Can ARC handle Dolby HD/ Atmos and DTS HD/X?

[Audioctor]

During a discussion in another forum @lovinthehd mentioned that ARC cannot handle lossless codecs. If this is correct then how can I get lossless audio if I play some UHD content directly on my TV (through USB or streaming from my PC)?

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[lovinthehd]

How do you know you are getting the lossless codec?

 

[TheWarrior]

Lossless audio typically refers to file types of compressed music, and does not pertain to surround sound formats. No, your TV will not make any use of a surround sound format.

 

[Audioctor]

What I mean is suppose I stream an HD movie to my TV from my PC and the audio is in Dolby Atmos ; will I be able enjoy Atmos audio through ARC on my Denon x3300w?

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[TLS Guy]

What I mean is suppose I stream an HD movie to my TV from my PC and the audio is in Dolby Atmos ; will I be able enjoy Atmos audio through ARC on my Denon x3300w?

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Well I don't know what you are streaming, so have no idea of the bandwidth. ARC has restricted bandwidth, and is not a good connection. Its bandwidth is very comparable to TOSLINK SPDIF.

 

[pewternhrata]

Well I don't know what you are streaming, so have no idea of the bandwidth. ARC has restricted bandwidth, and is not a good connection. Its bandwidth is very comparable to TOSLINK SPDIF.

I think the question at hand is, does arc support those formats? From your answer I'm assuming yes, but only at a low bandwidth?

 

[TheWarrior]

I think the question at hand is, does arc support those formats? From your answer I'm assuming yes, but only at a low bandwidth?

Bandwidth is the issue, a TV won't know what to do with Atmos so it will downgrade to the nearest codec the TV supports.

The source of the HD content has to be run through the AVR/preamp to achieve intended surround sound format.

 

[Audioctor]

So I suppose, newer formats like Atmos would be downgraded to stereo. Because that's what happened when I tried to stream Dolby HD to my previous Yamaha AVR via Toslink from my TV as well as PS3. I read somewhere that
when you try to stream higher end codecs through low bandwidth connections they are converted to stereo by default.

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[Pogre]

I would run everything through my receiver and not even mess with arc. From what I've read the tech isn't quite there yet.

 

[Audioctor]

I would run everything through my receiver and not even mess with arc. From what I've read the tech isn't quite there yet.

What should I do for Netflix? My TV has an in built app but the AVR doesn't.



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[j_garcia]

So I suppose, newer formats like Atmos would be downgraded to stereo. Because that's what happened when I tried to stream Dolby HD to my previous Yamaha AVR via Toslink from my TV as well as PS3. I read somewhere that
when you try to stream higher end codecs through low bandwidth connections they are converted to stereo by default.

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Depends on your specific display and setttings. Most TVs now seem to have the option to set it permanently to one thing such as DD, DTS or stereo. What that means though is that ALL signals get converted to the one you pick, which is part of why you cannot get the full HD codecs over ARC or SPDIF.

Netflix will have the same issue. It may say 5.1 for certain titles, but you won't get it from your TV because very few devices are able to actually stream in 5.1. I'd highly advise against using apps on your TV anyway. It is not secure.

 

[Pogre]

What should I do for Netflix? My TV has an in built app but the AVR doesn't.



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Do you have any other streaming devices? Everything I've read about arc tells me it's not the best way to get audio to your speakers. Not enough bandwidth for starters. I think the tech has great possibilities, but I also think it needs some more development.

 

[j_garcia]

I think SPDIF and ARC are technically capable of some of the new codecs, but it isn't part of their specs. IIRC, it is actually not permitted to pass over those connection types, not that it can't (I could be wrong).

DD+ is 640k, supports up to 7.1 and can pass over all connection types AFAIK. Prime and Netflix both use this for streaming multichannel content.

 

[NINaudio]

What should I do for Netflix? My TV has an in built app but the AVR doesn't.

Some tv's are capable of passing a dolby digital signal through their optical output. Before I got my shield TV I would use the netflix app on my tv and pass the sound from the optical to my receiver.

 

[lovinthehd]

So I suppose, newer formats like Atmos would be downgraded to stereo. Because that's what happened when I tried to stream Dolby HD to my previous Yamaha AVR via Toslink from my TV as well as PS3. I read somewhere that
when you try to stream higher end codecs through low bandwidth connections they are converted to stereo by default.

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Some tv's are only going to output in 2ch, some can do 5.1; what specific tv do you have? Netflix app in the tv may be limited to 2.0 (my Samsung plasma is so limited), but I'd just use the ARC (or optical) for the Netflix on your tv unless you get a separate streaming device. Dolby TrueHD or DTS HD MA (lossless surround codecs) won't pass over ARC or optical.

 

[Audioctor]

Some tv's are only going to output in 2ch, some can do 5.1; what specific tv do you have? Netflix app in the tv may be limited to 2.0 (my Samsung plasma is so limited), but I'd just use the ARC (or optical) for the Netflix on your tv unless you get a separate streaming device. Dolby TrueHD or DTS HD MA (lossless surround codecs) won't pass over ARC or optical.

Mine is Sony Bravia KDL 46 w900a. I have an Apple TV and a WD TV Live streaming devices. Apple doesn't allow non-itunes content while WD TV appears to be from stone age. What other options are there?

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[lovinthehd]

Mine is Sony Bravia KDL 46 w900a. I have an Apple TV and a WD TV Live streaming devices. Apple doesn't allow non-itunes content while WD TV appears to be from stone age. What other options are there?

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Found this in this S&V review of the 55" version: "On the other hand, those who plan to bolster the KDL-55W900A’s audio with a soundbar should note that its optical audio output will not pass multichannel Dolby Digital or DTS bitstream signals and instead converts audio from all HDMI sources to stereo PCM. This may cramp performance if the soundbar has built-in decoders to take advantage of DD or DTS signals"

Not familiar with your streaming devices, was thinking more about a Roku....

 

[j_garcia]

Get a new WD (or check for firmware updats) - new models do support TrueHD and DTS-HD MA, maybe not DTS-X or Atmos yet. Apple TV is a Roku, so it does not support any of those codecs as far as I know. Even my Fire TV only supports DD+.

 

[panteragstk]

Atmos metadata can actually be present in a DD+ stream. See this.

ARC can pass through as high as DD+ and DTS. You aren't going to get anything above that. Netflix has DD+, but nothing higher. Unless you have ripped blu-rays your streaming services are going to be limited to DD+. Vudu is the only one I know of that has any Atmos material and Netflix is supposedly looking into it.

The new ARC standard in HDMI 2.1 will allow for lossless HD audio to be passed through to the receiver.

 

[TLS Guy]

Mine is Sony Bravia KDL 46 w900a. I have an Apple TV and a WD TV Live streaming devices. Apple doesn't allow non-itunes content while WD TV appears to be from stone age. What other options are there?

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As far as I'm concerned an HTPC is by far the best device for streaming. It s flexible and you have pretty much instant access to anything out there.

I do not use a TV as the source ever on any of my systems, and would never consider doing so. I have no time for ROKU, Firetsticks or any of those devices. The only streaming device I do use sometimes is Chromecast which is brilliant. That is mainly used on my vintage rig, that has no receiver, just an HDMI auto switcher.

Receivers, pre pros and TVs are not the units to do streaming from.

What is required is a high quality unit ahead of a pre pro or good receiver.