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Contributor I
December 7, 2022
Answered

Hisense U6G no surround Playbar

Using the playbar and 2 play1 surrounds with an optical connection. Hisense U6G TV set to Dolby Digital for digital optical audio out. No audio from the surrounds when the TV output is Dolby digital. The Sonos app shows Dolby Digital 5.0 when audio is playing. But nothing from surrounds. When I set the audio to pass through or auto it shows Stereo PCM. And there is some audio from the surrounds but it’s just stereo. Any thoughts?

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TscottoAnswer
Contributor I
December 9, 2022

Confirmed with using an Apple TV I get full surround. So it must be the way the TV is passing audio from the internal apps?

12 replies

Lead Maestro
December 7, 2022

What exactly are you testing? Are you 100% sure it is a Dolby Digital 5.1 source?

"Receive with simplicity everything that happens to you." - Rashi
TscottoAuthor
Contributor I
December 7, 2022

I’ve tried multiple movie sources. Netflix. Amazon prime. Disney +. Multiple movies. Still nothing. The Sonos app reports Dolby digital 5.0. These are all built in apps to the TV

Airgetlam
December 7, 2022

I’ve never been a fan of the CEC / ARC implementation on the Hisense. Have you updated the TV to the latest firmware?
 

What happens when you use a device connected to HDMI, rather than internal ‘smart’ apps?

Bruce
TscottoAuthor
Contributor I
December 7, 2022

This is the playbar so only optical is available. TV is the latest firmware. I haven’t tried other devices hooked up to HDMI yet. 

Lead Maestro
December 7, 2022

I wonder if the issue has something to do with the original audio being in Dolby Digital Plus. Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+ all use Dolby Digital Plus for 5.1 audio. 
 

What other streaming services do you use? Do you have the Apple TV+ app? Can you test the film Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol using the Pass Through, Auto, and Dolby Digital settings?

"Receive with simplicity everything that happens to you." - Rashi
TscottoAuthor
Contributor I
December 7, 2022

I have tried setting the TV to Dolby digital plus as well. Same result. 
 

I have HBO Max too. I do not have Apple TV+. Let me see if I can test that movie through any of them. 

Lead Maestro
December 7, 2022

I have tried setting the TV to Dolby digital plus as well. Same result. 
 

I have HBO Max too. I do not have Apple TV+. Let me see if I can test that movie through any of them. 

HBO Max uses Dolby Digital Plus too. Apple TV+ is the only major streaming app I know that uses standard Dolby Digital. Would you be willing to do the free Apple TV+ trial for testing purposes? I completely understand if you don’t.

"Receive with simplicity everything that happens to you." - Rashi
TscottoAuthor
Contributor I
December 8, 2022

Thanks for the tip. Tried Apple TV+ and sure enough all surrounds work. That’s with the built in app on the TV. And the setting on the TV to Dolby digital plus. Will I have to use an external Apple TV for the audio to work as expected?

Lead Maestro
December 8, 2022

An external media device might work. The Apple TV 4K has a setting where all audio sources can be converted to Dolby Digital. So this might be a good option for you. If it doesn’t work, you can always return it and try a different device.

"Receive with simplicity everything that happens to you." - Rashi
TscottoAuthor
Contributor I
December 8, 2022

Thanks. Do you think it’s just the TV or the apps themselves? I also have a Beam setup with surrounds on my LG TV. No issues with built in apps or the Apple TV I have hooked up to it.