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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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      Joe Stump
      Trending Lyricist I
      December 19, 2014
      You just can't compare Sonos to wired systems. They are the most innovative wireless multi room system out there. They have issues that we can see but do they know something we don't.? Is there a new format that will replace DTS? Is it just a licensing fee issue? I don't know. What I do know is I will never have a wired home theater again. Keep us posted Sonos. You do have loyal customers that love the product.
      Dushan
      Contributor I
      December 19, 2014
      You just can't compare Sonos to wired systems. They are the most innovative wireless multi room system out there. They have issues that we can see but do they know something we don't.? Is there a new format that will replace DTS? Is it just a licensing fee issue? I don't know. What I do know is I will never have a wired home theater again. Keep us posted Sonos. You do have loyal customers that love the product.
      Have you tried to buy a blu-ray recently?? Have a look on the back and tell me how many are in DTS master audio. It's the superior format and it's here to stay. And even if it isn't, say, Dolby Atmos becomes movie standard - Sonos doesn't even decode the current Dolby TrueHD. 

      Samsung have Shape, LG have music flow. LG have made a big point of being able to decode DTS, and their playbar has a HDMI output AND input, so their multi-room setup will actually be a true 5.1. The sound is great but the app at the moment is terrible in it's first iteration. Give it a year and it will be much improved. Sonos have the market still, but it won't be for long at this rate.
      Joe Stump
      Trending Lyricist I
      December 19, 2014
      You just can't compare Sonos to wired systems. They are the most innovative wireless multi room system out there. They have issues that we can see but do they know something we don't.? Is there a new format that will replace DTS? Is it just a licensing fee issue? I don't know. What I do know is I will never have a wired home theater again. Keep us posted Sonos. You do have loyal customers that love the product.
      You talk about innovation and still buy DVD's Streaming is the future and Sonos saw that years ago. Get on board with followers. Go ahead.
      Dave
      Dave
      Headliner II
      December 19, 2014
      You just can't compare Sonos to wired systems. They are the most innovative wireless multi room system out there. They have issues that we can see but do they know something we don't.? Is there a new format that will replace DTS? Is it just a licensing fee issue? I don't know. What I do know is I will never have a wired home theater again. Keep us posted Sonos. You do have loyal customers that love the product.
      Here here Joe, wireless is the selling point for me and multi room .
      Sonos Boost - PlayBar with Surround Sound Play 1's (Living Room) - Stereo Pair Play 1's (Dining Room) - Stereo Pair Play 1's (Kitchen) - Amp with two Canton 845 ceiling speakers (Bathroom) - Sonos Move - HomePod Mini x1
      tboheeren
      Trending Lyricist I
      December 19, 2014
      You just can't compare Sonos to wired systems. They are the most innovative wireless multi room system out there. They have issues that we can see but do they know something we don't.? Is there a new format that will replace DTS? Is it just a licensing fee issue? I don't know. What I do know is I will never have a wired home theater again. Keep us posted Sonos. You do have loyal customers that love the product.
      Joe if you stream HD content most tv's will pass the sound (5.1) to the playbar since streaming will be 'over the air'. How is your comment helping here?
      Dushan
      Contributor I
      December 19, 2014
      You just can't compare Sonos to wired systems. They are the most innovative wireless multi room system out there. They have issues that we can see but do they know something we don't.? Is there a new format that will replace DTS? Is it just a licensing fee issue? I don't know. What I do know is I will never have a wired home theater again. Keep us posted Sonos. You do have loyal customers that love the product.
      lol it's blu-ray, not DVD. Just a bit of a difference. People buy blu-rays for lossless audio and superior picture. 
      Besides, many streaming services connect to the TV via HDMI (Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast) which means Dolby audio will be downmixed to 2.0 out of the optical port of the TV anyway. 

      You sound like someone who would be fine with the 'fake' surround that the Playbar mixes with the 2.0 signal, and that's fine. Many people don't mind. There are those of us though with higher quality audio in mind, and setting down over 2k on an audio system that advertises itself as 5.1 (which is clearly a lie) means we expect certain standards from what was an industry leader.
      Joe Stump
      Trending Lyricist I
      December 19, 2014
      You just can't compare Sonos to wired systems. They are the most innovative wireless multi room system out there. They have issues that we can see but do they know something we don't.? Is there a new format that will replace DTS? Is it just a licensing fee issue? I don't know. What I do know is I will never have a wired home theater again. Keep us posted Sonos. You do have loyal customers that love the product.
      My TV passes DD 5.1. And if I needed that kind of superior sound I would buy a wired system. I don't mean to upset anyone. I did my reaserch before I bought. I knew the systems limitations and then bought it for what it is. I appreciate the simplicity and wireless multi room capability.
      Dushan
      Contributor I
      December 19, 2014
      You just can't compare Sonos to wired systems. They are the most innovative wireless multi room system out there. They have issues that we can see but do they know something we don't.? Is there a new format that will replace DTS? Is it just a licensing fee issue? I don't know. What I do know is I will never have a wired home theater again. Keep us posted Sonos. You do have loyal customers that love the product.
      That's fair enough. You are, in fact, the perfect customer for the playbar, as your TV passes the signal and you only stream content. Unfortunately there are far too many TVs that don't pass the signal; has nothing to do with the quality of the tv, more often the brand. Most Sony's, for example, pass the signal, Samsung do sometimes with a firmware update, and as far as I know Panasonic do not.
      Joe Stump
      Trending Lyricist I
      December 19, 2014
      You just can't compare Sonos to wired systems. They are the most innovative wireless multi room system out there. They have issues that we can see but do they know something we don't.? Is there a new format that will replace DTS? Is it just a licensing fee issue? I don't know. What I do know is I will never have a wired home theater again. Keep us posted Sonos. You do have loyal customers that love the product.
      Love my Sony. Toslink has been around for a very long time. HDMI keeps changing. Time to get the TV manufacturers to fix their problem of passing quality signals through. As soon as Sonos conformas the HDMI will be out if date.
      Chris
      Chris
      Lead Maestro
      December 19, 2014
      You just can't compare Sonos to wired systems. They are the most innovative wireless multi room system out there. They have issues that we can see but do they know something we don't.? Is there a new format that will replace DTS? Is it just a licensing fee issue? I don't know. What I do know is I will never have a wired home theater again. Keep us posted Sonos. You do have loyal customers that love the product.
      Refreshing - someone that researches and buys what is right for them!

      Ok I shouldn't say that as I know a lot of times when people come and complain they were told incorrect information by some sales rep. at a store.
      Respect the Queue (2)Move (3)Beam (1) Era100 (2)ARC (1)SonosOne (1)Playbar (4)Play5 (4)Play1 (3)Play3 (1)Port (2)Connect (1) Roam (2) Ace (1)Connect:Amp (4)Sonos Amp (1)Sub + (9) Echo + Smartthings; (2)Play)
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