The Switch and surround sound.

I've been having a real pain with the way that switch handles surround sound. To my understanding it only outputs true 5.1 surround sound in PCM format, which can be pretty annoying for a lot of folk. I have been able to get surround sound from my switch by plugging in the switch directly into my sound bar (which is also connected to rear speakers and a sub), but when trying to get surround sound via my TVs audio passthrough (both ARC and optical) the rear speakers are ignored. :(

Has anybody had any luck in using their TV's built in audio passthrough to get surround sound from the switch? I'm getting tired of switching HDMI cables each time I wasnt to switch devices and would much rather just switch inputs on my TV haha

If your TV only supports stereo, it is quite possible the sound gets mixed down to 2-channel stereo while going through the passthrough. You have to connect the Switch directly through your amp or sound bar or any device supporting 5.1 audio for it to work correctly.

Most TVs do not pass on surround signals through their output, except when outputting native apps/programming (such as watching broadcast TV through an antenna and outputting surround through optical audio). Most TVs will only output stereo sound when using one of the TV's inputs as the source.

ARC and optical don't do surround PCM. EARC supports it, but that's newer and I think at least most of the devices in the chain have to support it. Nintendo just had to be different than everyone else and not support Dolby/DTS down mixing. Same s*** with Wii U. Probably just didn't want to pay for a license.

FreePotatoSalad posted...

ARC and optical don't do surround PCM. EARC supports it, but that's newer and I think at least most of the devices in the chain have to support it. Nintendo just had to be different than everyone else and not support Dolby/DTS down mixing. Same s*** with Wii U. Probably just didn't want to pay for a license.

I see. so if I were to get a TV with EARC I should be able to get surround PCM? I got tired of switching cables on my soundbar every time I switched between switch and PS4 and am trying out surround through my TVs passthrough on PS4. DD/DTS doesn't sound as good to me as PCM did.

Drill_Dozer posted...

I see. so if I were to get a TV with EARC I should be able to get surround PCM? I got tired of switching cables on my soundbar every time I switched between switch and PS4 and am trying out surround through my TVs passthrough on PS4. DD/DTS doesn't sound as good to me as PCM did.

I think you need both a sound system and a tv that supports EARC, I dunno if the game system itself needs to too or not though.

A quick Google search SEEMS like only the TV might need to support it, and that'd be enough, but this is something you should look into better with someone more knowledgeable, eARC is pretty much only on expensive TVs.

My TV supports eARC.

Give me a few minutes and I'll test it out for you.

I have an X950G, by the way. My soundbar is a Q90R.

Nevermind, can't do it right now. Forgot how tight the connections are since I mounted my set :(

When I get more than a few minutes, I'll give it a try and let you know.

I don't see why it wouldn't work if both the TV and the Soundbar are compatible, though. That is the entire point behind eARC, after all.

Drill_Dozer posted...

I see. so if I were to get a TV with EARC I should be able to get surround PCM? I got tired of switching cables on my soundbar every time I switched between switch and PS4 and am trying out surround through my TVs passthrough on PS4. DD/DTS doesn't sound as good to me as PCM did.

Could a HDMI switcher or something of the sort help you in that situation? You plug both your PS4 and Switch onto the switcher, then you plug that into your soundbar. When you change consoles, you press a button and voila, the signal is changed.

Sounds like it could work. I guess you'd just have to find one that keeps the 5.1 audio.

SUPERZELDA16 posted...

Could a HDMI switcher or something of the sort help you in that situation? You plug both your PS4 and Switch onto the switcher, then you plug that into your soundbar. When you change consoles, you press a button and voila, the signal is changed.

Sounds like it could work. I guess you'd just have to find one that keeps the 5.1 audio.

That's pretty much what I do. Look at my janky ass set up:

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/3/5/2/AAB4WtAAA6MQ.png