YouTube 5.1 rollout

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gzt

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#296344 9-Jun-2022 22:13

YouTube 5.1 arrives for late model TV and some media players:

Google: Watch YouTube on TV with 5.1 surround sound

You can watch YouTube videos on your TV with 5.1 surround sound. Enjoy YouTube’s library of shows and movies with support for other YouTube content coming soon on your supported surround sound system.

Turn 5.1 surround sound on:

Once you select a video to play, a player control bar will show. Go to 5.1 surround sound to turn it on or off.

Note: The setting will only appear for videos and devices that support 5.1 surround sound. 5.1 in YouTube is supported on all 2021 and later 4K TVs, Chromecast with Google TV, Playstation 5, and Apple TV. In addition, many 2020 and earlier TVs may also support surround sound. Check your device manufacturer to see if your device supports 5.1 for YouTube.

More motivation to upgrade. I could get a 5.1 USB hub adaptor for Chromecast with Google TV, or get a new TV. I have a feeling I'll be using the Chromecast with a new TV anyway..

NinjaSZ

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#2924536 10-Jun-2022 07:05

Hey, that's cool news. Great timing for me, I just set my tv up this week with my old 5.1 system that I haven't used for over 10 years.

lchiu7

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#2924632 10-Jun-2022 11:02

gzt:

More motivation to upgrade. I could get a 5.1 USB hub adaptor for Chromecast with Google TV, or get a new TV. I have a feeling I'll be using the Chromecast with a new TV anyway..\

Good to know. Out of interest how much content does YT have in 5.1?

A good way to get the 5.1 would be to use a compatible streaming stick (like the Chromecast with Google TV), feed its output into a 5.1 soundbar (or AVR) and then the video into the TV. I can't imagine 5.1 audio being that good using a TV's speakers

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Rikkitic

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#2924866 10-Jun-2022 17:25

I have a (admittedly old) 5.1 sound system but I can't get this to work with the Shield or a MeCool. I have verified that it does work with a BluRay player, and both devices are set for 5.1 but I can only get stereo. What am I missing?

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gzt

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#2924920 10-Jun-2022 19:17

Shield is specifically mentioned in this article. There is some detail about version checking.

https://www.phonearena.com/news/YouTubeTV-5.1-audio-AndroidTV-GoogleTV-Roku_id140625

Google itself has not mentioned Shield as far as I'm aware just Roku.

lchiu7

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#2924921 10-Jun-2022 19:19

Rikkitic:

I have a (admittedly old) 5.1 sound system but I can't get this to work with the Shield or a MeCool. I have verified that it does work with a BluRay player, and both devices are set for 5.1 but I can only get stereo. What am I missing?

Try playing this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTHtXgnhqfM

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jarledb

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#2925046 10-Jun-2022 22:59

Given that you can rent movies on YouTube I actually thought this was available already. But good on YouTube to finally get it.

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Rikkitic

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#2937412 2-Jul-2022 10:21

I have been struggling with this for some time. I can't seem to get it to work regardless of what I do and it is very frustrating. Does anyone have any other tips for this?

I have a 2015 Shield which I recently updated to rule that out as a problem. The audio setting is for 5.1 always. There is an HDMI connection to the TV, which is a pre-Android Sony. The TV has optical out to my old Yamaha amp. I know this works because if I play a Blu Ray, which also has an HDMI connection to the TV, I get definite surround sound. Not simulated but the actual thing. I also see the surround speaker lights come on.

Shield doc says this setup (HDMI to TV, optical out to amp) should work. I have also checked TV settings to make sure 5.1 is being output. I have tried several surround test videos on YouTube, but all I ever get is stereo. I don't know what else to try.

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gzt

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#2937413 2-Jul-2022 10:24

Any other HDMI cables handy? Standards and compliance and all that..

Rikkitic

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#2937415 2-Jul-2022 10:38

Good idea. I can give it a try. I have lots of cables. This is all old stuff, so no HDMI 2.x.

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Batman

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#2937416 2-Jul-2022 10:45

when youtube started HDR people started putting up rubbish coded HDR content and it is horrible

fingers crossed

rscole86

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#2961558 31-Aug-2022 14:28

My Sony TV didn't support 5.1 out from YouTube. But it received a minor update today which has enabled it. 6.71651 to 6.72101

mattwnz

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#2961563 31-Aug-2022 14:32

lchiu7:

Rikkitic:

I have a (admittedly old) 5.1 sound system but I can't get this to work with the Shield or a MeCool. I have verified that it does work with a BluRay player, and both devices are set for 5.1 but I can only get stereo. What am I missing?

Try playing this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTHtXgnhqfM

I thought it already had it, as I have used this type of youtube video before to test my surround sound setup, with the chromecast plugged into the back of the amp, and it seemed to work. Or maybe my dolby surround amplifier was mimicking the surround effects.

Groucho

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#2961615 31-Aug-2022 16:28

Rikkitic:

I have been struggling with this for some time. I can't seem to get it to work regardless of what I do and it is very frustrating. Does anyone have any other tips for this?

I have a 2015 Shield which I recently updated to rule that out as a problem. The audio setting is for 5.1 always. There is an HDMI connection to the TV, which is a pre-Android Sony. The TV has optical out to my old Yamaha amp. I know this works because if I play a Blu Ray, which also has an HDMI connection to the TV, I get definite surround sound. Not simulated but the actual thing. I also see the surround speaker lights come on.

Shield doc says this setup (HDMI to TV, optical out to amp) should work. I have also checked TV settings to make sure 5.1 is being output. I have tried several surround test videos on YouTube, but all I ever get is stereo. I don't know what else to try.

I have a similar issue with a Xiaomi Mi Box S. It supports Dolby and DTS but I can't get anything except 2.0 out of it with Netflix, Neon etc... Frustrating seeing 5.1 icons on screen on streaming services but not when streaming content. I also use Kodi for my own video library and there's some internal hacks to liven up surround channels within Kodi which do work.

The box connects via HDMI to the TV and TV to Dolby/DTS 5.1 receiver via optical. I know the TV will pass multichannel if available as the DishTV set top box happily plays back 5.1 via broadcast TV.

Rikkitic

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#2961663 31-Aug-2022 16:40

Over time I have probably spent weeks trying to get this to work. Updated firmware, changed cables, sacrificed a goat, etc etc. I have never succeeded. Whatever I do, I just get stereo. I have given up. There are better ways to waste what life I have remaining.

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surfisup1000

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#2961673 31-Aug-2022 17:00

I couldn't even get youtube 5.1 working on google chrome on my office windows pc. Seems to be a common issue... you're supposed to start chrome with some parameters that enable 5.1, but I could never get it working. My pc connects to a 5.1 receiver via coaxial. VLC outputs 5.1 just fine.

Youtube are way behind almost everyone else when it comes to surround sound.