Just picked up a new Playbar and noticed the sound on my plex is considerably low compared to my Satellite TV signal and XBOX. Is this because the content Im playing is 5.1 DTS and the Sonos doesnt work well with that? Should I pick up 2 Sonos Play:1’s to make it actually 5.1? Would that help with the low volume? Most of my content is 1080p/4k and has either 7.1 or 5.1 DTS. I dont want to have to convert all my media so the sound isnt so low…
Yes I searched the forums but the # of replies of peoples volume issues was overwhelming and none seemed to have the same setup as me.
re-encoding goes away with my whole downloading automation process, but I understand why. Would a different sound bar solve my issue or is it an issue with my content and my Plex MS?
Also, probably not going to go with a sub just yet, I know it makes a difference but when the wife and kids are sleeping I dont think subwoofer sounds will be ideal
I did… but when Plex tells me the audio source is 5.1 DTS that doesnt tell me that the center channel audio is stripped, to me it sounds like the audio is in fact in tact and should play just fine. Hence why I thought it WAS a plex issue.
The PlayBar is a 3.x sound system, so it should play left, right and center. From Sonos’:
" Playbar on its own creates a wide soundstage for the front three channels – left, center, and right."
My question is still this, why does my DTV sound much higher than anything I’m streaming with Plex? Regardless of the content I stream with Plex, the volume is lower in general. If DTV broadcasts in 5.1 and my Soundbar is 3 channels shouldnt whatever movie Im playing via direct play 5.1 audio sound the same as DTV?
Also, when something is being direct played to me that doesnt sound like any trancoding and/or mixing is happening on any device. To me that should be passing the native 5.1 sound to my plex client?
I’m not talking about playing 5.1 from a 3.1 system. I’m asking why my DTV/XBOX volume is much higher than anything playing from my Plex? The soundbar doesn’t change when playing DTV and Plex.
If everything is broadcasting 5.1 (DTV and PLEX) shouldn’t the sound be consistent across all inputs?
You’ve explained nothing as to why one media plays a lower volume. You’ve said how it can’t play 5.1 on a 3.1 system. And I’m not arguing that. I’m arguing that every other device plays volume at a higher volume than the plex system. That’s all.
Are 320kbps mp3 files considered poor quality? Because they play the same volume as my 40GB movies with 7.1 channel audio on plex. I’ll give your theory a shot though and recode the audio for my movies though. My guess is that’s not going to fix the issue.
I’ll listen to my movies/shows/mp3’s On plex and switch the Input to my dtv and will blow my ear drums because of the volume difference.
You said that 5.1 audio is being downmixed to stereo. And you’re saying this is being done by whoever is encoding the movies I’m downloading? Correct? Just say yes or no. No need to be a smart ass.
Not to bud in, but I think you’re not reading @smith.justin’s responses/question correctly. You’re (partially) answer a different question.
It’s been established that PMS is sending 5.1. It’s established (i think) that the Sonos is receiving 5.1.
The question @smith.justin is asking is not why his 3.1 system isn’t pushing 5.1, but rather, why the downmix sounds lower.
I don’t think you can answer that. Your answer that it’s throwing out 2 channels is an assumption which may or may not be true. I also strongly doubt that it (or any AVR) “throws away” the center channel because then nothing could be heard for all intents and purposes.
Unless Sonos support can explain better (which I doubt), it’s probably just the logic that the bar uses once it receives the 5.1 to downmix it to 3.1. I would guess it takes the rears and merges it in with the L and R. In the process, it’s probably also altering the volume, and it’s too low for your liking. So you probably just have to pump up the volume level overall … hopefully to a level that works for you.
IF the DTV/XBOX also pass 5.1 to Sonos untouched, the question becomes why Sonos isn’t affecting that volume as you say. Which I don’t think anyone here can answer… If DTV/XBOX are passing 3.1 to Sonos, the volume may be higher because they are setting the volume during the downmixing higher before passing to Sonos.
@edrikk exactly. The fact that one input was lower than the rest is what I was questioning, it should have nothing to do with the actual sound output.
I did however, get 2 rear satellites but my guess is it will only help the issue, not fix it completely. Its either the nVidia Shield TV and/or the Plex app that is having issues controlling the sound output. Nothing to do with the actual 3.1 vs 5.1 content but overall master sound output.
Does anyone know of a good Audio Remixer for the Mac? Ill give @trumpy81 's idea a shot and re-encode the audio to something but like i said before, I dont think this is going to fix the issue at hand.
@trumpy81 No one is saying you’re wrong, no need to get defensive. Just saying what you’re recommending doesn’t make sense.
If Im watching a show on any other input that what my Plex is hooked up to the volume is at least 50% higher. The whole entire volume, not voice, not music, everything. My Netflix app on my Samsung sounds just fine, when I watch the same show on Plex its lower. How is that “Audio normalization”?
@trumpy81 Is a 320kbps audio file not normalized? Is that something that SHOULD play at a normal volume on the plex? A simple yes or no would work, no need to be a grumpy grandpa.
No, once again you’re getting defensive for no reason. I remember when I thought I knew everything too…
So with Plex, you can play MP3’s in Audio format correct? Why is it that when I play said mp3’s on plex that the volume is the same as when I play a movie? or a show? or anything on the plex?
Maybe you should try to pay attention to the questions instead of trying to generalize responses. You sound like some off shore indian help desk that just reads the same run book…
This is proof you dont understand, or arent paying attention.
Im not saying anything about a movie right now, im speaking just in terms of pure audio. When I play a 320kbps mp3 within plex the sound is the same as when I try to play a movie or a show. I’ll say it again, NOTHING TO DO WITH AN ACTUAL MOVIE. THIS IS AN MP3 playing WITHIN PLEX.
