Contributor I

Answered

No Dolby 5.1 on Prime Video (Playbar)

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
July 26, 2025
5 replies
1249 views

I'm still using my dear, dear Playbar with two play:3's and a Sub gen3.

Om my old TV, I had to use an Nvidia Shield to get surround sound on most streaming apps, at the expense of all kinds of sync issues. A few months ago it died and I upgraded my TV (Sony).

Fortunately most native streaming apps on the new TV (HBO, Netflix and Disney+) are streaming in glorious 5.1. However, I just found out Amazon Prime Video is stuck on Dolby 2.0. All the movies I purchased digitally on Amazon refuse to output surround.

I know the Playbar is ancient by now, and I fear the optical connection is the issue? But since other streaming apps do work on 5.1, I don't understand why Prime Video isn't? Any information is appreciated!

I really dread having to upgrade my soundbar to eArc. Because I'm not sure if it would solve anything, but mostly because it would require new surround speakers as well (the Ultra is not compatible with the Play:3's).

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Best answer by Morningcoffee

Then perhaps you’d be best to contact Sony, and check with them.

i used to have a Vizio that would play internal apps at 5.1, but my connected devices, like my Apple TV, could only pass stereo signals, due to limitations of the HDMI inputs. I’m wondering if the internal apps that is for your Amazon Prime is limited as well. You may want to check for updates to the TV from Sony, but I’m not holding out much hope.

As I said, because other apps are working, and sending the appropriate type of signal, the issue isn’t with the Sonos. Instead, it appears to be the app being used by the Sony TV, especially if it doesn’t allow you to access any audio settings. Unfortunately, I gave up on Sony devices many years ago. It might not hurt for you to look up whichever particular Sony you have on rtings.com, and see if they have anything to say, but I really don’t think Sonos can help here.

Thanks, I'm indeed afraid it's the Prime Video app. There's nothing I can do about that.

Thank you for the help!

Update: I uninstalled the Prime Video app updates, and after that it worked on 5.1 again. It appears the latest Prime video update from July 21st broke the surround sound for my setup. I notified Amazon, hope they can fix it.

Airgetlam

I’d check the settings on your Prime Video app. Since other streams are appearing in Dolby Digital, it isn’t an issue with the Sonos, it is what is being handed to it. There’s likely a setting on the app somewhere, or the content you’ve been testing on isn’t in Dolby Digital.

By the way, you should lock down the output of the TV to Dolby Digital, as that is all the PLAYBAR can process. If you allow such things as Dolby Digital Plus or Atmos to be sent by the TV (or ‘best possible’), you’ll likely have difficulty. Best to lock down the output.

Bruce

M

MorningcoffeeAuthor

Contributor I

I’d check the settings on your Prime Video app. Since other streams are appearing in Dolby Digital, it isn’t an issue with the Sonos, it is what is being handed to it. There’s likely a setting on the app somewhere, or the content you’ve been testing on isn’t in Dolby Digital.

By the way, you should lock down the output of the TV to Dolby Digital, as that is all the PLAYBAR can process. If you allow such things as Dolby Digital Plus or Atmos to be sent by the TV (or ‘best possible’), you’ll likely have difficulty. Best to lock down the output.

Thanks for the reply!

Unfortunately I can find no audio options in the Amazon Prime video app. There is an HDR option, but no way to select which Dolby it sends to the TV.

I tried many different shows and movies, which should definitely be on 5.1.

On the TV itself I can choose between multichannel or multichannel (bypass). The first outputs 2.0, the second PCM stereo.

Airgetlam

Then perhaps you’d be best to contact Sony, and check with them.

i used to have a Vizio that would play internal apps at 5.1, but my connected devices, like my Apple TV, could only pass stereo signals, due to limitations of the HDMI inputs. I’m wondering if the internal apps that is for your Amazon Prime is limited as well. You may want to check for updates to the TV from Sony, but I’m not holding out much hope.

As I said, because other apps are working, and sending the appropriate type of signal, the issue isn’t with the Sonos. Instead, it appears to be the app being used by the Sony TV, especially if it doesn’t allow you to access any audio settings. Unfortunately, I gave up on Sony devices many years ago. It might not hurt for you to look up whichever particular Sony you have on rtings.com, and see if they have anything to say, but I really don’t think Sonos can help here.

Bruce

M

MorningcoffeeAuthorAnswer

Contributor I

Then perhaps you’d be best to contact Sony, and check with them.

i used to have a Vizio that would play internal apps at 5.1, but my connected devices, like my Apple TV, could only pass stereo signals, due to limitations of the HDMI inputs. I’m wondering if the internal apps that is for your Amazon Prime is limited as well. You may want to check for updates to the TV from Sony, but I’m not holding out much hope.

As I said, because other apps are working, and sending the appropriate type of signal, the issue isn’t with the Sonos. Instead, it appears to be the app being used by the Sony TV, especially if it doesn’t allow you to access any audio settings. Unfortunately, I gave up on Sony devices many years ago. It might not hurt for you to look up whichever particular Sony you have on rtings.com, and see if they have anything to say, but I really don’t think Sonos can help here.

Thanks, I'm indeed afraid it's the Prime Video app. There's nothing I can do about that.

Thank you for the help!

Update: I uninstalled the Prime Video app updates, and after that it worked on 5.1 again. It appears the latest Prime video update from July 21st broke the surround sound for my setup. I notified Amazon, hope they can fix it.

Stanley_4

Grand Maestro

I gave up on my Sony internal Amazon app and grabbed an Amazon Firestick, if you have an open hdmi port that might be the easy fix.

Spend the extra few bucks to get the nicer Firestick, the cheap ones work but are a bit slow for the spouse's use.

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