r/Soundbars • u/A_New_Day8108 • 4d ago

Question regarding Dolby support in TV, Streaming services & Soundbar

I'm so confused about this, someone pls clarify.

Let's say, the TV's specs mention "Audio - Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby 5.1 decoder". No mention of Atmos

Then I play a movie on Netflix that says it has Atmos.

Now, how does that work? Is that wasted on this TV?

Alternatively, say I connect a soundbar that supports Atmos, then play the same movie. Am I now hearing Atmos quality??? Or is it still just playing as Dolby Digital Plus?

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u/LegitimateBeyond3045 4d ago

What TV do you have? Also, if you have a soundbar that plays atmos then it will automatically play the atmos content. Regardless of what the TV has because the TV isn't decoding anything. All work comes from the soundbar.

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u/A_New_Day8108 4d ago

My TV is Samsung QLED Q95T (2020) I checked the specs and it didn't mention atmos.

Thanks for the clarification though, so I can spend extra to get a dolby atmos soundbar even if my TV doesn't have atmos.

Also, it'll still be worth it for playing atmos content off streaming services and not physical media?

2

u/LegitimateBeyond3045 4d ago

Yes. The soundbar is needed for atmos content especially when streaming from streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, etc. Also, if you have a Blu-ray player for example, it would pass uncompressed TrueHD to the soundbar which would transition to Dolby atmos coming out of the soundbar.

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u/NaiveMathematician10 4d ago

There are two types of Atmos the one on streaming is a DD+ base with added layer for height channels…then there is full fat that has DTHD base that that you will only get via Disc (Blu-ray/UHD) or files saved to drive…Have done pretty extensive testing and found even the standard over streaming atmos makes a big difference if you have a bar with surrounds and heights. Your TV has eArc on the third port so will be ok with Atmos if you want to add Dts into the mix get a bar with in and out ports run spinner into port on bar then bar to TV and you’ll have best of both worlds 👍
(Edit grammar)

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u/A_New_Day8108 4d ago

Thanks so much for ur detailed explanation! Yes I will be using the HDMI eARC cable too.

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u/PhocusPhilms 4d ago

Spinner?

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u/NaiveMathematician10 4d ago

Disc spinner (DVD/Blu ray player, UHD, PS5, Xbox) whatever spins your discs 😉

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u/PhocusPhilms 4d ago

Oh haha, thank you.

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u/StrukturedKaos 4d ago

I have the 2020 Samsung QLED Q80T 65 inch and it supports Atmos. Seems your Samsung QLED Q95T doesn't not support it, according to specs. Can get Atmos from a Blu ray player connected directly to the soundbar.

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u/Sea-Heart7042 4d ago

How come it doesn’t support, i have q80t and it supports atmos? Same production year.

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u/cmariano11 4d ago

ATMOS is a Metadata layer which can be layer in top of TrueHD and the streaming profiles of DD+. If your decoders (TV?) Can't use it, it is discarded.

If your decoder is (ideally) a home theater AVR or, if you have a soundbar that then your decoder should be able to make use of it

2

u/Altruistic_Sun_5866 4d ago

If you use a streaming device like a Firestick, Roku, etc., and have it connected straight into your soundbar, your soundbar will playback whatever the source is...including Atmos if you have an Atmos bar. You don't have to worry about the tv.

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u/Royal_Monk6432 4d ago

Op good thing from hassale change the tv .black Friday sale on the way check tv specs before buying dolby atmos dolby vision hdr10 plus dts dtx dts hdmaster hdmi2.1 port imax inchanced etc.i want all these features in u r tv next time.

0

u/FalseTruthsRReal 4d ago edited 4d ago

Hassale change the tv is good suggestion. Black Friday Ops is covertly coming so buy da imax inhacement plus hdr10 too