Play Dolby Atmos and DTS-X audio in a soundbar

What is Dolby Atmos?

All components involved must be compatible with Dolby Atmos:

Encode: the movie you’re playing, whether it’s local file (i.e. MKV or mp4) or streamed (i.e. Netflix), has to be encoded with Dolby Atmos (via Dolby TrueHD or Dolby Digital Plus)
Decode:
- Your AV receiver ((i.e. a soundbar) must be Dolby Atmos compatible
- The platform on which you’re playing Dolby Atmos content has to be either:
  - Able to decode Dolby Atmos i.e. a Windows 10 PC with Dolby Access app
  - Pass-through: the app you’re using (e.g. Netflix, KODI etc.) should pass Atmos data to a Dolby Atmos-capable sound system (i.e. a soundbar connected to HDMI ARC/eARC) without altering it. This is known as “pass-through”

Streaming Service with UHD Support:

The streaming service must provide UHD content with Dolby Atmos audio i.e. Netflix require “Premium” plan for that
Not all movies or series have Dolby Atmos audio, you need to see whether the content has Dolby Atmos audio i.e. “Our Planet” in Netflix have Dolby Atmos

Devices and Apps used in this article:

Soundbar:
- Sony HT-X8500
- Supported technology of the test soundbar: Dolby Atmos and DTS X
PC
XGIMI Halo+
Chromecast with Google TV
Apps
- PC:
  - HEVC Video Extensions
  - Dolby Atmos for Headphones (An add-on for the Dolby Access app)
  - Netflix
- Android TV 10, Google TV:
  - KODI
  - Netflix

Connection:

Connect soundbar
- Soundbar might have 2 HDMI ports - HDMI input and HDMI ARC/eARC
- Connect HDMI cable to “HDMI input” port of soundbar
Connect monitor or projector:
- Dolby Atmos, DTS X compatible soundbars can:
  - Extract audio (from incoming data at HDMI input port)
  - Pass-through video via HDMI ARC/eARC port
- Connect monitor or projector to HDMI ARC/eARC port

Windows 10 sound settings:

Playing Netflix content:

Open Microsoft store app:
- Purchase and install “HEVC Video Extensions”
- Install Netflix app
Make sure you have Netflix “Premium” plan and in the Netflix app settings, video quality is set to high
Open Netflix app and serach “Our Planet”, click
It should show:
- “Atmos” below the title
- Depending on your monitor, it will show HD (if your monitor is FHD) or UHD (if your monitor is 4K)
Play the movie or serial
Soundbar’s “Atmos” will show up

Playing local files (mp4, mkv etc.):

Chromecast with Google TV

It supports 4K with Dolby Atmos, so Netflix will stream UHD content with Dolby Atmos sound without any settings
Connect “Chromecast with Google TV” to HDMI input port of soundbar
Connect monitor or projector to HDMI ARC/eARC port of soundbar

XGIMI Halo+ (any smart projector with Android TV that is not certified by Netflix)

It does not supports Netflix natively (not certified by Netflix)
Install KODI app
KODI app audio settings:
- Settings > Audio (make sure “expert” mode is selected)
- Audio pass-through: enabled
- Enable “Dolby Digital Plus” (keep other options disabled in the pass-through section)
Connect projector to soundbar’s HDMI ARC/eARC port using HDMI cable
Play movie with KODI app:
- KODI app home > Movies > browse to your movie file (assuming that movie is in pendrive and that pendrive is connected to projector)
- Note: when opening movie file directly from pendrive using KODI app, KODI app was crashing

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)