Netflix Announces Studio Quality Sound

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Zepanda66

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#249244 2-May-2019 11:44

About damn time. 5.1 audio has been terribly quiet for ages. I always have to switch to standard audio just to hear anything without having to crank up my soundbar. Hopefully this fixes that.

Starting today, when you watch Netflix on your TV, it should sound even better.

Today we’re excited to announce a new feature, high-quality audio, which takes our sound quality to another level. We gave it this straightforward name because it fits: high-quality audio delivers audio that sounds closer to what creators hear in the studio, so every little detail is captured for a richer, more intense experience. Additionally, if you have bandwidth or device limitations, we’ve made the feature adaptive so that we will deliver the best possible audio to match your capabilities. This is similar to what we already do for video.

Most TV devices that support 5.1 or Dolby Atmos are capable of receiving better sound. Depending on your device and bandwidth capabilities, the bitrate you receive may vary:

5.1: From 192 kbps (good) up to 640 kbps (great/perceptually transparent)
Dolby Atmos: From 448 kbps up to 768 kbps (Dolby Atmos is available for members subscribed to the Premium plan)
We expect these bitrates to evolve over time as we get more efficient with our encoding techniques.

https://media.netflix.com/en/company-blog/bringing-studio-quality-sound-to-netflix

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eqdt_UOBAQ

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#2229352 2-May-2019 12:37

Sounds like I have another reason to convince SWMBO to let me upgrade our Home Theater if Dolby Atmos is now supported

ShinyChrome

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#2229357 2-May-2019 12:47

DjShadow:

Sounds like I have another reason to convince SWMBO to let me upgrade our Home Theater if Dolby Atmos is now supported

ATMOS has been supported for some of the newer content previously, just not great quality from what I *chuckles* hear

On matters of tech, I find the in-home trial option works pretty well. Results may vary though...

JaseNZ

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#2229364 2-May-2019 12:55

Nice look forward to the better sound, Some good news for a change :-)

Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding : Ice cream man , Ice cream man

noroad

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#2229365 2-May-2019 12:56

I wonder if they will support that on the win10 native app? they don't seem to even be able to do 4k on that.

networkn

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#2229376 2-May-2019 13:05

Only for "premium subscribers" so more nickel and diming and possibly another price rise on the horizon. I wonder when the Anti-Sky brigade will jump all over this like they did with the HD Ticket :)

jonathan18

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#2229383 2-May-2019 13:12

My reading is it's Atmos that's limited to the top sub option, but higher quality audio (higher bitrates/better encoding) is available with the other plans.

Given NZ's homegrown service (Lightbox) still can't offer 5.1, I'm happy to take any improvement.

NZ Netflix rates will inevitably be subject to price rises like the recent ones in the US; only a matter of time.

allio

885 posts

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#2229384 2-May-2019 13:13

Advanced audio formats like Atmos are a bit pointless for people like me who watch Netflix using their TV's built-in app - HDMI ARC or optical out won't support them. Would be nice if you used a Shield or Apple TV plugged directly into your receiver, though.

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sen8or

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#2229448 2-May-2019 13:38

Doubt there is much perceivable difference in the Atmos upgrade, and I wonder about the upgrade on normal 5.1 too, never considered netflix's audio substandard to begin with. As I'm already have the top sub with multiple users in the house its a nice add on to what I already pay for.

JaseNZ

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#2229450 2-May-2019 13:40

allio:

Advanced audio formats like Atmos are a bit pointless for people like me who watch Netflix using their TV's built-in app - HDMI ARC or optical out won't support them. Would be nice if you used a Shield or Apple TV plugged directly into your receiver, though.

So I am guessing I will get the benifit from this ?? , Setup is netflix on a apple tv 4k going to my atmos soundbar.

Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding : Ice cream man , Ice cream man

geekiegeek

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#2229483 2-May-2019 14:26

I doubt you will hear much difference with a soundbar

I personally have my ATV4 plugged directly into my receiver so I'm looking forward to higher bit rate on the 5.1 stream. I don't have Atmos and as all of my speakers are in wall/ceiling I doubt I ever will.

networkn

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#2229489 2-May-2019 14:30

I expect to see some difference as I have a pretty reasonable setup at home with Atmos 5.1.2, but I expect it to be minimal.

allio

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#2229509 2-May-2019 15:06

JaseNZ:

So I am guessing I will get the benifit from this ?? , Setup is netflix on a apple tv 4k going to my atmos soundbar.

You should receive the Atmos signal, but the whole point of Atmos is extra effects from ceiling-mounted (or upward firing) speakers. Unless your soundbar levitates I don't think you'll hear a difference 😁

rugrat

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#2229569 2-May-2019 16:59

I am really happy with 5.1 already offered.
Speech is clear through centre speaker.

Have it running through optical so doubt higher bit rate will make difference.
Receiver is over 10 years old so no HDMI.

My receiver sounds a lot better to me then some newer ones listening to in shop which is why haven’t upgraded.

loceff13

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#2229570 2-May-2019 17:01

networkn:

Only for "premium subscribers" so more nickel and diming and possibly another price rise on the horizon. I wonder when the Anti-Sky brigade will jump all over this like they did with the HD Ticket :)

Got to pay off those borrowed billions in debt somehow.

Davy

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#2229573 2-May-2019 17:04

networkn:
Only for "premium subscribers" so more nickel and diming and possibly another price rise on the horizon. I wonder when the Anti-Sky brigade will jump all over this like they did with the HD Ticket :)

Not comparable at all. Sky TV sold their MySkyKD as an HD receiver then downgraded the picture quality to try to squeeze yet more money out of its customers.

The last straw for me was buying a premium channel SoHo for $10 a month only to find that the picture looked like it was being streamed over a 3G cellphone. Never again for me.

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