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

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

With my newATV I can view HD movies and TV shows in Dolby digital. However, when I download a Netflix movie, it is always played in stereo. I have tried lots of films, including Avatar. All only play in stereo. Anyone else have this problem too?
I wish netflix "watch instantly" would indicate whether a film was in HD with 5.1 sound. Could it be that if your download speed is slow, Netflix reverts to SD and stereo? Like I mentioned, downloAds from Apple are fine in Dolby.

Dell, Windows XP Pro

Posted on Oct 3, 2010 5:32 PM

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Answer 1

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AVPilot

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Oct 3, 2010 6:05 PM in response to Cmay1

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.

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Answer 2

Feb 6, 2012 11:05 AM in response to skyler4321

You have to set the Dolby Digital option (audio/video preference pane) to ACTIVE, not automatic. Then ATV2 will send DD audio through HDMI and optical, if the title you're watching has the double D's symbol in it's description.

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Answer 3

Mediakip

Level 1

19 points

Jul 19, 2013 3:26 PM in response to bubblepuppy369

To get surround sound from Netflix – at least in Sweden – you have to change an video quality setting on your Netflix account page: https://movies.netflix.com/HdToggle

When it's set on "High" it only streams with stereo sound. But set on "Highest" I finally get surround sound on my Apple TV.

And yes, trying to figure this out drove me crazy changing all kinds of settings on my Apple TV, surround system and television set which didn't help. And no, Netflix support didn't figure this one out for me, it was more of a coincidence.

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Answer 4

newagemac

Level 2

245 points

Jan 31, 2011 8:12 AM in response to ratso

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.

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Answer 5

capaho

Level 4

3,677 points

Jan 31, 2011 8:05 PM in response to tgibbs

Netflix has announced that they will be rolling out 5.1 audio to other devices, but they haven't announced a definite schedule.

Netflix will use Dolby Digital Plus for streaming 5.1 audio, from there it's up to the device manufacturers to update their software. The Netflix player in the PS3 supports it, and Microsoft is adding support for it in the Silverlight plugin for browsers, but it will be up to Apple to release an update that will support it in the embedded Netflix player on the ATV.

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Answer 6

May 17, 2013 9:47 AM in response to Cmay1

I too had the issue of not getting 5.1 surround when streaming Netflix. I fixed the problem by going to Apple TV settings/audio and changing the default setting from "auto" to "on."

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Answer 7

Chenks

Level 5

7,435 points

Jan 31, 2011 6:49 AM in response to ratso

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.

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Answer 8

cmailman

Level 1

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May 7, 2014 12:41 PM in response to Mutanti

Hi Everyone with this 5.1 sound issue on apple tv when using Netflix. Last night, I thought maybe if I used my Ipad to stream Netflix to Apple TV, Dolby Digital would work, well I'm happy to report IT WORKS. Beautiful 5.1 sound from Ipad to Apple TV while watching Netflix. Problem solved. Try it!!

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Answer 9

May 28, 2014 5:21 PM in response to Cmay1

It now appears that this issue has been fixed. A number of people, inclluding myself, have reported in this Apple Support thread, the Netflix app on Apple TV is now outputting Dolby Digital for those movies which have it.

However, you have no way of knowing which movies are supposed to have DD, since the DD icon is no longer shown on the play screen, even if the movie does have it.

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Answer 10

Apr 22, 2014 12:50 PM in response to tmartine

Good news. Recent update to 6.1.1 resolves this issue and returns Dolby Digital to Netflix.

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Answer 11

rz22g

Level 1

62 points

Oct 19, 2010 11:51 AM in response to Cmay1

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.

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Answer 12

tmartine

Level 3

995 points

Apr 9, 2014 1:21 PM in response to n2185x

currently there is a problem with Netflix and DD 5.1 is not working.. happened about 1mth ago.. Netflix has reported they are working on this... not sure if this is a AppleTV update 6.1 or Netflix related problem

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Answer 13

bramie

Level 1

0 points

Dec 1, 2010 4:51 PM in response to Cmay1

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.

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Answer 14

lkrupp

Level 7

22,705 points

Apr 30, 2014 3:48 PM in response to Dave Medcroft

Another thread about this is reporting that Netflix is aware of the issue and is working on it. I have experienced the same thing. The 6.1.1 update seemed to fix the DD 5.1 issue for Netflix and iTunes purchased movies. The Netflix issue is now back but the other stuff is still working okay.

This sure sounds like a server issue to me and not the 6.1.1 update. And to be perfectly candid the release notes for the 6.1.1 update didn't mention a thing about any Dobly Digital fixes, only security patches.

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Answer 15

cmailman

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May 7, 2014 12:45 PM in response to lkrupp

Hi lkrupp,

I just posted a fix for the 5.1 sound issue on Apple TV with Netflix. If you have a Ipad, stream Netflix to Apple TV and the 5.1 sound will be avaiable. I tried this last night and it works great.

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