Forum Discussion

Obelix27's avatar
Obelix27
Streaming Star
6 years ago
Solved

Netflix outputs 2.0 instead of Dolby Digital (not DD+) on Streaming Stick+

I use an HDMI switch with an SPDIF optical audio extractor to get the audio from the HDMI to my old surround amp which handles DD and DTS (not HD). This works well in surround sound with everything except for Netflix on Roku where I get 2.0 sound. The setup even gets DD surround with Netflix on a Fire Stick 2nd gen.

Presumably the problem lies in the fact that Netflix sound is DD Plus. But I have tried the Roku’s Audio settings with DD and also DD,DTS and all I get is 2.0 with Netflix. Any idea why this might be? The HDMI switch has 2.0, 5.1 and TV settings, all of which give 2.0.

Curiously if I stream a DTS movie using Plex with Roku’s Audio settings set to Dolby Digital (not Plus), then I get DD surround, so the Roku is converting the surround sound format as would be expected.

Dolby
  • RokuTannerD's avatar
    RokuTannerD
    6 years ago

    Obelix27 

    Hi there, 

    Thanks for the question here. Netflix provides Dolby Digital+ format audio for their content via their channel on Roku. They do not provide standard Dolby Digital 5.1 format. You'll want to use the 'Auto' setting in Settings>Audio mode in order for your device to automatically detect your TV/A/V receiver's capabilities and pass through the corresponding audio format where available. Your models of Roku devices cannot alter (or transcode) the audio format from Dolby Digital+ format to Dolby Digital 5.1—they will simply pass the supported audio format through to your TV or A/V receiver. (By contrast, the Plex channel uses different functionality to transcode audio in your Plex media server, then delivers the transcoded audio to your Roku device, allowing it to pass standard Dolby Digital 5.1 audio through to your TV/A/V receiver.) 

    If your TV or A/V receiver isn't capable of playing Dolby Digital+ audio formats (as detected by the 'Auto' settings in Settings>Audio>Audio mode, you would only receive Stereo audio from the Netflix channel. 

    I hope that helps clarify. 

     

    Thanks,

    Tanner

  • atc98092's avatar
    atc98092
    2 years ago
    Obelix27 wrote:

    Does anyone know if the latest Roku 4k streaming stick will transcode Netflix DD+ to 5.1 so that I can get 5.1 sound via an HDMI -> Optical Toslink audio extractor?

    No, the Streaming Stick does not decode DD+ to DD. The only Roku player that does that is the Ultra 480x. The original Ultra 4640 would also do it, but none of the Ultras after that until the 4800. 

  • atc98092's avatar
    atc98092
    Community Streaming Expert
    6 years ago
    Obelix27 wrote:

    I use an HDMI switch with an SPDIF optical audio extractor to get the audio from the HDMI to my old surround amp which handles DD and DTS (not HD). This works well in surround sound with everything except for Netflix on Roku where I get 2.0 sound. The setup even gets DD surround with Netflix on a Fire Stick 2nd gen.

    Presumably the problem lies in the fact that Netflix sound is DD Plus. But I have tried the Roku’s Audio settings with DD and also DD,DTS and all I get is 2.0 with Netflix. Any idea why this might be? The HDMI switch has 2.0, 5.1 and TV settings, all of which give 2.0.

    Curiously if I stream a DTS movie using Plex with Roku’s Audio settings set to Dolby Digital (not Plus), then I get DD surround, so the Roku is converting the surround sound format as would be expected.

    Plex is doing the transcoding, not the Roku. For what you are seeing, check to see of any of the audio processing functions are enabled. You can only access them when something is playing. Press the * button while the video is playing and look for any sound function and make sure it's turned off. It might be labeled volume leveling, or something different. But any audio processing must be turned off or you only get stereo sound. 

    • Obelix27's avatar
      Obelix27
      Streaming Star
      6 years ago

      Volume Leveling is turned off. The only other relevant setting I can see is Roku's main Audio Setting where  I have tried all the options and none of them give surround sound with Netflix. Volume Leveling doesn't seem to stop surround sound on Plex.

      • Obelix27's avatar
        Obelix27
        Streaming Star
        6 years ago

        On further investigation, it seems that if you set Volume Leveling before starting the video, then it does indeed set the sound to stereo. If you set Volume Leveling after starting the video it doesn't set the sound to stereo, however it doesn't seem to do any volume leveling either (until the video is restarted).

        None of this however has got Netflix to output surround sound. Netflix only outputs stereo irrespective of Audio and Volume Leveling settings.

  • Liang's avatar
    Liang
    Newbie
    5 years ago

    If you connect your TCL Roku TV through HDMI ARC to AV receiver which is capable of decoding DD+, go to settings-audio-speakers, and set TV Speakers to off. 

    This is how I got it to work and also works for amazon prime.

    TV: TCL 55S533-CA

    Received: Onkyo TX-SR608

    • HomeTheaterGuy's avatar
      HomeTheaterGuy
      Reel Rookie
      5 years ago

      If you are running a projector, this solution will not work.  To be honest, we just got our XBox One X back from repair and that unit has now become our main streaming device as it allows Dolby Digital, DTS to be decoded without issue.  The best that the Roku will do is mixed stereo for Dolby Pro Logic sound stages and others.  We are going to move the Roku to our small tv due to these limitations.

    • bginfl's avatar
      bginfl
      Channel Surfer
      6 years ago

        I’ve been using a Roku box with an HDMI extractor for a while with an optical cable to my older Fenon 5700 receiver.  I’ve always gotten 5.1DD on amazon Prime and Netflix as well as the new Apple TV+.  I’ve just recently noticed however that I’m no longer getting sound in DD on either Amazon Prime or Netflix but I am still getting DD on Apple+    I’ve tried almost every combination of settings on the Roku audio settings without luck.  Though it seems Apple will come through DD on almost any setting I pick. 
        So something has definitely changed within the last 30 days or so. 

      • Obelix27's avatar
        Obelix27
        Streaming Star
        6 years ago

        Seems like we have a similar setup. I never found a solution. Netflix has never worked for me in DD5.1 on Roku. I just use Netflix on my Firestick instead which does do DD5.1. However the Roku is much better when streaming movies from Windows via Plex and gets DD5.1, DTS5.1 and lip-sync much better.  

        Frankly it is a bit annoying as I'd like to get rid of the Firestick. So any ideas much appreciated. I haven't tried Apple+ or Amazon Prime.