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General discussion

Samsung Netflix app defaults 2 CH PCM audio to receiver??

Mar 14, 2016 1:01PM PDT

I don't know if this is a problem with my receiver, TV, or the samsung netflix app... (pretty sure it's the TV) but this audio issue started happening recently. I use the samsung netflix app in the smart hub and for some reason the TV default audio output is Stereo 2 CH PCM instead of 5.1 Dolby audio to my receiver. Netflix is setup to send 5.1 audio. It used to work flawless and my Sony Receiver picked up the Dolby 5.1 stream no problem. When I press 'info' in netflix, it tells me it is outputting 5.1 audio but the TV is sending Stereo PCM to the receiver?

I have a receiver (Sony STR DN1040) hooked up to the TV (F8000) via HDMI ARC.

I don't have this issue with any other input in the receiver, the receiver is setup correctly to use ARC/HDMI and so is the TV. It used to work perfectly so think an update broke something...

I can get 5.1 audio in netflix by going into the 'Audio Format' in the TV menu and change the output from 'PCM' to 'Dolby' while in the netflix app and the stream starts working correctly. I have to do this menu change each time I start netflix in order to get 5.1 audio.

My question is why doesn't the samsung TV automatically remember my 'Dolby' setting, and why isn't the default audio Dolby for netflix? I also use the samsung plex app and that seems to work fine and switches to DTS/Dolby no problem. The Samsung TV only defaults t2 CH PCM when watching samsung netflix. It's a super annoying menu change I have to do every time I watch netflix and want 5.1 sound.

Discussion is locked

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You found a thing.
Mar 14, 2016 1:10PM PDT

The thing is that apps don't have to honor the TV settings. This is both a blessing and a curse.

Since the app is in control, you have to gripe to not only Samsung but to Netflix. It's their app. If it's off, then Netflix is the only one that can fix it.

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thanks
Mar 14, 2016 2:08PM PDT

Thanks I'll follow-up with the Samsung netflix people as well. If it was a netflix app thing, wouldn't a lot of people be having this issue? When I select 'info' in netflix it says it is streaming 5.1 audio, but the TV is nevertheless sending out 2 ch PCM by default.

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Yes and there are folk griping about this and other things.
Mar 14, 2016 2:26PM PDT

Smart TVs are far from "being there." That is, without glitches, errors and omissions. It's annoying and seems the makers and app companies are slow to ever fixing the bugs.

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I see...
Mar 14, 2016 2:38PM PDT

that's frustrating especially since it used to work fine. I agree smart TVs are far from being there. I am considering buying a streaming device for plex/netflix just so I can get around the smart TV audio issues. My problem is I like two settings on my TV, one for gaming mode and one for movies/TV. I'll lose that ability if I plug everythin into my receiver and only have one 'source' on the TV.

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That's been my choice.
Mar 14, 2016 2:58PM PDT

I ignored the smart tv feature due to other reasons. Samsung's penchant for ad injection is why I always turn off the smart hub. I started with a Logitech Revo and worked my way through other players. Today I use the Amazon Fire TV, a Roku 3 and for when it must work, a small form factor PC. The Intel NUC.