UBP-X700 4k BluRay Player connect to Sonos system

[Joe543]

Hi, I have recently purchased a Sony UBP-X700 and a Sony Bravia KD49XF9005 UHD TV. I also have a Sonos setup (Playbar, Sub and 2xPlay 1s) used mainly for music but occasionally used for home cinema surround sound. While excellent for music the Sonos system could politely be called "primitive" when it comes to home cinema. 

The Playbar has a single optical connection and will support only stereo or 5.1. With my TV/BluRay player, the simplest connection is the optical output from the TV. I can also connect using a co-ax/optical converter from the UBP-X700 bluray player. Both work fine when I have a disk with a 5.1 audio track but with more recent disks there is only a 7.1 audio track. With these disks, I've only been able to get stereo sound on the Sonos.

I've been playing around with the audio settings on the TV and the player. The player has a promising looking option called "Downmix" with a setting of either "Stereo" or "Surround". On "Stereo" setting, I get the expected stereo on the Sonos. On the "Surround" setting, I get silence with the Sonos reporting an "unsupported audio format". Does anyone know what Downmix is doing to the 7.1 track and what audio format it is downmixing to? 

Any ideas on how to get to a simple(!) 5.1 format or am I stuck with stereo. 

[Pascale_F]

Hi Joe, and welcome to the community. 

I'm not too sure, but I'm just trying to find out for you. In the meantime, maybe someone else in the community may have some ideas. 

Thanks,

Pascale

[Win_88]

Hi Joe,

Welcome to our community.

I checked the manual and here's what it says about Downmix to surround:

[Surround]: Outputs audio signals with surround effects. Select this when connecting an audio device that supports Dolby Surround (Pro Logic) or DTS Neo:6.

I believe the player converts the signal to a different format which may not be supported by your Sonos system as it states.

Win_88

[Kolash]

Hi joe543 - did you ever fix this? I have the same set up but with a Sonos Beam. I think the player needs to convert DTS from that disc to Dolby Digital, but not sure it is capable of doing this. Some people say that Sony players can’t do this. 

[jcollins202]

I have the same setup but with the SONOS Beam.

Used it for the first time last night and had great sound from SkyHD and a DVD but no sound from a Blu Ray disk (Guardians of the Galaxy). I understand that the disk audio is only outputted as DTS so the Beam can not process this but I would have expected that the SONOS would have realised that it was not compatible and converted to stereo. What I do not understand is how does the TV play the audio from a Blu Ray when it is not a DTS decoder? There is clearly a jump in fidelity from a DVD to a Blu Ray on the TV speaker. I would like to know if there is a setting within either the Blu Ray player or the TV that would dynamically send non Dolby digital audio as a high quality stereo output instead? If not what is the best option from a quality perspective within either the TV or the Blu Ray to convert all audio to a common compatible format for the Beam. I expect this to be a permanent stereo output but which offers the best quality solution?

I am planning on spending a few more days running through the options and assessing quality. If I can't find a way to benefit from the fantastic audio quality on offer from a Blu Ray movie through the Beam then I will be returning the SONOS system.

Many thanks.

[Kolash]

Sony confirmed to me that the player cannot downscale DTS to DD5.1. Your TV probably passes the DTS directly through of you are using the ARC HDMI.

It’s well known that Sonos will not support DTS and there is no way of the Sonos downscaling to 2 channel stereo, so you must use either your TV or the Blu Ray player to do this. Change audio output to PCM under the player’s audio settings and you will get 2 channel stereo. The Sonos seems to mimic a type of 5.1 from the 2 channel sound though.

I have noticed that most 4K UHD discs (and streaming content) use Atmos and DD5.1 so no problem with DTS. I’ve come to terms with not having true 5.1 with my old Blu ray discs as the picture quality of the Sony player and the convenience of the Sonos makes it worth it!

[mawhita85]

Hi,

Wondered if you could help as you seem to have a set up I’m potentially looking at. I have the UBP-X700 currently with KD-55X9005C and want to add a soundbar. I was really tempted by the Sonos Beam, but then started seeing these messages about issues with Blu-Rays. I would be connecting it to the HDMI 4/ARC connection on the TV.

Mainly, I would be streaming: Netflix, Prime video, Disney+, Apple TV (itunes movies etc) etc etc, but also have a reasonable sized blu-Ray collection and some 4K Ultra HD discs. Seems a waste of the blu-rays and Apple TV, if the Sonos is only going to deliver a 2 channel stereo sound from them. Surely one of the main reasons for a soundbar (or additional sound system) is to deliver immersive sound to your movie collection?... or have I got my wires crossed? What is it (Beam) capable of delivering from a DTS source? Or an ATMOS source? any advice greatly appreciated.

[Kolash]

The beam sub and x2 surrounds sounds incredible, I have no regrets. I never watch Blu rays anymore as the UHD content on streaming services is mostly better. I only have issues with DTS inputs and all other formats are fine. DTS Blu ray will not work and you will need to downscale the audio being sent to the Beam to 2 channel using the player or your TV. Discs with Atmos have no issue but the beam will play them as DD5.1.

The new Sonos Arc is out soon and outputs Atmos. I imagine it’s a step up from the Beam.

[mawhita85]

Thank you!

Yes, I saw about the Arc yesterday, looks like it could be good!