How can I view Netflix movies in Dolby digital 5.1 sound?

To my knowledge, Netflix does not provide Dolby Digital 5.1 surround on any of their streamed content. There is nothing wrong with your Apple TV, but until they change something on their end, you will only get 2 channel stereo from Netflix, as that is the only audio signal they stream. I have had a Roku HD player, and a Samsung Blu-ray player that both streamed Netflix, and both would just be stereo soundtracks. If you have a surround sound receiver, use the Dolby Pro-logic II Movie mode, and that will expand the stereo signal into 5.1 surround. It's not quite as good as true discrete Dolby Digital, but does a pretty darn good job. I use this on all Netflix streamed movies.

The default to stereo might be because they don't know if the device connected can handle 5.1. We know that 5.1 is possible since the PS3 just got it, and since the new TV only connects with HDMI and optical outs there should be no concern about the user NOT being able to use a 5.1 signal so it would be nice to be able to have the same level of functionality as the PS3.

I watched a couple of 5.1 surround on my PS3 Netflix today. Loaded the same titles on the ATV just to see and it does not stream 5.1. I think the stream is available its just a matter of choosing it, which you do not have that option on the ATV. On the PS3 it tells you that 5.1 is available and you go in and select it over regular stereo.

I would not be surprised if 5.1 capability is simply a matter of them updating the ATV Netflix Interface so that 5.1 is selectable.

Netflix says that they will be extending 5.1 capability to other clients, but they did not give a timetable.

I own a Playstation 3 and it does support 5.1 dolby from Netflix. It was very disappointing when I switch to watch the same TV show through my new Apple TV. As you stated in your post, Apple TV does not support Netflix 5.1 Dolby. I will keep using my PS3 and thinking about returning the Apple TV.

This is not true. I can watch movies and TV shows with my PS3 in full 5.1 Dolby Digital surround. PS3 is WAY AHEAD with this issue.

Wondering if this is because Apple wants you to buy/rent from them instead of using netflix.

People don't understand. It's not Apple's issue that you can't get 5.1 sound with the new generation Apple TV it's Netflix's issue. The only product they support 5.1 sound at this time is PS3. They will be adding other devices such as Apple TV over time but they have not provided a timeframe.

a playstation 3 has the processing power to decode a 5.1 stream on the fly. it's doing it with software, not hardware. this is why the PS3 can do this and nothing else can. your ATV will never be able to do this in it's current hardware configuration. maybe they will release a new box in the future that can or maybe a new way to stream 5.1 will be found, but for now, your ATV (or any other non-PS3 device) cannot do this.

ratso wrote:
a playstation 3 has the processing power to decode a 5.1 stream on the fly. it's doing it with software, not hardware. this is why the PS3 can do this and nothing else can. your ATV will never be able to do this in it's current hardware configuration. maybe they will release a new box in the future that can or maybe a new way to stream 5.1 will be found, but for now, your ATV (or any other non-PS3 device) cannot do this.

the appletv is more than capable of 5.1 audio via streaming (itunes movie rentals have 5.1 audio).

it's just a case of netflix rolling out 5.1 to all devices audio slowly.

ratso wrote:
a playstation 3 has the processing power to decode a 5.1 stream on the fly. it's doing it with software, not hardware. this is why the PS3 can do this and nothing else can. your ATV will never be able to do this in it's current hardware configuration. maybe they will release a new box in the future that can or maybe a new way to stream 5.1 will be found, but for now, your ATV (or any other non-PS3 device) cannot do this.

That's not true at all. The Apple TV already streams 5.1 surround sound for content from sources other than Netflix. Netflix just enabled it in the PS3 software first. In fact, I talked to a Netflix representative a couple of days ago and he confirmed that 5.1 would be coming to most of the other Netflix enabled devices with the next month or two.

huh?? iTunes content, content from your own personal movie library etc can already do DD 5.1.. in fact appleTV support multiple 5.1 DD tracks.

neither PlayStation or AppleTV actually decodes DD 5.1.. they just use passThru.. so your horsepower argument doesn't really make sense from that standpoint either.. not to mention that it's kind of ridiculous to assert that a device that is powerful enough to decode h.264 (a very complex CPU intensive codec to decode) 720p video wouldn't be able to decode dd 5.1 audio?? c'mon.. nothing about your post really makes a lot of sense..

the ps3's method for streaming netflix was reported by tom andry on audioholics's podcast. (audioholics is one of the biggest AV sites online, so i doubt they got it wrong). however maybe what he was trying to imply was this is just the way the ps3 deals with the problem and i got the inference wrong. i wasn't really aware that apple tv could stream other 5.1 sources, so my bad. sorry to ruin your whole day there tmartine 🙂

ratso wrote:
i wasn't really aware that apple tv could stream other 5.1 sources, so my bad. sorry to ruin your whole day there tmartine 🙂

the moral here is, don't post unless you really know what you are saying.
in a thread about 5.1 audio and the appletv, it would be advisable to at least know what the appletv can do with regards to 5.1 audio.