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Shane_17
Contributor I
April 13, 2014
Question

playbar and comittment for DTS playback firmware upgrade

I have just added the Sonos Playbar to my samsung smart TV and have discovered the lack of DTS functionality through reading this forum. I find it disappointing that the best we can get is a stereo effect through the playbar?  My originial search was based on identifying a way of using my existing Onkyo nr509 AV Amp with the playbar however that appears to be a no go option as well. The concept of buying and adding the playbar as a step change to the surround sound system I had has left me feeling I have done the wrong thing?  Slightly cheated in a sense too, I hear what Sonos are saying that the majority of content is streamed and agree we use netflix however I also enjoy having a collection of Bluray discs and feel Sonos should fulfil both requirements.  If anyone can give us an  idea as to when this may be re-considered as it looks like Sonos have closed the subject down from reading through the forums.  Do I revert to my old system and return the Playbar to John Lewis could buy a couple Play3's instead?  
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      214 replies

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      Undadaugh
      Lyricist I
      December 26, 2015
      Dear Sonos, I got the playbar and sub for Christmas, and I'm seriously disappointed it lacks this support. Can I get a refund???
      Ryan S
      Ryan S
      Retired Sonos Staff
      December 26, 2015
      Dear Sonos, I got the playbar and sub for Christmas, and I'm seriously disappointed it lacks this support. Can I get a refund???

      Hi Undadaugh, Sorry to hear you're disappointed. Any units purchased from us directly have a 45 money back guaranty, other retailers will have their own return policies. Wedo have some good suggestions for how to convert DTS audio if you have a lot of DTS only content and your TV is passing it through. We recommend using a Blu-ray player or game system which you use to convert the audio from DTS to Dolby Digital to get 5.1 audio to the PLAYBAR.

      Example Blu-ray players which will convert the audio on the fly include the Samsung BD-F6500, Samsung BD-F5900, and Samsung BD-F5700. An Xbox or PlayStation4 can also be used to convert DTS from Blu-rays to Dolby Digital. You can also find a lot of suggestions around the community, including a few in this thread to other workarounds too.

      We know that if DTS is key to your home theater experience, the PLAYBAR may not be the right sound bar for your home. Though we don’t have plans to add DTS support at this time, we’re continually improving the Sonos system in other ways through free software updates.
      Mark good posts by pressing the like button, and select the best answer on questions you've asked to help others find solutions.
      Roel Jetten
      Trending Lyricist I
      December 27, 2015
      Ryan S you are saying that the playbar not be the right soundbar for your home.its 2015! A lot of people ask for DTS support many times. I'am very dissapointed to spend 2000 euro on my Sonos 5.1 set we want the full experience not only Dolby Digital, I just can't believe Sonos why you let your customers down. Is it really that difficult to add DTS? Or expensive? Any way I hope you are decide to add DTS support in 2016 for the Sonos Playbar.
        nicka99
        nicka99
        Local Superstar
        January 4, 2016
        Samsung now announced Atmos enabled Soundbar and wireless speakers / sub !
        http://news.samsung.com/global/samsung-to-reveal-groundbreaking-new-soundbar-at-ces-2016

        In addition to Yamaha's YSP-5600 this is making Sonos playbar look even more dated !
        jjrag
        Lyricist II
        January 17, 2016
        Thanks for all the feedback everyone, I'll pass it on to the team for you. We're still monitoring the industry and trends but our decision not to include native DTS support remains. Few TVs have the ability to send a DTS signal from an HDMI source directly to the optical connection. In the few case where this is happens, the audio output settings on a BluRay/DVD player or game system can be set to PCM; allowing a stereo signal over HDMI to be passed through to the PLAYBAR from the TV.

        In addition, some of these devices can convert that DTS signal to Dolby Digital 5.1 for surround sound. Examples of models capable of this are the Samsung BD-F6500, Samsung BD-F5900, and Samsung BD-F5700. You can find a lot of suggestions around the community, including a few in this thread.

        If DTS support is paramount to your home cinema experience, the PLAYBAR may not be the right sound bar for your home.

        @Kimchi10- we appreciate the dedication but updating every thread mentioning DTS is a bit counterproductive. If your PLAYBAR isn’t working out we’d love to talk to you further to see if we can help. I see you have an email incident started with our team already, they’ll be in touch soon.
        jjrag
        Lyricist II
        January 17, 2016
        I'm sorry Ryan but NOBODY converts DTS to Dolby only PCM. Your system is awesome but the lack of any sort of DTS in 2016 is like watching TV in 480i. The setup does not do a good job with PCM, yes it plays but the rears are just playing ambient sound constantly. There is no surround sound. If it's licencing fees with DTS that's one thing, but if it's as simple as a software update (Most likely not, unless there is a DTS chip inside the sounbar) then sonos should really push this as all new UHD's pass both and then some. Not to mention that the main format for Blu-Ray 1080p and Blu-Ray UHD is DTS-MA and has been for years.
        jgatie
        jgatie
        January 17, 2016
        Samsung and some Sony Blu-Ray players convert DTS to DD 5.1. Matter of fact, there are some models listed in these threads.
        jjrag
        Lyricist II
        January 17, 2016
        That's very odd. I never heard of any piece of audio equipment that does that. Some have dual tracks (DTS and Dolby), or maybe there converting it to Mutli-Linear PCM and back to a version of Dolby that there products have mimic Dolby. Either way, basic DTS on this type of setup, which by the way is phenomenal, is a no brainer. Simple 5.1 dolby, dts & pcm. If you want 7.1, atmos or any other setup you go the route of separates.
        jgatie
        jgatie
        January 17, 2016
        It's not odd at all. Samsung's been making them like that for years. Xbox and PlayStation too. Perhaps one should familiarize themselves with the current tech before blasting off at a Sonos rep who is only trying to help a consumer.
        jjrag
        Lyricist II
        January 17, 2016
        Who is blasting off? I'm fully aware that a Rep has no control over what ultimately happens with the product. I love Sonos and I'm a huge supporter, I'm just stating the obvious. Easy there... and I assure you that I am aware of what goes on in the A/V industry. Xbox & Playstation, not so much.
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