QLED - What is, Dolby 5.1 Decoder ?

[Craige 1]

I am eyeing a Shiny New 4K TV and here i came across one thing which i cant seem to understand.

I am interested in Samsung Q80T QLED (2020 Model) and some models supports "Dolby 5.1 Decoder" and some models don't.

What exactly is this and it can affect me in my Listening experience ?

NOTE: All models supports Dolby Digital + (As clearly stated in Specs on website)

[FrostByte 5055]

All Samsung TVs should have a Dolby decoder used for playback of lossy Dolby formats.  Which one do you see that doesn't have a DD decoder?

According to the Samsung developer's page all premium and standard sets support Dolby Digital/AC3 and Dolby Digital Plus/EAC3 playback

https://developer.samsung.com/smarttv/develop/specifications/media-specifications/2020-tv-video-specifications.html

 

If you look at page 126 of the Q80T user manual you can see it has a Dolby Digital decoder

https://downloadcenter.samsung.com/content/UM/202006/20200618112841534/NIKATSCT-3.0.7_EM_NIKE_USA_ENG_200527.0.pdf

 

I have read though that the models with eARC may get a firmware update for Dolby TrueHD (lossless) playback

[Craige 1]

21 hours ago, FrostByte said:

All Samsung TVs should have a Dolby decoder used for playback of lossy Dolby formats.  Which one do you see that doesn't have a DD decoder?

This Model (49") that i want doesn't support the decoder as they omited tht info. (Check Specs - under Audio) : https://www.samsung.com/in/tvs/qled-tv-q80t/QA49Q80TAKXXL/

Rest in same series all models 55", 65" etc supports the decoder. 
See: https://www.samsung.com/in/tvs/qled-tv-q80t/QA55Q80TAKXXL/

Please Englighten me as to how it will affect me.

Edited August 28, 2020 by Craige

[FrostByte 5055]

It says it supports Dolby Digital Plus, but I don't see anywhere on that link where it says it doesn't support Dolby Digital.  That's just like a TV manufacturer saying it supports Dolby Atmos, but that doesn't mean it doesn't support anything else.  The reason they listed Dolby Digital Plus on that page is because companies like Netflix stream a lot of their content using DD+

You need to download the e-manual linked on the page you just posted and look at page 132.  It lists all the supported codecs right there in the far right column.  Dolby Digital is the very first one listed.

https://downloadcenter.samsung.com/content/UM/202008/20200811110229972/NIKDVBADT-3.0.0_EM_NIKE_ASIA_ENG_200629.0.pdf

Here is a list of audio codecs from that TV you linked that it will support using Emby

Dolby Digital
LPCM
ADPCM(IMA, MS)
AAC
HE-AAC
WMA
Dolby Digital+
MPEG(MP3)
AC-4
G.711(A-Law, μ-Law)
OPUS

However, if it didn't have a Dolby Digital decoder then you wouldn't get any sound from a movie that had an AC3 track unless Emby converted it on the fly.

Edited August 28, 2020 by FrostByte

[Craige 1]

49 minutes ago, FrostByte said:

However, if it didn't have a Dolby Digital decoder then you wouldn't get any sound from a movie that had an AC3 track unless Emby converted it on the fly.

I understand what u saying. But the way its mentioned by Samsung All their 55"+ models have added benefit of "Dolby 5.1 Decoder" Support, which is very weird. 

EDIT: Attaching Screenshot.

55"

 

49" 
 

Edited August 28, 2020 by Craige

[FrostByte 5055]

That does make it confusing when they do that because most people probably just read the specs sheet for comparison before buying and not the big user manual.