How to activate Dolby 5.1 in Netflix, when Chromecast with Google TV is connected to a beamer?

[Chris]

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Original Poster: Julian Has.

My desired setup is a chromecast with Google TV connected to a benq beamer (TH 685) using HDMI and the sound should be transferred to a Teufel soundbar using bluetooth.
Unfortunately, Netflix does not offer Dolby Digital (5.1) when I stream movies, that support 5.1. I get only stereo sound. If I watch the same movies with the Netflix-app in my old bluray-player, I get the desired surround sound.

I already tried to change the audio settings in the chromecast manually to Dolby Digital, but that did not help. Netflix still offers only stereo.

Did anyone else encounter the same problem and did you found a solution?

Another question: is it basically possible to transfer surround sound with blutooth? According to the seller it should not be a problem, but a second opinion would be highly appreciated!

Thanks,

Julian

[Chris · Accepted solution]

Hello, thanks for taking the time to post your issue.

Are you in a Chromecast supported country?

Chromecast with Google TV is only supported in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Spain, United Kingdom, United States (except Puerto Rico). 

See the Chromecast help center article -- drop down

What is HDCP 2.2?

https://support.google.com/chromecast/answer/7151529?hl=en#zippy=

If you use a VPN (Virtual Private Network), please disable it and try going through setup again.

Make sure your casting device is registered on your Netflix account.

Please visit the Netflix help pages.

If no resolve, contact Netflix support as described on the bottom of their help pages

-James M, Platinum Product Expert

[dipper]

this reply is no help at all.

i have an older samsung smart tv with an old netflix app that passes through perfect 5.1 to my avr.

to upgrade the netflix app and add amazon prime etc i bought the chromecast with google tv. it will only pass through 2.1. stereo. no settings will change this.

will you just admit that the chromecast with google tv cannot pass through 5.1.

will you admit that google know this is an issue and are not prepared to fix it.

do you accept that people like me will ditch the dongle and my pixel 5 to go all in with apple to get the customer experience our money derserves.

[guffe_dk]

The HBO app passes Dolby Digital 5.1 perfectly on my setup, Netflix and others do not, so it seem it is a fault with apps and not the Chromecast with Google TV itself - but that is not of much use...

[Rich24]

Unfortunately don’t use HBO to check this in my system. From what others have speculated it seems some apps like Netflix have a DD+ stream rather than DD and it seems that some smart tv apps/rival streamers can still provide a DD 5.1 signal from this but CCWGTV does not which causes the issue.

Given Google seem uninterested in solving this interested if others have found a workaround. I’d thought about investigating if some additional hardware to split/convert the signal could help but I may be better just cutting my losses and ditching the CCWGTV. 

[ungern]

Have you tried my suggestion to force CCwGTV?

[flaviotom]

Short story: google, neither other stream platforms give a S***T about solving this problem. Probably because dolby may charge some money to allow platforms to stream DD.  

This doesn't make sense, because the main reason for buying a Fire Stick/ CCWGTV, etc. is to give a better life spam to old tech. So, makes sense that old tech (like DD) should be compatible with older TVS and Home Theaters.

[Rich24]

Pretty much agree, but Netflix etc seems to output DD 5.1 on smart tvs and other streaming options (can’t confirm myself but people have said Firestick and ATV works) so it does look suspiciously like a Google only problem? 

[ungern]

Old LG TV (2015) Netflix app does. CCwGTV doesn't. As you say.

[theorb]

You did not resolve the issue!!! Look at the replies below, many of us are still having the same issue.  5.1 audio is NOT available when we use Netflix on CCWGT with Dolby Digital audio systems!!!  The Netflix app does not even recognize that 5.1 audio can be played!!!  Please flag this so that a firmware update can fix this problem! 

[ungern]

Force CCwGTV to output DD+ in settings, and you'll get 5.1 audio.  Read the warning though.

[theorb]

I don't get any sound because my system only supports DD, not DD+, and CCwGTV won't downmix to DD.

[ungern]

No, it won't "downmix", it just forwards the channels and content.

Oddly, my old receiver doesn't do DD+, as Netflix doesn't show that output automatically, but if I force CCwGTV to provide it, the movies show 5.1 available, and it works.

[jaromyre]

Chromecast with Google TV having trouble with 5.1 what happened with this thread with above 300 posts? Was it an issue sooo big, that you had to remove the whole thread? Is there something you want to hide for new users??

Chromecast with Google TV having trouble with 5.1 and google is doing nothing to fix it for almost a year now. Despite writing feedbacks, corresponding with customer service, they simply ignored the issue and this community simply deleted the post about it.  SHAME!

[OldSchoolMW]

I had to stop using my Chromecast with Google TV and switch to using my Amazon Firestick to stream when I wanted to use my home theater surround system.  I could not find any way to get the audio to play in surround sound through my system when using Chromecast.  The Firestick gives me theater sound so that is what I'll use until if and when Google decides to upgrade their software to fix this issue.  But based upon their non-responsiveness I'm not expecting that to happen anytime soon.

[jaromyre]

Exactly man, they do not simply give a f.. Over a year it is a well-known topic, not a small change, not even a tiny thing.. Pathetic ..

[X3mghost]

Hey!!

I go gccwgt and not long ago some videos can output 5.1, finally, BUT only a few like sound checking videos and if you search for it!! All this is even possible with the YOUTUBE APP-pcm 5.1 on Google chromecast with google tv, Netflix-Atmos, Disnwy+Atmos+pcm 5.1 and not sure on other streaming services but that it's 5.1, so the only problem is YOUTUBE, BUT it coming along slowly though..🥺

[Marco]

**bleep** google. I'm switching to Apple completely now. if Google thinks customer support doesn't matter. I'm not an Apple fanboy but at least everything works there.

[guffe_dk]

I was surprised to see that HBOMax on my Chromecast with Google TV deliveres Dolby Digital 5.1 to my SONOS Playbar - Netflix and others do not. So it seem to be possible...

[jaromyre]

In my case, HBO Go (not max as it is not yet in PL) is not giving any 5.1, Netflix and f. ex. Amazon Prime Video is.. The latest update was yesterday - no changes.. No comments google.. 

[flaviotom]

Hi mate. Having the same issue here. Bought a firestick TV on Black Friday and 5.1 worked seamlessly. Can't say the same for Chromecast. If it worked with the Firestick, I believe it is a matter of software, not hardware. Why google doesn't fix it?

[Jeran]

Hey there,

I know this response is pretty late, and I appreciate everyone's patience! At least for the OP, the issue seems to lie on the BenQ projector. The device needs to support Dolby Digital+ for it to output 5.1 surround. Netflix will emit 5.1 surround sound if Chromecast is connected to an AVR that supports Dolby Digital Plus (DD+).

That BenQ projector only mentions "HDMI 2.0 & HDCP 2.2 Standard". If your devices do support DD+, and it's not working, it may be a pass-through issue, and it would be worth checking your device's settings and different HDMI ports to see if everything is set up properly.

I hope this is able to help!

Best regards,

Jeran

[Marco]

Who cares what a BenQ projector can do !? stop talking yourselves out all the time. the problem is 100% with the Chromecast! I recently tried all HDMI connections and settings again. DD5.1 ​​only worked the first time. but all 2.0 audio tracks from various sources were distorted. the only thing that helped was restarting the Chromecast. but then DD5.1 ​​disappeared again.

[Jeran]

Hey there,

Did you have any more questions or need any additional help?

Thank you,
Jeran
 

[OldSchoolMW]

Just want to know why I can't get Dolby Surround out of my AVR when my Chromecast with Google Tv dongle is plugged into my TV and my AVR is also plugged into my TV.  My setup is this...both my Chromecast with Google Tv  and my AVR are plugged into my TV.  When try to output my sound from Google TV through my AVR it is in 2 channel only.  None of these responses have helped me to get surround sound from Google Tv through my home theater system. 

[Marco]

because Google doesn't want to admit the mistake and fix it! unfortunately that is the truth. this problem has existed for over 1 year. I didn't feel like it anymore and switched to Apple.

[OldSchoolMW]

Also, my Firestick does not have this issue.  I am able to watch content from my Firestick in all the Dolby surround formats, including Atmos.

[Christiaan2003]

Same issues here. 

I have a google tv chromecast. Installed various apps on this such as Spotify, Netflix, YouTube. both in settings in the Chromecast everything is set to surround but only 2.1 sound comes out. when you search for audio sources in the Netflix app only 2.0 available. if you play the same content (Netflix, Spotify, YouTube) to another media player or direct on  the TV app itself, 5.1 is available.

My setup: Harman Kardon Surround 5.1 it supports HDCP 2.2 but only gets it from the Google TV Chromecast not forwarded.

Please google fix this issue

If needed i can make a video to show the malfunction.

[tangmonster]

I have been searching the internet all over I have a harman kardon AVR 460 processor that supports DD+. with my previous media player (xiaomi mi box) 5.1 worked flawlessly with netflix and all other surround modes worked when using plex etc. when i swapped for a chromecast with google TV i cannot get surround working , it is simply quiet. I have to set it back to not output surround. 

[Kleis]

Netflix and Amazon all provided Dolby Digital 5.1 but only if you use it through the TV's or DVD's built in apps.  So the limitation is the Google  Chromecast device.  I watch majority of the Netflix and Amazon in true Dolby Digital 5.1 by using my TV's Netflix and Amazon app.  Heard Google TV device will process 5.1 and soon ATMOS if you hard wire the Ethernet to Google TV with the Ethernet adapter plug.  Tried it but so far not successful.

[Marco]

I now have an Apple TV and would recommend it to anyone. DD 5.1 works fine, FPS adjustment, multitasking, everything runs much smoother, some apps have more functions (multiwindow with 4 streams at the same time with DAZN)... I'm annoyed that I stayed with the Chromecast for so long

[Rich24]

I still have this problem with my CCwGTV and passthrough TV to DD receiver. Really wish Google would fix this. 

[Kleis]

There is a know issue with Google devices including Google TV.  So if you have a "Smart TV" with built in Netflix and Amazon Prime app you will get 5.1 using the smart TV built in apps.  If you do use, any Google streaming devices you will not get the 5.1.  There is chatter that YouTube is fixing there app for 5.1 but unsure if that will fix the Google devices to work with YouTube 5.1.  or Netflix as well.

[Edek]

The problem is that the google device does not convert dolby atm to dd only dd +. From what I can see, google has somewhere that their customers have a problem with getting 5.1 sound in netflix . What is the problem for the device to convert to DD, I don't see any, but google does. Until today I do not see the update to  android 12 🙂 :). Frequent updates 🙂 a dream.

[Rich24]

Agree the problem seems to be the lack of translation from DD+ to DD but it would be really helpful if Google could confirm this or has anyone else been able to do this themselves? If I knew the cause it would rule out other possibilities like the tv preventing passthrough which might then open up other options like finding a way to split out digital audio before the tv (although it may just be simpler to get a firestick or similar instead). 

[Zbyszek]

I connected CCGTV to my Onkyo amp directly and then output video to the projector. It doesn't change anything. Tried playing 5.1 audio via Rakuten TV app. All I got was the very laud silence.... switching audio to stereo works perfectly.

[scolu]

Just purchased & set up a CC w/GTV and am SO disappointed to have this issue too. Both TV & sound bar support 5.1 but not receiving from CC... Feel totally CONNED...

[ungern]

Force CCwGTV to output DD+ in settings, and you'll get 5.1 audio as DD, at least that works for me.

[flaviotom]

I share the same desappointment. Is it a matter of software or hardware? Or maybe google has to pay some $ to Dobly in order to continue using DD. Anyway, it doesn´t make sense, because the purpose to get a CC (in most of the cases) is to "transform" an old TV (that still has great image and sound) in a smart TV. Should be mandatory for the CC to support old decoding audio protocols. 

[Natethegreat8]

I was going crazy with the amount of troubleshooting I was doing after getting my system set up, but had similar problems to all of y'all.

None of the apps on my Google Chromecast TV, with the exception of HBOmax for some reason, output 5.1 surround sound. The same apps (Netflix, Amazon prime, etc) run surround sound perfectly fine with the TVs ancient built in smart features.

This is absolutely a Chromecast issue, and a completely disqualifying one for anyone looking to use it to augment a home theater set-up. I'll be replacing it with a ATV4k, or just leaning into the TVs smart streaming features. 

My system and TV: Sonos 5.1  setup, Sony Bravia (2015)