topic Re: KD-55A1 - Dolby Atmos with Netflix? in Android TV

KD-55A1 - Dolby Atmos with Netflix?

jonnyaikido — Fri, 30 Mar 2018 11:05:03 GMT

I have a KD-55A1 connected via a 2.1 HDMI (ARC) cable to STR 1080DN amp with connected 5.1.2 atmos speakers. How can I get the Netflix app on my TV to stream Dolby Atmos audio to the AV amp?

Thanks!

Re: KD-55A1 - Dolby Atmos with Netflix?

Pascale_F — Sat, 31 Mar 2018 09:08:02 GMT

Hi Jonny,

Welcome to the community.

I'm not too sure, but I will try to find out and update the thread when I do.

Thanks,

Pascale_F

Re: KD-55A1 - Dolby Atmos with Netflix?

pedromalo — Sat, 09 Jun 2018 15:16:35 GMT

Hi Pascale, any news on this matter - KD-55A1 & Dolby Atmos & Netflix ?

I'm in the process of looking to buy a soundbar and want to decide if it makes sense to have it Dolby Atmos or not (if the SmartTV does not support not value to spend the extra money).

Re: KD-55A1 - Dolby Atmos with Netflix?

ajoysarkar — Sat, 09 Jun 2018 18:38:20 GMT

Netflix tv app on Sony does not currently support atmos, it is currently only on xbox and LG

https://help.netflix.com/en/node/64066

Re: KD-55A1 - Dolby Atmos with Netflix?

pedromalo — Sun, 10 Jun 2018 16:48:45 GMT

Hi,

That is correct - it supports LG OLED TVs (2017 models or newer) - but the question is if support is not avaliable because Netflix is not (yet) supporting or also because it will never support because the TV does not support Atmos.

What happens is that LG OLED TVs (2017 models or newer) do have Dolby Atmos embedded and so it makes sense that Netflix supports these for now.

My problem is not for KD-55A1 to perform Dobly Atmos (it does not have the speakers to do it) but if I connect a Dolby Atmos soundbar (e.g. Sony HT-ST5000) will Netflix be able to acknowledge its existence (as Dolby Atmos) connected via the KD-55A1 HDMI-ARC port.

Actually, there is no reason for Netflix not to see that there is an Dolby Atmos-capable home theater audio system connected to the Sony HDMI-ARC port and use it.

Maybe someone can try a Dolby Atmos-capable home theater audio system (e.g. soundbar) connected to the Sony KD-55A1 HDMI-ARC and see of Netflix identifies it as Dolby Atmos and plays?

Re: KD-55A1 - Dolby Atmos with Netflix?

ajoysarkar — Mon, 11 Jun 2018 06:57:34 GMT

i have an atmos set up through a Marrantz sr 7011. Playing Netflix on the tv app only gives 5.1 through the tv arc. If I play using an Xbox one x app, I get atmos on listed titles

Re: KD-55A1 - Dolby Atmos with Netflix?

rooobb — Mon, 11 Jun 2018 12:49:21 GMT

HDMI ARC is not able to passthrough Dolby Atmos or any lossless audio encoding. So no TV (even LG) are able to send it to an external HT. If you connect a box via HDMI directly to an HT it can receive the signal (being that the return channel ARC has a very limited bandwith compared to HDMI). THis will be solved by HDMI 2.1 and eARC standard but you'll need to change all the chain (TV, cable, HT) in order to support it

Re: KD-55A1 - Dolby Atmos with Netflix?

rod_hull — Tue, 12 Jun 2018 07:53:54 GMT

That's not strictly true.

There is a lossy variant of Atmos that can be included in a DD+ stream (which if looking at media files that have it would be recorded as "E-AC-3+Atmos" or "DD+ with Atmos") as opposed to the lossless version you might find on BD/UHD discs embedded in the TrueHD stream (TrueHD+Atmos).

I believe the lossy DD+ version is the one Netflix are using on those LG/Xbox devices that support it. It can definitely be passed to a suitable decoder/AVR via current implementations of HDMI ARC.

I don't think there's any technical reason other manufacturers (including Sony) can't support it already on any in-TV apps that can already pass "normal" DD+ via ARC.

I suspect it's merely a licensing/exclusivity agreement Netflix have struck with LG/Microsoft.

Re: KD-55A1 - Dolby Atmos with Netflix?

Kuschelmonschter — Tue, 12 Jun 2018 09:08:34 GMT

Internet streaming services of course use the lossy DD+ based Atmos which can indeed theoretically be carried over ARC. TrueHD based Atmos implies a bitrate of >20mbps.

Re: KD-55A1 - Dolby Atmos with Netflix?

dutchice — Wed, 13 Jun 2018 14:55:09 GMT

@rod_hull wrote:
That's not strictly true.

There is a lossy variant of Atmos that can be included in a DD+ stream (which if looking at media files that have it would be recorded as "E-AC-3+Atmos" or "DD+ with Atmos") as opposed to the lossless version you might find on BD/UHD discs embedded in the TrueHD stream (TrueHD+Atmos).

I believe the lossy DD+ version is the one Netflix are using on those LG/Xbox devices that support it. It can definitely be passed to a suitable decoder/AVR via current implementations of HDMI ARC.

I don't think there's any technical reason other manufacturers (including Sony) can't support it already on any in-TV apps that can already pass "normal" DD+ via ARC.

I suspect it's merely a licensing/exclusivity agreement Netflix have struck with LG/Microsoft.

Your comments are correct. Support for Dolby Atmos (lossy compressed format) streams is as of yet not in production for SONY ATV1 and ATV2. I have however read a report mentioning the introduction in late 2018 for a number of the ATV2 models. As support for Dolby Vision + Dolby Atmos has been on the 2018 roadmap for SONY since eraly 2017. My understanding is that there will be this and some more announcements planned for IFA Berlin 2018.

Re: KD-55A1 - Dolby Atmos with Netflix?

pedromalo — Wed, 13 Jun 2018 15:38:59 GMT

Thanks for your comments. From what I understand we should not expect that KD-55A1 to have Dolby Atmos (also because of the licensing agreement with Dolby) and it is to wait for newer models.

The solution I'm picturing (for using the KD-55A1 and having Dolby Atmos on Netflix is to have an Doubly Atmos soundbar, wait for Netflix to support Apple TV, buy Apple TV 4K and use the Netflix App from the Apple TV streaming directing to the soundbar and connecting the soundbar to the KD-55A1.

This not to have to buy and XBox or an Windows 10 machine

Re: KD-55A1 - Dolby Atmos with Netflix?

Keefy78 — Mon, 27 Aug 2018 10:15:32 GMT

it actually says sony tvs 2018 onwards do, which is very disappointing as i have the ZD9 which was a very expensive tv.

Re: KD-55A1 - Dolby Atmos with Netflix?

pmnmalo — Mon, 27 Aug 2018 11:00:11 GMT

Looks like Netflix added support for Atmos on Sony BRAVIA just recently (for 2018+ models). When I posted back in June the support of Sony was not avaliable - only for LG OLED 2017+ models.

Now, the AF9 and ZF9 models (the new 2018 models) do not have the specs detailed yet (see https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/televisions/af9-series, https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/televisions/zf9-series) but it seems that there is no native Dolby Atmos (meaning no Atmos speakers embedded in the appliance) as one needs to ZF9 Sound Bar for "immersive surround sound". This, unlike the LG OLED (e.g. E8 models) that does have Atmos speakers embedded (see for instance https://www.lg.com/uk/tvs/lg-OLED65E8PLA).

So, in order for you to experience Dolby Atmos is a Sony BRAVIA you always need to have a Dolby Atmos soundbar as only then will Netflix be able to detect an Atmos output avaliable. So my question is: if we connect a Dolby Atmos soundbar will Netflix be able to acknowledge its existence (as Dolby Atmos) connected via the Sony BRAVIA HDMI-ARC port in a 2017 model? I think no - it would need an update to the software (maybe hardware too?) of the Sony BRAVIA 2017 models.. maybe Sony could do it or simply can say tell us that the hardware embedded in the 2017 TVs does not make it possible..

PS: Just like you Keefy78, I own a A1 OLED which is a very expensive SmartTV and it would be just super that Atmos would be supported.

Re: KD-55A1 - Dolby Atmos with Netflix?

stewartgordon4 — Mon, 27 Aug 2018 11:12:51 GMT

i have just got a kd65-xf9005 and i get dolby atmos on netflix my sound and picture goes thru h d mi 3 arc to my anthem mrx 720 rec and i have a 7.1.2 speaker system

Re: KD-55A1 - Dolby Atmos with Netflix?

tbenjelloun — Wed, 12 Sep 2018 12:53:09 GMT

really ? So it should also work on a Sony XE9305 ?

greetings Tarik

Re: KD-55A1 - Dolby Atmos with Netflix?

Kuschelmonschter — Wed, 12 Sep 2018 12:59:14 GMT

According to the Netflix Help Center, this is only supposed to work with BRAVIA 2018 models. Must be an artificial restriction then though as hardware should be the same for A1, XE93 and XF90/AF8.

Re: KD-55A1 - Dolby Atmos with Netflix?

tbenjelloun — Wed, 12 Sep 2018 13:16:54 GMT

pffff..what a hard and long way we need to go until we get Dolby Atmos 😞

Re: KD-55A1 - Dolby Atmos with Netflix?

yashwantastha — Wed, 26 Sep 2018 21:28:26 GMT

Are you getting Atmos on Netflix?

Re: KD-55A1 - Dolby Atmos with Netflix?

stewartgordon4 — Wed, 26 Sep 2018 21:44:07 GMT

i get dolby atmos with netflix on my kd65-xf9005 if you go to the netflix site it will tell you what tvs support dolby atmos

Re: KD-55A1 - Dolby Atmos with Netflix?

yashwantastha — Thu, 27 Sep 2018 07:28:57 GMT

I am bit disappointed now, I have the same TV but it only shows Dolby Vision and not Atmos. Top on that I have also bought an Atmos soundbar from Samsung and it still shows 5.1 in Netflix.,