Which devices support Dolby Digital plus to Dolby Digital conversion?

by Adventurous-Coat-333

I just switched from a fire stick to Chromecast with Google TV, and I haven't been able to get surround sound working. I've spent a whole day playing with settings, buying and using using audio extractor boxes, posting online and doing research, etc.

My audio system only supports Dolby Digital but unlike the fire stick that I used previously, the Chromecast won't convert unsupported audio such as Dolby Digital Plus (from streaming apps) to Dolby Digital. From what I found online the only major streaming apps that support native Dolby Digital streams are Plex (if that counts), HBO max, and Apple tv Plus. All the other apps just fall back to stereo if Dolby Digital plus is not available and the device does not support down converting to regular Dolby Digital.

My question is, now that I have to return the Chromecast with Google TV due to the lack of DD+ to DD down mixing, I'm wondering what other Android TV devices support this? I think the newer Shields do but what about older ones? What about other devices?

I really don't want to have to go back to the fire stick or upgrade my audio equipment because of this. Thanks

kenneth-siewers

The Nvidia Shield is the best Android streaming device out there. It's pricey, but it can also do a lot more than just play video. I think everyone will agree that this is the safest bet in all cases.

It comes in two models, the tube and the pro. The differences are minor but if you want to play games and host a Plex server, get the pro, otherwise the tube is more than sufficient.

I have both models and I can't really tell the difference in my daily usage.

MattSpew

DD+ is meant to be backwards compatible with DD receivers. Have you double checked all settings?

pawdog

Previous versions of the Shield are passthrough only. They don't process any surround sound formats.

pawdog

So just turning off DD+ on the CCwGTV settings doesn't do what you want. Seems like the only reason for that toggle to exist. But if the actual apps don't support it I guess not.

Bodycount9

The Dolby Digital stream is embedded in the Double Digital Plus code. So converting to DD+ to DD shouldn't take any processor power in theory.

That being said, a lot of android boxes don't do it well. First gen Mi Box has this issue for the first three years it was out. In plex if you played a show that was in DD+, you would not hear anything if your receiver couldn't process DD+ even if your settings in the Mi Box said to convert to DD.

Poker354

The 2019 Shield has a Dolby Processing feature which is exactly for what you want. Processing DD+ to DD for compatibility with older AVR’s. The older Shields do not have this feature.

Deadpool-fan-466

Only the shield TV pro 2019 & Apple TV 4K does the DD+ to DD conversion (other than firetv devices)