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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 e...
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. 

cimmeriian's avatar
cimmeriian
Newbie
4 years ago

First of RokuTannerD hits the nail on the head. Read their message first, if you want to read my deeper dive before finding RokuTannerD's comment, read on.

Read on for details.

At first, I wasn't sure because again, I know how Netflix works across everything else, including old laptops and my Apple TV 2 which is older than every Roku device I have. Netflix on those devices does surround just fine but not on the Roku.

I have a 6 channel receiver that can receive analog, digital optical and digital co-ax for DD and DTS. It cannot do DD+ or DTS+/DTS-HD/True or anything past a 6 channel (i.e. 5.1) setup.

The receiver goes through a 4k HDMI audio extractor that allows me to use LPCM or Bitstream, I can also just send audio through to my TV.

Netflix changed something actually as DD / DTS was fine a while ago on Roku.  The specifics I don't know.

I have the following devices going through a switch, to the extractor, to the receiver and TV.

Basically:

PS3 ----\                                                                  /----- TV
PS4 -----\                                                               /
X360 ---( HDMI Switch ) ---> HDMI extractor ----
Switch --/                                                               \
XB1X ---/                                                                  \----- Receiver (optical and analog)

The X360 is the only device that is limited to Dolby Digital.  All the others can do LPCM, Dolby Digital and or DTS.  I default them all to LPCM as that's what the Switch does anyway and I only have to change the input for the XBOX 360.

Regardless the XBOX 360 handles 5.1 off of applications, games, etc just fine.  Now if I send  the Roku direct to the TV (which can do optical and will pass through Dolby Digital) or through the HDMI switch, it doesn't work for Netflix and or VuDu and various other apps.

Now with the Apple TV 2, it again works.  So then I used the Roku and used their own Roku app and had Dolby Digital / DTS pass through just fine.  That said, the Roku auto-detected and is sending DD / DTS just fine, so what's the issue?

Long story short, the developers of the apps on the Roku made their choice as to which format to work with. The app devs may do their own downconversion or they may leave it to the device.  Basically if you have 5.1, unfortunately there are many applications which just won't do 5.1 / 6ch surround and I believe the older Roku's don't have the chops to decode and or downconvert it to any other output format. No DD/DTS/6ch LPCM, so yeah, you can probably find a converter or get a new receiver. A receiver not being cost-effective obviously.

So if you really want surround, you won't get it with a Roku streaming device for many famous apps. You would be better of finding a PS3, PS4, XBOX One, or XBOX 360 for cheap. They are going to use a lot more power than a Roku so not as energy efficient but it'll work and it'll probably consume less juice than a new AVR that drives two more speakers and possibly an additional subwoofer.

Ultimately I'm upset with Netflix, Vudu, etc.  How many people are rocking DD+ / DTS+,DTS-HD, etc etc setups that they made that the default without a downconversion option?! Like the app should know, "Hey, this Roku is set for DD, DTS, let's down convert then send, it's less data for us to send too, win-win". Nope, they say, "We're sending DD+ bro!"

So gotta ask as I do love my Roku devices and buy them for others, the UI is perfect ... Roku, any plans of having a more beefy player that could perhaps determine what to output such as DD, DTS, LPCM even? The HDMI spec can handle all of those and I know the XB1, PS3 and PS4 all convert whatever they can to LPCM as that's my preference the downstream receiver can handle whatever you're sending but increasing the options helps a lot environmentally, economically, and your profits :-)

jd47's avatar
jd47
Channel Surfer
4 years ago

Netflix movies from the app on my 6 yo Vizio all are labeled as 5.1 sound, and that is what comes out of my Onkyo receiver. The exact same movies from the app on a new (Feb 2022) Roku stick do not have the 5.1 label on them and, no surprise, my receiver identifies the signal as pcm2.0. My guess is the problem is with the app supplied by Roku. All the labels under the movie title are the same for both systems except that the Roku system does not show the 5.1 label. 

  • UserOfStreamers's avatar
    UserOfStreamers
    Roku Guru
    4 years ago

    jd47 wrote:

    Yes, I am reconciled to just getting Netflix in 5.1 with my TV app. Works fine. Unfortunately, my TV predates HBOmax and Disney+ and they don't make new apps available (otherwise I wouldn't even need the Roku). Fortunately, HBOmax on Roku is giving 5.1 audio (except one evening when it reverted to 2.0, but I think that was an HBO issue - it went back to 5.1 after a few hours). Very disappointed about the problem with Disney+.  I was looking forward to their Star Wars library in 5.1, but, so far, only getting PCM2.0.

    You didnt mention how all your devices are connected together, but you most likely are connecting your Roku "stick" (didnt mention model, but none of the sticks have a Dolby decoder and cannot transcode DD+ to DD) through your TV, and your (6 year old) TV either doesnt support DD+ (which is what NF/D+ use) passthrough from HDMI to ARC/Optical, or it is misconfigured to allow it to do so.

    Considering HBO Max uses either DD+ or DD (depends on system configuration), and you are able to get DD5.1, this would heavily suggest your TV supports DD but not DD+ passthrough from HDMI to ARC/Optical.

    You can check your TV settings for misconfiguration, but most likely it lacks the DD+ passthrough support.

    Your options are:

    1) Connect your Roku directly to your AVR (assuming its connected via HDMI/ARC to your TV).

    2) Get an audio extractor that supports DD+ to DD transcoding (these are more expensive, since they require a Dolby decoder license).

    3) Get the 4800 (2020 Ultra) which has a Dolby decoder and can transcode DD+ to DD, and will allow you to get 5.1 from all apps (either using DD+ or DD).

    4) Get a competitor's device with a Dolby decoder (e.g. FS4K, FS4K Max, TS4K, O4KSB)

    • jd47's avatar
      jd47
      Channel Surfer
      4 years ago

      I just plugged the Roku directly into the AVR, picture going back to TV via ARC. Generally working, but the AVR still says it is getting PCM2.0 from the Roku on Disney. Have to admit some of the sound fields on the AVR are giving a pretty good sound (Star Wars). It sounds/feels like surround, but is it really?  HBOmax still shows 5.1 on the AVR. Netflix movies still don't have the 5.1 on their feature lists - that is really odd. Will have to live with it, I guess.

      • UserOfStreamers's avatar
        UserOfStreamers
        Roku Guru
        4 years ago
        jd47 wrote:

        I just plugged the Roku directly into the AVR, picture going back to TV via ARC. Generally working, but the AVR still says it is getting PCM2.0 from the Roku on Disney. Have to admit some of the sound fields on the AVR are giving a pretty good sound (Star Wars). It sounds/feels like surround, but is it really?  HBOmax still shows 5.1 on the AVR. Netflix movies still don't have the 5.1 on their feature lists - that is really odd. Will have to live with it, I guess.

        Apparently your Onkyo AVR (model unstated) is DD-only (no DD+ support).

        You can check the detected audio support for any connection via Settings/Audio/Audio mode = ? or highlight Settings/Audio/Digital output format/Auto

        If either/both show DD (and not DD+), your TV/AVR/etc doesnt have DD+ support.

        Try connecting the SS both ways (TV or AVR) to see the result.

        If your TV/AVR are DD-only (no DD+), consider my other suggestions (4800, HDMI audio extractor, competitor product with Dolby decoder).

        Otherwise, make sure you dont have any Volume Mode enabled:  during playback of any content, press Options (*)/Volume mode=Off

    • Obelix27's avatar
      Obelix27
      Streaming Star
      4 years ago
      UserOfStreamers wrote:

      4) Get a competitor's device with a Dolby decoder (e.g. FS4K, FS4K Max, TS4K, O4KSB)

      FS4K presumably is the Fire stick (yep - I do get 5.1 on Netflix).

      But what is TS4K, O4KSB?

      • UserOfStreamers's avatar
        UserOfStreamers
        Roku Guru
        4 years ago
        Obelix27 wrote:
        UserOfStreamers wrote:

        4) Get a competitor's device with a Dolby decoder (e.g. FS4K, FS4K Max, TS4K, O4KSB)

        FS4K presumably is the Fire stick (yep - I do get 5.1 on Netflix).

        But what is TS4K, O4KSB?

        Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K/4K MAX, Tivo Stream 4K, ONN 4K Stream Box

  • atc98092's avatar
    atc98092
    Community Streaming Expert
    4 years ago
    jd47 wrote:

     My guess is the problem is with the app supplied by Roku. All the labels under the movie title are the same for both systems except that the Roku system does not show the 5.1 label. 

    Roku does not provide the app. With the exception of The Roku Channel and Roku Media Player, all channels on Roku devices are developed by other providers. In this case, Netflix is the company responsible for the functionality of the channel. I just checked Netflix on my Premiere 3920 (nearest to me at the moment) and the Netflix channel displays 5.1 audio on the title I checked. Since it's connected to a Samsung TV, there's no 5.1 support for this player. But the channel still says 5.1 audio.

    You might try removing the Netflix channel, rebooting the Stick (critical step, don't skip), then adding it back in again. That's always the first step when troubleshooting a channel.

    • jd47's avatar
      jd47
      Channel Surfer
      4 years ago

      Tried that. Didn't change anything. The movie descriptors that come up from the Netflix app on the Roku include date, movie duration, rating, and video level, but no 5.1.  The same movies on the app built-in to my TV all have the same list plus 5.1. When I play the movie through the Roku, my receiver indicates PCM2.0 as its input signal. When I play the same movie through the TV app, my receiver indicates Dolby5.1. I can hear the difference. Also cannot get 5.1 from Disney + , but I do get 5.1 from HBOmax through the Roku.

      • atc98092's avatar
        atc98092
        Community Streaming Expert
        4 years ago

        Well, if you're getting 5.1 on HBO Max, then it's nothing to do with any settings of the Roku. I know you said it's a new Roku, but what is the model number? And to confirm, you are located in the US?