressed DD+ based atmos via ARC.