Android 10 Software decode for Dolby TrueHD with Soundbar

[moozart 3]

Dear all,

I'm running Emby for Android TV 10 latest version with Emby Server also on latest version. 

My TV Supports Atmos (downstreams to Stereo) but I have a 5.1.2 Soundbar that supports all Dolby formats so far. It is configured as Pass-though.

When playing some TrueHD 5.1 or 7.1 content I see Software Decode for the Audio. Is this expected or it should show Direct Play? 

I'm using a Sony TV X900H paired with  Samsumg Q810B 5.1.2 soundbar.

[ebr 14935]

Hi.  I don't believe any TVs support passing through TrueHD.  "Atmos" is a layer on top of either DD+ or TrueHD.  Your TV says it supports Atmos but only for DD+ most likely.

[moozart 3]

10 minutes ago, ebr said:

Hi.  I don't believe any TVs support passing through TrueHD.  "Atmos" is a layer on top of either DD+ or TrueHD.  Your TV says it supports Atmos but only for DD+ most likely.

I'm not really knowledgeable about it. But from what I understood, the eARC implementation is exactly supposed to make this possible. Or I'm missing something?

[rbjtech 4289]

14 minutes ago, moozart said:

I'm not really knowledgeable about it. But from what I understood, the eARC implementation is exactly supposed to make this possible. Or I'm missing something?

via HDMI only (a UHD Blu-Ray Player for example) - yes, but earc is not supported from any TV App - thus the Emby App within the TV cannot pass TrueHD.

You can of course use an external device to do this (via HDMI) such as a Nvidia Shield Pro running the emby App - this WILL then pass True-HD via your earc HDMI connection to your earc HDMI connected soundbar.   But if you are using the TV App on the TV itself, then Dolby Digital+ with Atmos is the best you are going to get (as it uses ARC).

see - https://emby.media/support/articles/LG-Why-not-Atmos.html

btw - the above doc refers to an LG TV, but all TV's are the same.

Edited November 22, 2023 by rbjtech

[moozart 3]

13 hours ago, rbjtech said:

via HDMI only (a UHD Blu-Ray Player for example) - yes, but earc is not supported from any TV App - thus the Emby App within the TV cannot pass TrueHD.

You can of course use an external device to do this (via HDMI) such as a Nvidia Shield Pro running the emby App - this WILL then pass True-HD via your earc HDMI connection to your earc HDMI connected soundbar.   But if you are using the TV App on the TV itself, then Dolby Digital+ with Atmos is the best you are going to get (as it uses ARC).

see - https://emby.media/support/articles/LG-Why-not-Atmos.html

btw - the above doc refers to an LG TV, but all TV's are the same.

This is really insightful, thanks for your explanation @rbjtechand @ebr

Apart from Nvidia Shield, do you know what other devices could work with TrueHD via Emby Client? Could it be that Apple TV and XBOX Series X can do it? Thanks.

[rbjtech 4289]

8 hours ago, moozart said:

This is really insightful, thanks for your explanation @rbjtechand @ebr

Apart from Nvidia Shield, do you know what other devices could work with TrueHD via Emby Client? Could it be that Apple TV and XBOX Series X can do it? Thanks.

I believe even the latest AppleTV and  Roku Ultra only support EAC3/Dolby Digital+.  I'm not 100% sure on the XBOX-X.   Worth asking in those sub-forums, as I don't have these devices myself to be 100% certain I'm afraid, but there is a reason the Nvidia Shield Pro has remained 'the' mainstream player for Emby for this long (it's getting on for 4 years old now ..)