Roku Player Stick & Netflix audio

Hello there:

hoping that a more experienced member can shed some light on Netflix audio possibilities....

I've just started to use Netflix on Roku as my previous method of their service on Windows has gone to **bleep**-in-a-handbag.

The old full exe program that used to be available for installing into Windows was done away with.

That format did not force the user to use Edge or any web browser as the portal for transmission, the current which is PWA based format does.

This ruined my ability to receive Dolby Atmos as the audio now converts to PCM & that removes Atmos & DTS as a choice for audio reception...(apparently this is a well documented issue in many forums).

So now I'm using my Roku player to receive Netflix, the video quality is better than what was being delivered thru Edge but I'm not seeing any reference to Atmos in any movies on Netflix that I know are Atmos.

One goes into the Roku properties & check the audio settings & one sees that Atmos is in there & is available.

Any ideas?

thx very much

StreamerUser
8 months ago
55trucker
Again, I can repeat the info already provided to you previously in this thread combined with additional info stated elsewhere (that you clearly read, but still didnt quite understand) in the hope that you accept it, which you seemed to before reverting to your initial state (your limited/new exposure to streaming services/devices and higher AV quality provisioning - especially coming from PC streaming - is probably the source) :
The NetFlix app on all older MStar C2 SoC models (pre-4800/2020 - includes the 3810) does NOT have Atmos support.
The NetFlix app (on all newer RTD1x1x SoC models (4800/2020+ - includes the 3820) does have Atmos support.
(Aside: NetFlix actually has distinct/different app versions/builds for specific model types/models on RokuOS; this is also the case with the YT/YTTV RokuOS apps)
You need to understand there is a difference between OS/hardware support of DD+/Atmos (EAC3/JOC), and app/service support for DD+/Atmos.
Virtually every Roku model for the last 10 years has (passthrough) DD+/Atmos support via RokuOS/SoC - however this is separate and distinct from app/service DD+/Atmos support (which is limited by app version/build, subscription tier, app/server-side bugs/changes, etc - all of which is controlled by the app/service provider).
In simple terms, even if a specific model/device has DD+/Atmos support at the OS/hardware level, the app/service for that model/device has to be provisioned (by the app publisher/service provider) to provide DD+/Atmos support - this is true for all apps/services on all platforms (RokuOS, FireOS, Android/GoogleTV OS, WebOS, TizenOS, AnyEveryOS, etc).
To repeat (hopefully) one final time - the NetFlix app on the 3810 does not have DD+/Atmos support (just like the Amazon/Apple Music apps do not have DD+/Atmos support on RokuOS in general) - this is entirely within the control of the app/service provider, which in this case is Netflix.
If you want NetFlix Atmos (or FRM - framerate matching) support on a RokuOS player device, you will need to obtain a newer RTD1x1x SoC-based model (with a newer NetFlix app version/build):
Streaming Stick 4K/4K+ (3820/3821), Express 4K/4K+ (3940/3941), Express (3960), Ultra LT (4801), Ultra (4800/4802/4850).

15 Replies

StreamerUser
Roku Guru
8 months ago
You didnt mention your Roku model # or firmware version: Settings/System/About
Netflix atmos info:
1) Only newer models (4800+/2020+: RTD1x1x SoC-based) have a NetFlix app version that supports Atmos (382x/394x/3960/48xx) - all older models' (pre-4800/pre-2020: MStar C2 SoC-based) NF app version does NOT support Atmos.
2) NetFlix Premium subscription is required.
Other audio settings:
1) Configure passthrough (4640/48xx): Settings/Audio/Digital output format = Passthrough
2) Disable Sound Modes: During playback - press (remote) Options (*)/Sound settings/Customize sound modes/Volume Leveling & Dialog Enhancement = Off
- 55trucker
  Streaming Star
  8 months ago
  The device is a Roku streaming Stick+, I've owned it for approx 3 years now.......
  
  https://www.roku.com/en-ca/products/roku-streaming-stick-4k
  Netflix IS premium, the stick is plugged into the back of my Onkyo RZ50 AVR, video is delivered to my Panasonic TC-P65VT60 tv.
  There are no *passthrough* settings for the audio at all.....
  sound modes are all disabled.
  I'm not sure what you're referring to when you quote---- Netflix Only newer models (4800+/2020+: RTD1x1x SoC-based) have a NetFlix app version that supports Atmos
  when into Netflix now there are no visual displays of any Atmos for any of the newer *current* movies that did display Atmos on the old Windows app program.
  - makaiguy
    Community Streaming Expert
    8 months ago
    
    55trucker wrote:
    I'm not sure what you're referring to when you quote---- Netflix Only newer models (4800+/2020+: RTD1x1x SoC-based) have a NetFlix app version that supports Atmos
    Netflix supplies the Roku-compatible version of its app in a bunch of minor variations tuned to the capabilities of the Roku model it's to used with. He's saying only relatively new Roku models with model numbers 4800 and up have processors that support Atmos, and so will receive a Netflix version supporting Atmos.
- 55trucker
  Streaming Star
  8 months ago
  Let's try this.........
  Roku 3810X
  Software version 14.1
  I take it that this model predates 4800........
  - StreamerUser
    Roku Guru
    8 months ago
    NF app on a 3810 does NOT support Atmos.
    You'll need to upgrade to a newer model (e.g. Streaming Stick 4K/4K+: 3820/3821) if you want NF Atmos support.
- 55trucker
  Streaming Star
  8 months ago
  I came across this Roku thread on a similar topic with regards to Dolby Atmos .......
  I cannot paste the link here as it is not allowed..
  
  In particular..the reply by StreamerUser..
  this is a portion of his reply to the member.....
  *However, even though the Streaming Stick 4K (3820) and every other RokuOS model/device released in the last decade or so is more than capable of passing through DD+/Atmos (EAC3/JOC) used by streaming services, neither Apple nor Amazon have enabled/configured their respective music apps to allow/use DD+/Atmos on the RokuOS platform.*
  
  So in my particular case...what's the source of the issue?
  if my Roku 3810X stick is fully capable of delivering Dolby Atmos as the devices audio properties states it will.... is the issue at the Netflix end?
  - StreamerUser
    Roku Guru
    8 months ago
    55trucker
    Again, I can repeat the info already provided to you previously in this thread combined with additional info stated elsewhere (that you clearly read, but still didnt quite understand) in the hope that you accept it, which you seemed to before reverting to your initial state (your limited/new exposure to streaming services/devices and higher AV quality provisioning - especially coming from PC streaming - is probably the source) :
    The NetFlix app on all older MStar C2 SoC models (pre-4800/2020 - includes the 3810) does NOT have Atmos support.
    The NetFlix app (on all newer RTD1x1x SoC models (4800/2020+ - includes the 3820) does have Atmos support.
    (Aside: NetFlix actually has distinct/different app versions/builds for specific model types/models on RokuOS; this is also the case with the YT/YTTV RokuOS apps)
    You need to understand there is a difference between OS/hardware support of DD+/Atmos (EAC3/JOC), and app/service support for DD+/Atmos.
    Virtually every Roku model for the last 10 years has (passthrough) DD+/Atmos support via RokuOS/SoC - however this is separate and distinct from app/service DD+/Atmos support (which is limited by app version/build, subscription tier, app/server-side bugs/changes, etc - all of which is controlled by the app/service provider).
    In simple terms, even if a specific model/device has DD+/Atmos support at the OS/hardware level, the app/service for that model/device has to be provisioned (by the app publisher/service provider) to provide DD+/Atmos support - this is true for all apps/services on all platforms (RokuOS, FireOS, Android/GoogleTV OS, WebOS, TizenOS, AnyEveryOS, etc).
    To repeat (hopefully) one final time - the NetFlix app on the 3810 does not have DD+/Atmos support (just like the Amazon/Apple Music apps do not have DD+/Atmos support on RokuOS in general) - this is entirely within the control of the app/service provider, which in this case is Netflix.
    If you want NetFlix Atmos (or FRM - framerate matching) support on a RokuOS player device, you will need to obtain a newer RTD1x1x SoC-based model (with a newer NetFlix app version/build):
    Streaming Stick 4K/4K+ (3820/3821), Express 4K/4K+ (3940/3941), Express (3960), Ultra LT (4801), Ultra (4800/4802/4850).

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Roku Player Stick & Netflix audio

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