Pre-requisites

• The movie you’re playing — whether it’s physical, downloaded — or streamed, has to be encoded with Dolby Atmos (via Dolby TrueHD or Dolby Digital Plus).
• The hardware you’re playing it on has to be able to decode Dolby Atmos or pass it along to a Dolby Atmos-capable sound system without altering it. This is known as “pass-through.”
• The app you’re using e.g. Plex, Netflix, iTunes, Amazon Prime Video, etc. must be capable of delivering Dolby Atmos data to your playback device.
• And of course, your AV receiver or soundbar must be Dolby Atmos compatible.

Soundbar

Soundbar used in this article

• Soundbar: Sony HT-X8500
• Supported technology of the soundbar: Dolby Atmos, DTS-X

Preparing PC

• Install “Dolby access” app and DTS “Sound unbound” app from windows 10 store
• These app will enable sound formats to stream through HDMI or compatible ports

Playing is Windows 10 Movies & TV app

• Launch Microsoft Store app (Search ‘Store’ in the taskbar)
• Search: “HEVC” > Install “HEVC Video Extensions”
• HEVC will allow “Movies & TV” send bitstream to soundbar when playing Atmos / DTS-X sounds

Playing is MPC-HC

• Although MPC-HC is dead, you can still use old version
• Download link: https://github.com/mpc-hc/mpc-hc/releases/tag/1.7.13

Settings:

• Open MPC-HC
• View > Options
• Playback: Output > Audio renderer > Select Soundbar (i.e. SONY AVSYSTEM) > Apply
• Internal filters > Audio Decoder > Bitstreaming (S/PDIF, HDMI) > Check all ( also check all: Options i.e. use DTS-HD, and next panel all Options) > apply > ok

Playing is MPC-BE

• Open source alternative of MPC-HC
• Download link: https://sourceforge.net/projects/mpcbe/

Settings:

• Open MPC-BE
• View > Options
• Audio > Audio renderer > Select Soundbar (i.e. SONY AVSYSTEM) > Apply
• Internal filters > Audio Decoders > Audio decoder configuration > pass-through (S/PDIF, HDMI) > Check all > apply > ok

Notes

• When playing atmos/dts-x format (after above setting), “Movies & TV” will bitstream because of HVEC and MPC-HC will bitstream because of setting
• Windows sound setting: set “Stereo” because player are gonna stream bits (Digital format) and AVS system will process it (decode and create effects)
• Windows sound setting: other than stereo means window 10 is gonna process sound (atmos or dts/dts-x processing is done by windows 10 wich is bad for AVS system but good for headphones)
• Windows sound setting: set Dolby Atmos headphones / dts headphones: X for headphones only (for AVS => set stereo and let the AVS to process sound)
• AVS: when compatible sount (atmos or dts, dts-x) is played, the AVS system should recognize that format and indicator light should show it (i.e. for Atmos, atmos indicator ligth should glow)
• DTS in Sony HT-X8500
  • Sony HT-X8500 can play DTS as DTS-X
  • Press Virtical S. for 5 seconds, Atmos indicator will lit up, Virtical S. for 5 seconds again DTS-X will lit up (cycle: atmos, dts-x, vircal s. and all clear)
  • now if dts format is played, white light will turn green which means DTS format is playing as DTS-X
• *About Modes
  • normally mode (i.e. cinema mode) will activate Atmos/DTS-X and virtical s. and detect which sound format is playing (don’t have to do anything if you setup above settings)
  • in case you want to play DTS as DTS-X then you have to set DTS-X mode manually by pressing Virtical S. for 5 sec. and it will remove mode (cinema mode)

Helpful links

• https://www.talend.com/resources/data-lake-vs-data-warehouse/
• https://www.avsforum.com/threads/whats-needed-to-get-dolby-atmos-from-a-htpc.3099616/