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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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AVPilot

Level 1

0 points

Posted on Oct 3, 2010 6:05 PM

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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39 replies

Ariel O.

Level 1

0 points

May 13, 2014 8:23 PM in response to Cmay1

En Español:

Tengo el mismo problema que reportaron antes.

Al reproducir películas con audio DD desde la aplicación Netflix, el audio solamente se puede reproducir en formato stereo.

Esto se había solucionado con el upgrade a 6.1.1 instantáneamente luego del upgrade, por lo que no creo que la 6.1.1 solo haya solucionado temas de seguridad.

Pero a los pocos días volvió a aparecer el mismo error, solo se reproduce audio en stereo.

Esto no pasa si desde mi iPad reproduzco via AirPlay, en est caso el ATV3 reproduce el audio en formato DD 5.1

Sinceramente estoy pensando el volver a utilizar el WD TV pobre pero 100% efectivo.

Aguardo una solución pronta.

PD: luego del upgrade funcionaba la aplicación iTunes Festival en formato DD 5.1 y a los pocos días desapareció junto con la reaparición del problema de Neflix. Tal vez sea casualidad, pero algo en los servidores ha cambiado...

Nuevamente: Aguardo una solución pronta.

Mutanti

Level 1

0 points

May 5, 2014 8:29 AM in response to flute711

I spoke with Netflix hotline yesterday and they told me they are working on it, so I believe it will be solved asap.

BobVB

Level 3

599 points

Oct 19, 2010 11:35 AM in response to Cmay1

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.

Nov 30, 2010 8:59 PM in response to Cmay1

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.

ratso

Level 1

10 points

Jan 31, 2011 6:42 AM in response to Cmay1

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.

n2185x

Level 1

0 points

Apr 7, 2014 8:21 PM in response to Mediakip

In the U.S., there doesn't seem to be a "very high" option for the playback quality. At least, none that I could find. "High" was the highest available setting. And that setting results in 2-channel playback (Dolby Surround) only. 😟

Since this is a Netflix problem, I guess I'm going to have to contact their support and find out what's going on. I've already independently verified, via iTunes-available streaming media, that 5.1 playback does in fact work on my setup as it is, so this is clearly a Netflix-specific issue and not a general Apple TV issue.

I can't tell if this issue is related to an OS upgrade on the Apple TV or not. The only way for me to find out would be for me to revert back to some older version of the firmware, and that's enough of an annoyance that I'm reluctant to do so. It's probably better to just get the issue sorted out with the latest firmware.

Mutanti

Level 1

0 points

May 7, 2014 3:00 PM in response to cmailman

Dolby Digital works over AirPlay all the time. The problem is if you use Netflix app in your Apple TV and AV receiever for DD. In this case the problem is not solved and I think we all waiting for the repair.

Mutanti

Level 1

0 points

Apr 30, 2014 2:51 PM in response to Dave Medcroft

Bad news, i tested today and after latest update Netflix over ATV is without Dolby Digital again. That worked immediatelly after update, but today it doesn´t work again, only stereo.

Apr 30, 2014 3:06 PM in response to Mutanti

That is very odd. I've just tested again and I'm back to stereo unless I send via airplay from phone.

May 28, 2014 9:14 AM in response to Azoun74

I just noticed today that no items in the Netflix Apple TV app seem to be displaying the DD icon. It looks like Netflix have removed that until they get the problem fixed.

tmartine

Level 3

995 points

Jan 31, 2011 9:18 AM in response to ratso

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..

ratso

Level 1

10 points

Jan 31, 2011 10:50 AM in response to tmartine

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 🙂

Chenks

Level 5

7,435 points

Jan 31, 2011 10:54 AM in response to ratso

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.

Jul 9, 2011 2:36 AM in response to Cmay1

Now we all can watch movies and tv shows to netflix with the realism and impact of surround sound. Dolby® Digital Plus to deliver 5.1-channel audio supprts this growing library of tv shows and movies streamed instantly over the Internet.

But

If you guys want to make use of this Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 surround sound when instantly streaming TV shows and new movies releases from Netflix, you'll need the new Netflix application for the PlayStation 3. You guys can find it under the Video icon and the What's New icon at the time of turning on your play station 3, and simply install it from there.

This new app eliminates the streaming disc and offers a completely redesigned interface to make searching and navigating easy.

famoej

Level 1

0 points

Jul 11, 2011 7:46 AM in response to Cmay1

Has there been any update to this. My new Mini will arrive today. I tested netflix on my macbook. I convert usb to spdif to feed my pre/pro- All I get is PCM stereo which I can chang to pro logic II.

I was going to use the HDMI direct to my TV for video and use the converted usb/spdif for audio.

Is netflix still not supporting devises, other than ps3?

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