Many users of the GIEC HA-960D Dolby Atmos soundbar struggle with the question, "How to achieve Dolby Atmos® audio output?" They wonder about connecting players, TVs, cable types, and interfaces. Let's address these concerns and understand the process.
| Conditions Required for Dolby Atmos Audio Output
To output Dolby Atmos, ensure that the "source material, cables, playback device, audio device, and display device" all support Dolby Atmos. The source material is fundamental; if it doesn't support Dolby Atmos, no other equipment can enable it.
Why do cables matter? High-definition video and multi-channel audio transmission are often affected by transmission bandwidth. Coaxial and optical cables can only transmit Dolby 5.1 channel data. HDMI 2.1 cables offer an advantage with a transmission bandwidth of up to 48Gbps, supporting up to 32 audio channels.
(Note: HDMI ARC only supports Dolby Digital Plus audio codec with Atmos, which is lossy compression. HDMI 2.1 with HDMI eARC ports supports Dolby TrueHD codec for lossless compression.)
Therefore, HDMI 2.1 cables are highly recommended. GIEC's current HDMI 2.1 cables, HD150 and HD180, enable Dolby Atmos lossless compression transmission. HD180 is an HDMI fiber optic cable with superior cable and transmission quality.
Additionally, the audio-video encoding and decoding capabilities of playback, audio, and display devices significantly impact Dolby Atmos presentation.
| How to connect devices that meet Dolby Atmos support requirements?
Devices supporting Dolby Atmos, including playback and display devices, typically have Dolby Atmos logos. The soundbar must have HDMI IN and HDMI OUT (eARC) interfaces. Prepare HDMI 2.1 cables and try four different connection methods:
1. Smart TV Connection
l Applicability: TVs and soundbars support Dolby Atmos with eARC interfaces.
l Connection Path: TV - Soundbar
Use HDMI 2.1 to connect the TV's eARC port to the soundbar's eARC port. The TV sends audio streams to the soundbar. Online sources must support Dolby Atmos for the effect.
(As the picture)
l Soundbar/TV Settings: Set the soundbar's audio output to "ARC." If no sound, check TV audio output or speaker settings to "External Speakers."
l Audio-Video Evaluation: The Dolby Atmos online sources of the TV APP have undergone a certain degree of compression processing (such as Dolby Digital+) in the process of adapting to network transmission, so the resulting sound effect is lossy Dolby Atmos.
2. Direct Pass-Through
l Applicability: All devices support Dolby Atmos. Blu-ray player with one HDMI OUT (shared audio/video); TV with HDMI IN; soundbar with HDMI IN/HDMI OUT.
l Connection Path: Blu-ray Player - Soundbar - TV
Use HDMI 2.1 to connect the player's HDMI OUT to the soundbar's HDMI IN, transmitting audio/video. Connect the soundbar's HDMI OUT to the TV's HDMI IN.
(As picture)
l Soundbar or Blu-ray player Settings: Set soundbar audio output to "HDMI"; Blu-ray player HDMI output to "Main HDMI Audio/Video Mix."
l Audio-Video Evaluation: Ensures audio quality but may introduce video noise (noticeable with high-end equipment).
3. eARC Return Channel
l Applicability: All devices support Dolby Atmos. Blu-ray player with one HDMI OUT; TV with HDMI IN/HDMI eARC; soundbar with HDMI eARC.
l Connection Path: Blu-ray Player - TV - Soundbar
Use HDMI2.1 cable to connect the HDMI OUT of the Blu-ray player to the HDMI IN port of the TV, and transmit the audio and video stream to the TV first. Then, connect the HDMI eARC of the soundbar through the HDMI eARC port of the TV to complete the audio stream transmission.
(As picture)
l Soundbar Settings: Set soundbar audio output to "ARC"; Blu-ray player HDMI output to "Main HDMI Audio/Video Mix."
l Audio-Video Evaluation: Prioritizes video quality but slightly reduces surround sound.
4. Audio-Video Separation
l Applicability: All devices support Dolby Atmos. Blu-ray player with dual HDMI (AUDIO ONLY & MAIN); TV with HDMI IN; soundbar with HDMI IN.
l Connection Path: Blu-ray Player - TV (MAIN); Blu-ray Player - Soundbar (AUDIO ONLY)
Use HDMI2.1 cable to connect the HDMI OUT of the Blu-ray player to the HDMI IN port of the TV, and transmit the audio and video stream to the TV first. Then, connect the HDMI eARC of the soundbar through the HDMI eARC port of the TV to complete the audio stream transmission.
(Note: If the HDMI Audio Only port of a Blu-ray player is connected to the eARC port of the soundbar, the soundbar will be silent.)
l Soundbar or Blu-ray Player Settings: Set soundbar audio output to "HDMI"; Blu-ray player HDMI output to "Main & Secondary HDMI Audio/Video Split."
l Audio-Video Evaluation: Best for Dolby Atmos, as MAIN handles HD video, and AUDIO ONLY focuses on audio with 10.2Gbps bandwidth, ensuring pure Dolby Atmos.
GIEC offers Dolby Atmos-enabled Blu-ray players, soundbars, and HDMI cables for premium audio-visual experiences. Simplify your connections with these easy-to-follow guides!
