Powernode 330 with Dolby - get true LFE channel with 2.1? And: Apple TV 4k Dolby MAT
Answered
Hey Bluesound team - I just set up my Powernode 330 with MA bronze 100 speakers and SVS Micro 3000 sub.
Using eARC connection to my Sony x950g TV, with Apple TV 4k gen 2 plugged in to TV via HDMI.
All devices have been fully updated, and ATV+Sony TV are all set to full passthrough/no changing of audio signal (although the ATV outputs only multi-channel PCM from Dolby MAT unless you force it to re-encode to DD 5.1 or stereo)
The sound from streaming movies/shows is ok - but is noticeably less clear and "flatter" soundstage than the old sony soundbar+sub combo we were using.
Is this because the powernode just outputs the L and R channels of the signal, ignoring the center and LFE? Or does the use of eARC allow the powernode to communicate with the apple TV and let it know to send only stereo PCM (meaning the apple TV either downmixes the DD+ from the streaming service to stereo, or selects a separate stereo mix from the service)?
Since the powernode now supports dolby digital, is there a way to get it to use the properly mixed LFE subwoofer channel from streaming video content? Or will it forever be limited to outputting only 2 channel audio unless you add rear speakers and activate the surround features?
I want to get properly mixed 2.1 sound for movies and shows - it does not seem like the powernode would be limited by hardware for this.
Side note for ATV streaming/Dolby MAT PCM for Atmos/TrueHD etc - since the ATV does the PCM output here instead of passing the DD+ Atmos signal to the powernode, that means that if Apple TV streaming services start to offer lossless audio in the future, the powernode will be good to go since it is just receiving PCM from the Apple TV, right? (Maybe it will require a new generation of ATV hardware to support lossless audio for movies/shows).
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Official comment
The POWERNODE will perform an LCR remix to distribute audio. If you want the 2.1 streams, set your video source to 2.1 output.
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Hi,
I have a LGOled G1 tv connected only via earc hdmi to the powernode.
Everything is working fine. Stereo speakers and sub via subw out connected.
However when i play some dolby 5.1 testing content on tv the LFE channel is the only one that is not generating any sound on my sub.
Can the powernode handle the dolby LFE signal and send it to the subwoofer?0 -
By the way, the dolby symbol is visible in app when playing tv.
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HI Robin, Please select Help, Send Support Request in the App so our Support Crew can review the Player Event log and get back to you with what might be happening after analyzing the log file.
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Hi, i just understood from Bluos support that for powernode Dolby from tv is downmixed to stereo. However unfortunately the .1 LFE channel is excluded and not passed through to the subwoofer out.
It is not yet clear to me when a home theater group is created in the app by adding additional 2 pulse flexes, it might be that actual 4.1 dolby with lfe is created?-1 -
Hi Robin - thanks for the feedback but please continue to work with Kellie as sounds like you may have misunderstood what was diagnosed.
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Hi! I'm interested how this discussion ended. Was the .1 LFE channel passed through or does BlueOS downmix dolby content to stereo and lose the LFE? (even in surround mode with Flex rears)
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Hi Bas, the Dolby signal is downmixed to stereo and lfe is lost when you have Powernode n330 with Stereo speakers. So it is better to change output from tv or mediaplayer to pcm stereo.
I did not test it with Flex rears, i understood that dolby 4.1 is possible then.
Groet Robin.0 -
Dank Robin! So if I understand correctly the .1 LFE (the “rumble” so to speak) is not dropped in the mix when playing Dolby 4.1?
Why would it be better to change output from the source to pcm stereo opposed to just letting the Powernode doing the downmixing?0 -
No, that is not what i meant;
When playing dolby 5.1 from tv via hdmi e-arc the lfe .1 channel is not passed through to my 2.1 stereo + sub powernode n330 setup. The 5 channels are downmixed to stereo.
In order to get all the bass, the tv is set to PCM stereo. Now all freq. are passed through to the powernode.0 -
Really, the Powernode N330 will not use the LFE channel and lost all its information? Normally the stereo downmix will be build with the LFE channel too, I think so, but I'm no dolby software developer.
Maybe someone from the support team can tell us the truth about Dolby and the powernode. There shall be an extra document about this issue to explain better the features of the powernode.
PS: I read now about things with the downmix, officially the LFE shall not be included, but I don't find a real reason for it.
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+1
I am considering the Powernode N330 with KEF LS50 Meta and Flex as rears to replace my KEF LS50 Wireless 2. I would like to know in advance though whether Dolby on the Powernode includes the LFE channel. Hopefully the support team can clarify.
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Bas, I’ve the N330 with KEF LS50 Metas, the KEF sun and 2 Pulse Flexes as RR and RL channels. What I can tell with regards to Dolby over arc from my LG tv, from my experiences for over a year now, is that in order to achieve 4.1 surround when the devices are acting as a theatre group, I have to set my tv to PCM. As soon as I change this to the Dolby option (Auto) the rear channels drop and I can only achieve 2.1. Just to add, the Dolby logo is present in the BluOS app under the HDMI input.
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