What is Dolby Atmos and is it avilable on Sonos?

🎧 What Is Dolby Atmos?

Dolby Atmos is an advanced sound technology that creates a 3D audio experience by adding height channels to the traditional surround sound setup. This allows sound to move freely around you, including overhead, for a more immersive experience.

📺 Is Dolby Atmos Available on Sonos?

Yes, several Sonos products support Dolby Atmos:

• Sonos Arc Ultra: The latest flagship soundbar offering a 9.1.4 spatial audio experience with Dolby Atmos.
• Sonos Arc (discontinued): The original Sonos Dolby Atmos soundbar.
• Sonos Beam (Gen 2): A compact soundbar supporting Dolby Atmos through virtualised channels.
• Sonos Era 300: A standalone speaker that supports Dolby Atmos surrounds audio when connected to an Atmos-capable Sonos soundbar. The 300 also support spacial audio music.

📺 Is My TV Compatible with Dolby Atmos?

To enjoy Dolby Atmos, your TV must support HDMI eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel). While most recent TVs have this feature, some models from 2018 onwards with standard HDMI ARC may also be compatible, though Atmos audio will be compressed & you'll only get Atmos on your TV's native Apps.

TVs with only optical audio output cannot support Dolby Atmos.

🎬 Dolby Atmos-Compatible TV Services

Several streaming services offer Dolby Atmos content:

• Netflix
• Disney+
• Amazon Prime Video
• Apple TV+
• Certain Blu-ray discs

Note that some content may not be recorded in Atmos, and access to Atmos content might require a premium subscription.

✅ How to Check You're Receiving Dolby Atmos

1. Play Atmos-encoded content on your TV.
2. Open the Sonos app.
3. Swipe up on the bar at the bottom of the screen and select the room with your Dolby Atmos enabled soundbar.
4. The Dolby Atmos symbol will appear on the right below the title if Atmos audio is being received.

❌ Not Receiving Atmos?

If the Dolby Atmos symbol isn't showing:

• Ensure your TV supports Dolby Atmos and you are connected to your TV's HDMI Arc or eArc port.
• Confirm you're viewing content recorded in Atmos (check on the movie title).
• Check if your streaming service requires a premium subscription (on Netflix you have to pay for the most advanced subscription.)
• Verify the sound output settings on your TV (we'll go into this in more detail below).
• Confirm you're streaming from an Atmos-supported device.

How to Enable Dolby Atmos on Your TV

To enjoy Dolby Atmos on your Sonos Arc, Beam Gen 2, or Era 300, you’ll need to make sure your TV is sending the right audio signal over HDMI eARC. Here’s how to check and enable it on popular TV brands:

Samsung TVs

1. Go to Settings → Sound → Expert Settings.
2. Set Digital Output Audio Format to Dolby Digital Plus.
3. Enable HDMI eARC if available (Settings → Sound → Expert Settings → HDMI eARC Mode).

Sony TVs

1. Open Settings → Sound → Audio Output.
2. Set Digital Audio Out to Auto or Bitstream.
3. Enable HDMI eARC in Settings → External Inputs → HDMI Signal Format → Enhanced Format for the HDMI port your Sonos is connected to.

LG TVs

1. Go to Settings → Sound → Sound Out.
2. Select HDMI ARC / eARC.
3. Under Digital Sound Out, choose Auto or Pass Through.
4. Check your content is Atmos-enabled.