Which is the better sound: change format off signal PCM sound Multi In+Dolby Surround or change format on signal and sound Dolby Digital?

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Which is the better sound: change format off signal PCM sound Multi In+Dolby Surround or change format on signal and sound Dolby Digital?

I have a 4K Apple TV. On the Audio settings it says that if change function is off the best sound possible or available will be provided. On most movies with that setting I get signal PCM and sound quality Multi In+Dolby Surround. With the change function on Digital Dolby 5.1 I get signal and sound Dolby Digital 5.1. Which is the better sound?

iPhone 7, 11

Posted on Feb 18, 2019 9:05 AM

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Answer 1

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Urquhart1244

Level 10

146,722 points

Feb 18, 2019 1:07 PM in response to vazandrew

Uncompressed 5.1–7.1 multichannel (LPCM) is the better sound for setups that can handle it.
Dolby Digital 5.1 is re-encoded from the uncompressed multichannel, and is a fallback mechanism, e.g. if you have audio equipment that can’t handle uncompressed multichannel, like when using S/PDIF (TOSLINK).
Stereo is re-encoded from the uncompressed multichannel, and is a fallback mechanism, e.g. for when you have audio equipment that can’t handle (5.1) multichannel audio, like when using two-speaker setup.

Play audio in surround sound on your Apple TV - Apple Support

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Answer 2

vazandrew

Level 8

40,924 points

Feb 18, 2019 12:14 PM in response to liliane220

Best available will output the highest quality audio, but if it's a format that one's system can't handle it will revert to PCM. In those cases it's best to leave it set to DD 5.1

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Which is the better sound: change format off signal PCM sound Multi In+Dolby Surround or change format on signal and sound Dolby Digital?

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