Contributor I

LG G5 TV with Apple TV4K and Sonos Arc, only Dolby Atmos and PCM, missing Dolby Digital

18 replies
1366 views

Hi,

I’m using this combination of hardware: Apple TV4K → LG G5 TV → Sonoc ARC.

In Apple TV I have Dolby Atmos enabled.
In LG G5 I have Bitstream, passthrough and eARC enabled.
Sonos ARC is connected to eARC.

Dolby Atmos is working perfectly but whenever I’m running 8K HDR YouTube content or non Dolby Atmos on Netflix or other streaming, I’m getting only Stereo PCM or Multichannel PCM.

When I’m using TV WebOS built-in Netflix or YouTube app, I’m getting Dolby Digital.

Dolby Digital sound much better and richer than PCM from Apple TV. Dolby Digital audio is much louder and has a lot more of bass.

Is there any fix for Apple TV4K?

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O

Outburst

Enthusiast II

The Apple TV decodes everything (besides Atmos) into (Multichannel-) PCM, so that’s normal and there’s no real solution. You could set the audio output to Dolby Digital though, but then you won’t have Atmos.

K

kXenderAuthor

Contributor I

Is there any option to improve PCM playback on Sonos Arc, to make it sound more like DD?
Tbh PCM sound extremely flat in comparison to DD :(

O

Outburst

Enthusiast II

No, not that I’m aware, but to be fair I also don’t really notice any difference between Dolby and PCM (using an Apple TV myself) only that you might have to raise the volume a bit to have the same levels as Dolby.

K

kXenderAuthor

Contributor I

Maybe, it’s only volume I need to test it a little bit longer.

R

Rhonny

Prodigy III

@kXender

So you’re not even getting 5.1 when content is non-Atmos on streaming services?

K

kXenderAuthor

Contributor I

It depends on app. Netflix is giving Multichannel 5.1 PCM, youtube Stereo PCM.

jgatie

It depends on app. Netflix is giving Multichannel 5.1 PCM, youtube Stereo PCM.

YouTube is not a good test. 99.9% of YouTube content on a free account is downgraded to 2.0 stereo. Even if it is uploaded as DD 5.1, it is stored in stereo, and you cannot trust anything advertised as 5.1 or Atmos

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Rhonny

Prodigy III

It depends on app. Netflix is giving Multichannel 5.1 PCM, youtube Stereo PCM.

On my Apple TV, I just watched Ballard on Prime and Ripley on Netflix - in both instances, Sonos Arc showed sound as Dolby Digital 5.1. So I’m not getting ‘downscale’ 5.1 Multichannel PCM like you are. (I’m on the tier below premium, so I don’t get Atmos on Netflix, only Apple TV+, FYI).

On your Apple TV, under Video and Audio, does your Audio Format say (before selecting it) “Auto, Atmos Available” and then when you select it, say Change Format “Off” and Dolby Atmos “On”?

Further down on Video and Audio, does Audio Mode say “Auto”?

(I'm trying to ascertain why you’re getting 5.1 PCM and not Dolby Digital 5.1… Let me know content where you’re seeing 5.1 Multichannel PCM and I’ll compare.)

I have a Samsung Q90T, not an LG so can’t compare there…

K

kXenderAuthor

Contributor I

I have YT Premium
In Apple TV I have Atmos Available and Change Format Off
Audio Mode “Auto” I assume set in TV? I have it set to Auto.
First answer in the thread from Outburst:

The Apple TV decodes everything (besides Atmos) into (Multichannel-) PCM, so that’s normal and there’s no real solution. You could set the audio output to Dolby Digital though, but then you won’t have Atmos.

I think this is true, confirmed by searching google nad ChatGPT :)

it is unfortunate, but it is how it is :(