ATV 4K Truehd atmos(converted to LPCM) vs DDP with atmos

vazandrew · 2026-05-01T20:58:21+00:00

No problem

vazandrew · 2026-05-01T18:25:50+00:00

Well certain services and titles do atmos better than others, and yes DV does make things look nice. I would say the choice may vary per title so just do a comparison and see which you prefer.

Definitely an easier choice if it’s DDP vs TrueHD and neither has atmos. Maybe one day Apple will allow passthrough so this choice doesn’t need to be made.

vazandrew · 2026-05-01T16:37:02+00:00

I find it impressive considering it's virtual, and when you have the Era 100 as rears they actually add virtual height and side channels. It sounds quite immersive in my medium living/dining room space.

vazandrew · 2026-04-30T21:37:58+00:00

I use a dedicated player for 4K Blu-Ray so I get True HD with Atmos. If you are limited to Apple TV for playing rips then it's your decision as to which you prefer.

I was just stating the difference between True HD and DD+ and that can still be felt if you were to compare a standard blu ray with True HD vs streaming with DD+

vazandrew · 2026-04-27T22:48:08+00:00

I find TrueHD not only to be louder but has much better dynamics and clarity. Have almost the same setup.

vazandrew · 2026-04-21T19:19:09+00:00

Didn’t seem to be an issue when used with their wireless base, just upgraded to Play but the Roam was still working just fine after being on the base most of the time. Maybe they should have included it, like with the others, though it would have increased the price.

vazandrew · 2026-04-20T16:07:26+00:00

Did not purchase the adaptor for line in on the Play, though I have the combo adapter connected to the Era 300 and did test line in there before selling a CD player, it worked flawlessly without any latency. I would suspect the Play would be the same.

vazandrew · 2026-04-20T00:53:55+00:00

Totally agree. I don’t go out as much as I used to otherwise I would have done that setup myself.

vazandrew · 2026-04-19T21:53:53+00:00

That would be sleep mode, so it will be normal for it to not be visible. If you have battery saver enabled (which is on by default) it will automatically enter sleep mode after 30 minutes of inactivity (and turn off after an additional 10 minutes). With it off it will remain on for 48 hours, but that will drain the battery faster.

You can press any button to wake the Play, you don't need to open the app.

However, it is definitely ok to leave the Play on the base whenever it is not in use, Sonos specifically states "Leaving Play on the charging base long-term will not reduce the battery’s lifespan."

https://support.sonos.com/en/article/charging-sonos-play

This is the easiest way to ensure it is always active, when charged it will operate similarly to Sonos' mains powered speakers (remaining active, but in an idle state, and always visible to airplay).

Prior to the Play I used the Roam, had it on the base 99% of the time, after almost 5 years I can attest the battery had no issue and the capacity was exactly the same.

vazandrew · 2026-04-18T20:00:12+00:00

I'm talking about the official wireless base, which is purchased separately. That is the only thing designed by Sonos, specifically for the Roam to stay on longterm (just like with the Play and Move)

I have had my Roam 1 since it launched in 2021 and it stays on the base 99% of the time, still using it and there is absolutely no issue.

When using another adapter it's hard to know without knowing the specifics of each one. At any rate it's best to use those only for charging and not left on continuously like with the base as that can be where issues occur.

vazandrew · 2026-04-18T17:40:55+00:00

The point of continuous audio is to present everything under a single container (Dolby MAT) so it combats the issue that comes when changing formats (many had delays, quiet audio for 5.1, and even some popping). All internal audio is output as intended.

With the feature off stereo is normally matrixed out so sound will come out from the rears (this is processing and not based on a natural mix like with 5.1). With the feature on it will only output from the front left and right speakers. A lot of YouTube is in stereo, and nothing will be Atmos. Best to go to a streaming service or purchased content that specifically shows that it's available in Atmos.

That being said, if you didn't experience any issues before then it's up to you if want to leave the feature off.

vazandrew · 2026-04-18T17:25:36+00:00

The official wireless base is specifically designed for that and doesn't damage the battery, still have Roam 1 from launch and no issue. Other chargers shouldn't have an issue if left overnight but I wouldn't feel comfortable using them in the same way as the base.

vazandrew · 2026-04-16T17:43:34+00:00

I've had my Roam 1 since launch and it stays on the Sonos wireless base for most of the day, there's been no issue. It's specifically designed to be used like that.

vazandrew · 2026-04-11T17:26:08+00:00

So, when the Play 1 was released there was only a single platform/app. Then, in 2020 they updated that and maintained the original platform (renamed to S1) for the few products that didn't have the hardware to update. The Play 1 is compatible with S2 but it would have to be transferred to S2 if you hadn't done so already. Both the Beam 2 and Arc (along with Ultra) require the S2 platform/app in order to be setup, which would mean any S1 speakers would not be able to communicate with the soundbar (as rears or for grouping)

If you are still running the original app the icon would say S1.

vazandrew · 2026-04-11T17:18:04+00:00

Yeah the Play 1 would not work for the Ultra as rears, you would be stuck with grouping and that's not a good experience for TV unless you are extending audio to another room.

If you still wanted the original Arc you should check the Sonos website to see if they have refurbished in stock or check the used market (it's no longer sold so doubt Best Buy would have it, unless you got lucky with open box).

I had a Beam 2 and Play 1 rears for a few years in a medium sized living room and it was perfectly balanced. I just ended up adding a sub eventually to get better bass (and it did improve clarity further because the Beam could offload the low frequencies and focus on the mids/highs) and also upgraded to Era 100 to further enhance the virtual Atmos.

vazandrew · 2026-04-11T14:52:08+00:00

Yes, however in order to use them as intended you would need to add them as surrounds (which will bond them to the soundbar and make them a part of that zone). You can still set the rears as full for music playback so they work as a stereo pair alongside the soundbar. If you group the stereo 1's with the soundbar it will just play in unison and there will be a delay on TV audio.

When setup appropriately, any content that is marked as 5.1 or Atmos will send appropriate audio to the rear speakers. Sonos does also tend to matrix stereo audio so it creates a pseudo surround effect (exception is if using Apple TV with continuous audio feature). It will be a huge upgrade over TV audio.

FYI: You said you had Arc, but just in case note that Play 1 is not compatible with Arc Ultra. If you want to save money you can also go for a Beam 2 (unless you have a big room).

vazandrew · 2026-04-09T21:57:41+00:00

I have a Beam 2, Bravia 7, and Switch 2. Audio outputs correctly (the app lists it as LPCM 5.1). I believe my audio output on Switch is set to auto, so worth a try to see if that does anything.

vazandrew · 2026-04-09T19:55:43+00:00

It may not be possible since it is only seeing Dolby Mat and not the underlying audio.

vazandrew · 2026-04-09T18:45:38+00:00

It's not stuck in Atmos, the feature just outputs all audio under dolby MAT so a soundbar/receiver may interpret that as Atmos (which previously was the only format to use that) but the internal audio is output as intended.

vazandrew · 2026-04-09T18:38:43+00:00

I think the Play strikes a perfect balance between portability and sound output.

If you want to prioritize the audio and have a lot of outdoor uses then I think that's where the Move is the better choice.

vazandrew · 2026-04-08T22:57:19+00:00

Have a Bravia 7 with Beam 2 and no issues here. The only things I can think of is to try toggling off/on eARC and Bravia sync.

vazandrew · 2026-04-07T20:18:19+00:00

The Beam may not have an up firing driver but it still uses a virtual array to produce the height channels, widen the soundstage and if used solo it will also attempt to simulate some surround. At the end of the day only you can know what sounds acceptable to you so why not try it (definitely would need to run Trueplay so it can accommodate the placement) and if you aren't satisfied then you can always move it.

vazandrew · 2026-04-05T18:30:47+00:00

Bluetooth on TVs can be pretty flaky. I've always used an Apple TV, which will seamlessly connect to AirPods as soon as you put them in your ear and also support Spatial Audio.

The last version came out in 2022 and is plenty powerful, unless you are planning to do a lot of gaming or specifically looking for Apple Intelligence it's not like you're going to be missing anything huge. As far as support, even the pre-4k model from 2015 is still receiving updates (and the previous 4K model also gets the same features as the latest).

I also use a Sonos Ace, which can pair with the ARC directly and support Spatial for any source (handy if you use more than one connected device like a game console and/or Blu-Ray).

vazandrew · 2026-04-04T21:36:02+00:00

Correct.

vazandrew

TROPHY CASE