Multichannel Support via HDMI ARC, Sony KD-55XE9005

[P.Andrew]

I have a Sony KD-55XE9005 android TV with updated firmware to Oreo 8.0. I am planning to purchase an AV receiver (Marantz SR5015, a 2020 model) and I have a question about mutlichannel audio support. I am planning to use the ARC HDMI port for communication between the TV and receiver. The majority of the my media are stored in a HDD connected to the USB of the TV. Most of them contain mutichannel 5.1 audio encoded via AAC and will be played via a 3rd party Android app (Nova Video player, Kodi, MX player) directly on the TV. With this setup, will I be able to send the audio signal to the AV receiver as 5.1 or it will only be recognized as 2.0? If the former, what settings would I have to use on the TV to ensure that multichannel signal reaches the AV receiver?  Thanks for any help

[Peter_S.]

Hi P.Andrew,

The TV can output simple Dolby Digital and DTS multichannel signals (No advanced formats).

However, if multichannel sound will be output is also a matter of the used app.

Cheers

Peter

[P.Andrew]

Hi Peter,

If I would choose the TV digital audio out as PCM, given that the source would be AAC 5.1, what signal would reach the AV receiver (via ARC), stereo PCM or multichannel PCM 5.1?

This might save me from having to re-encode a large number of media from AAC to AC3/DTS. Thanks for you help.

P.A.

[Joe_Dohn]

HDMI ARC is more than capable of supporting 5.1, it is usually recommended over Optical (which is usually capped at 3.1 or 5.1 depending on the device).

Just make sure that you have Enhanced HDMI signal enabled under the External Inputs settings menu and that should be it.

In regards to the apps though, I agree with Peter, it'll depend on what it can support/output.

- J.D.