Music channels in DD

[Sky+uhd]

I currently have two surround set ups . One supporting main Q box the other one supporting my mini . 
the surround set up that supports my Q box , I can get all channels in DD . The surround system that supports my mini , music channels are not in DD they play in stereo . BBC ITV broadcast in DD , channel 5 in 5:1 . 
Both surround sets are through Sonos . Main Q box a playbar , plus rears and a sub , mini is with a playbase and rears . 
What I can't understand is why on main q box I can get DD , but on mini through playbase it plays as stereo 

[PandJ2020]

The majority of channels are broadcast in stereo.

The audio settings change the output format but do not generate anything other than 2.0 output.  It's then up to the surround system in how it processes this signal - either output in a straight left/right format or processed to produce a centre/subwoofer and possibly rear surrounds.

I think you need to look at the settings of the Sonos here.

Some downloaded material will have more exotic audio - such as native 5.1 or even Atmos via DD+

[nigea99]

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@Sky+uhd wrote:

I currently have two surround set ups . One supporting main Q box the other one supporting my mini . 
the surround set up that supports my Q box , I can get all channels in DD . The surround system that supports my mini , music channels are not in DD they play in stereo . BBC ITV broadcast in DD , channel 5 in 5:1 . 
Both surround sets are through Sonos . Main Q box a playbar , plus rears and a sub , mini is with a playbase and rears . 
What I can't understand is why on main q box I can get DD , but on mini through playbase it plays as stereo 

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hi @Sky+uhd 

Please can you give me a specific channel to check.

Are you sure you get DD on your main box for the music channels  - I have just checked all the channels listed as Music on my main box & they are all SD channels & show as PCM .

AFAIK no SD channels carry DD & most HD channels have DD available.

Note DD is not necessarily better than PCM as DD is a compressed format & even though they may be in DD that does not mean they are not 2.0 stereo  - as indeed ITV HD is,  which  never broadcasts in 5.1

[Sky+uhd]

Interesting what you say pcm vs DD . All music channels through my Sonos playbar on my phone say 2:0 . On my playbase same  channels shows on my phone as PCM . This is new on my playbar as only recently it was showing on my phone as PCM now 2:0 . I must admit on my playbase ( pcm) rear speakers are active and music and dialogue are coming from them . Sounds as though I have surround sound , but phone says pcm 

[nigea99]

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@Sky+uhd wrote:

Interesting what you say pcm vs DD . All music channels through my Sonos playbar on my phone say 2:0 . On my playbase same  channels shows on my phone as PCM . This is new on my playbar as only recently it was showing on my phone as PCM now 2:0 . I must admit on my playbase ( pcm) rear speakers are active and music and dialogue are coming from them . Sounds as though I have surround sound , but phone says pcm 

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@Sky+uhd 

If you are getting sound from any speakers other thean Front Left  & Right from a 2.0 signal then your Sound equipment is probably using a  'Psuedo' mode & expanding the signal to use other speakers - many Sound bars/AV receivers have such modes   

(BTW PCM from SKY Q is 2.0  PCM from other devices may have multi channels - my Firestick 4K max does with some content) 

[Sky+uhd]

Thank you fir your great feedback , so knowledgeable. I have many so is speakers . But the two that are with my TVs , are a playbar ( hard wired ) and a playbase . Not sure what you mean in your last paragraph regarding sky 

[nigea99]

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@Sky+uhd wrote:

Thank you fir your great feedback , so knowledgeable. I have many so is speakers . But the two that are with my TVs , are a playbar ( hard wired ) and a playbase . Not sure what you mean in your last paragraph regarding sky 

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OK will try to rephrase :

That whilst PCM can be multichannel (e.g. 5.1), it is always only  2.0 on SKY

[Sky+uhd]

Blimey didn't realise that . I would confirm that if I am watching Netflix or prime , always watch on their respective apps . Not through sky in the Netflix app . Do you have sky 

[nigea99]

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@Sky+uhd wrote:

Blimey didn't realise that . I would confirm that if I am watching Netflix or prime , always watch on their respective apps . Not through sky in the Netflix app . Do you have sky 

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I have SKY Q which I watch most of the time but only use the apps on it to test something raised on here.

Fo  apps , I use apps either  my TV  or mainly my Firesticks as they support Dolby Vison/HDR10+ for Video and support Atmos that is missing on some apps on SKY Q (as well as often being faster to respond) 

When I added a Firestick 4K Max V2  to my  set up last year, initially  Disney+ did not have Atmos  on it unlike my V1 Firestick  as the V2 uses multichannel PCM in preference to DD+   -  I guess it took a short while to get that Atmox over multichannel PCM  for their app  (which took around 1-2 months I think)

BTW I have 2 Yamaha Av amps with  7.1.2 & 7.1 separate speakers

[Sky+uhd]

Thank you for all information, very helpful 

[Sky+uhd]

Thank you