Hardware Support for Multi Channel (not Shield) in Apple TV and Fire Cube (SOLVED)

Plex Players Streaming Devices
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Dear All,

I am a big fan of the Nvidia Shield but I cannot use any of the UK TV Apps such as All4 etc. They are simply not supported by Android TV.

I have a dedicated Plex server in the network.

Question is this, can I get either Apple TV or the new Fire Cube to output multi channel via HDMI. My current Fire TV will only output Stereo to my soundbar.

As a check the Shield will output and downmix to 5.1 to the same soundbar from higher channel count sources (7.1, DTS, DTS-HD, Atmos, etc).

Thanks,

Andrew.

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Which FireTV do you currently own?

What is the soundbar make/model?

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The current Fire TV is Model Number: DV83YW Released: October 5, 2015

It is a Second Generation Fire TV. Soundbar is a Yamaha YSP D60.

The Shield when fitted to the same Soundbar (same input) will output multichannel.

Thanks,

Andrew.

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Those old FireTV boxes had a problem with dts audio due to an Amazon firmware bug. I do not know if it was ever fixed. If I remember correctly, they would only send dts audio as 2.0 (but that was several years ago, so don’t hold me to specifics). However, it should passthrough Dolby Digital and Dolby Digital Plus audio just fine.

What is the current audio setting & choices for the FireTV (the FireTV settings, not the Plex app)? It should be something like Best Available / Dolby Digital Only / Dolby Digital disabled.

The Plex app should be set for passthrough = HDMI.

If you choose a setting such as “Dolby Digital Only,” then the FireTV should send all audio as Dolby Digital to the soundbar. If you choose “Dolby Digital disabled” (unsure of exact wording), then the FireTV box should send all audio as multichannel PCM (with the exception of dts which is sent as 2.0).

Anyway, to get back to your question…

The Cube v2 or the FireStick 4K should provide your soundbar with multi-channel audio.

I have an Amazon FireStick 4K. It will pass multi-channel audio to attached devices.

Configuration: FireStick <–HDMI–> Denon receiver <–HDMI–> TV

FireStick audio set to Best Available. Plex app set to Passthrough = HDMI.

Dolby Digital / Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 / Dolby Digital Plus + Atmos all passthrough to the Denon receiver.

TrueHD audio is transcoded by the Plex Media Server to Dolby Digital Plus 5.1. This will happen on all FireTV devices, as none support passthrough for TrueHD.

dts audio, including -HD MA & :X, are decoded by the FireStick 4K and passed to the Denon as Dolby Digital Plus 5.1. Plex Media Server reports Direct Play.

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I ordered a Fire Cube and it should arrive tomorrow. Will try those settings and report back.

Its very disappointing that the UK channels have chosen not to support Android TV boxes such as the Shield. Was so hoping it would give me a one box solution.

Cheers.

Andrew.

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Well, the Fire Cube lets multichannel through from Plex so am happy. Now to hack away at FireOS and remove all the ads/bloatware that is Amazon.

Cheers.

Andrew.

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