TV Box Pro & Dolby Atmos

[Reign_in_Beard]

Hey all.

I’ve just moved over and have a TV Box Pro. I read that it should be capable of Dolby Atmos.

I have it set up via HDMI into my Soundbar and then into the TV. (My TV just has arc). When I use the Netflix and Amazon Prime apps, the labelling on them only shows 5.1. The info from my soundbar shows them playing in Dolby Digital rather than Atmos. The HDMI audio is set to surround. 

I have temporarily swiped my Son’s Apple TV and have it set up the same way. It displays the labelling correctly as Dolby Atmos and plays in Dolby Atmos as the soundbar info displays it.

I’m stumped as to what it could be. I did wonder if my set up may mean I need a higher bandwith cable for the box, as my sons one is a 48gbps one. Do you think it might be that?

[Midnight_Voice]

@Reign_in_Beard 

https://community.bt.com/t5/TNT-Sports-on-TV-Online-player/BT-Box-Pro-Dolby-Atmos-issue/m-p/2412168#...

[Minkey1]

My TV, TV Pro box, Apple TV puck, and AV amp all support Atmos, but not every service they stream does. NF I only have HD, but checking a 4k movie on Amazon Prime, the audio is only 5.1. IIRC, BBC iPlayer is even worse. Their UHD shows come in 2.0 audio. 

Conversely, streaming Slow Horses from Apple TV,  it comes in Atmos, and shows as such on my amp display.

I do have 48gig hdmi cables throughout, but the main issue will be what audio the streaming service supplies. My amp can process a pseudo version, not sure what capabilities your soundbar has?

[Reign_in_Beard]

Yeah, it’s a Samsung Q990D so it converts the iPlayer to a pseudo surround etc, just thought I’d get native Atmos out of Netflix and Prime on there. Might have to permanently swipe the Apple TV box.

[Reign_in_Beard]

I’ll check the Apple TV app later and report back. Both the Netflix and Prime subs are the Atmos/UHD tier and work fine on the Apple TV 4K with same set up. If the Apple TV app (on the box pro) isn’t working. I’ll swap out the box pro HDMI with a new 48gbps cable and try that.

[Minkey1]

As I say, I couldn’t check it on NF, but further research on Prime does indicate they stream at least some stuff with Atmos, so maybe I just picked the wrong example 🤷🏼

My gut feeling - unsupported by any measurable evidence - is that I get better results from a source connected by hdmi to my amp, with the video sent in to the TV, rather the TV sending the same app back down  over eARC.

I’ve found the Apple TV excellent in that regard, and also use it for my Apple Music streaming. I got the 4k Ethernet version new on a well known auction site for abt £120. It’s an aggregator too, showing other services including catch-ups, so more than just Apple TV+. Worth a ponder.

Good luck 👍

[Minkey1]

*sent on to the TV 🤦🏼‍♂️

[Reign_in_Beard]

I’ve tried the Apple TV+ app on the box pro, and Slow Horses played in Dolby Atmos. So it would seem it’s the Prime and Netflix apps on the Box Pro that don’t output it. So now it looks like I might have to decide either to swap the Box Pro for the Apple TV box, or keep the box pro with its aerial mode and recording function and buy an Apple TV separtley. 

[Profile closed]

@Reign_in_Beard Prime Video seems to have reserved Atmos for those that pay extra to skip adverts, on all devices.

The Apple TV+ app on the Pro Box doesn’t support HDR, whereas the version on an Apple TV 4K is as good as it gets (as you might expect). Atmos, Dolby Vision and the highest bit rates assuming your TV and broadband can deliver it.

Netflix is a mixed bag on the Pro Box. It needs the box itself to be set to 2160p 10 bit to output UHD HDR consistently (8 bit only gets you HD HDR), audio is flagged as “up to Atmos” if you have the Premium tier, but I remain to be convinced that the Pro Box outputs it as intended.

The Netflix app on the Apple TV 4K performs exactly as it should, all day long.

If you value quality and consistency, especially if you are paying for premium sound and vision, the Apple TV 4K is a powerhouse streamer.

If a recording box remains a necessity, I would recommend the Apple TV 4K for live and app viewing, then adding the single free multiroom box to your account and swapping the supplied mini box for a Pro Box off of eBay, CeX or similar.

[Reign_in_Beard]

Yes, I have the Atmos tier subscriptions for Prime and Netflix. Netflix is labelling Atmos capable shows/movies as 5.1 on the Box Pro, and outputs as Dolby Digital. On the Prime app, Atmos content is labelled as such but still delivers Dolby digital to my soundbar. When I use my son’s Apple TV box I get Atmos labelling and Atmos sound. Not sure what to do as Atmos is working on the Apple TV+ app on the box pro. Odd.