Skip to main content
kXender
Contributor I
July 16, 2025

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

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?

This topic has been closed for further comments. You can use the search bar to find a similar topic, or create a new one by clicking Create Topic at the top of the page.

18 replies

Show previous replies
kXenderAuthor
Contributor I
July 17, 2025

Sounds awesome if it’s True.

Rhonny
Prodigy III
July 17, 2025
  1. I have YT Premium
  2. In Apple TV I have Atmos Available and Change Format Off
  3. Audio Mode “Auto” I assume set in TV? I have it set to Auto.
  4. 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 :(

I’m not disputing it - but just I wonder (for non-Atmos content) why it displays ‘Dolby Digital 5.1’ on my Sonos app’s Now Playing screen when using Apple TV to Samsung TV to Arc, whereas you’re only seeing ‘5.1 Multichannel PCM’ when using Apple TV to LG TV to Arc...

Outburst
Enthusiast II
July 17, 2025

Maybe your TV is converting it back to Dolby Digital or you have “Change Format” enabled in the Apple TV settings? It’s very strange, I only get PCM or Atmos with my Apple TV and that’s how the Apple TV operates for years now.

As mentioned Apple might add Passthrough but I think that’s nothing more than a rumor right now.

Rhonny
Prodigy III
July 17, 2025

Maybe your TV is converting it back to Dolby Digital or you have “Change Format” enabled in the Apple TV settings? It’s very strange, I only get PCM or Atmos with my Apple TV and that’s how the Apple TV operates for years now.

As mentioned Apple might add Passthrough but I think that’s nothing more than a rumor right now.

No, Change Format is off... I’m not forcing Dolby Digital 5.1, and also get Dolby Atmos on Apple TV+.

I do get PCM from live broadcasts on BBC iPlayer and ITVX on Apple TV, but that’s to be expected. But for the vast majority of streamed content on Disney, Prime, and Netflix, I get the app displaying ‘Dolby Digital 5.1’. (The TV is on Passthrough too, so it shouldn’t be doing any converting...)

Outburst
Enthusiast II
July 17, 2025

Do you have an example for Disney? I have a subscription there currently so I could check that out.

jgatie
jgatie
July 17, 2025

Do you have an example for Disney? I have a subscription there currently so I could check that out.

 

Hundreds.  Any newer (since 2010) Marvel movie (Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame).  Any Star Wars series (Andor, The Mandalorian).  

    Rhonny
    Prodigy III
    July 17, 2025

    ​@Outburst 

    Yes, what ​@jgatie said!

    Here’s a screen grab during Return of the Jedi (not Premium tier - if I did, it would be saying Atmos):

     

    Outburst
    Enthusiast II
    July 17, 2025

    I tested with Captain America Brave New World now and I get Multichannel PCM as I would have expected. Really odd that you get DD5.1 here.

    Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement