Google originally announced 5.1 Dolby surround sound for YouTube TV in June last year. The company rolled out the feature to the traditional Chromecasts and Samsung, LG, and Vizio TVs with “Cobalt 20 or above” soon after the announcement. Earlier this year, YouTube TV revealed that it is actively testing the immersive audio experience for more devices. YouTube TV Tuesday announced the expansion has finally begun (via). All eligible Google TV, Android TV, and Roku devices should gain 5.1 Dolby surround sound support this week. Of course, you will need a compatible speaker system along with a supported device. If your entertainment system meets all the requirements, YouTube TV will automatically play compatible programs or videos in surround sound. This will significantly elevate your listening experience. You can also check if a program is available in 5.1 Dolby surround sound. So if you aren’t sure whether you’re getting the best audio experience, you can dive into the player controls for the video that’s currently playing, select the three-dot menu, and select the “bug” icon. This will open up a “Stats for nerds” window on top of the video. If you see AC-3/EAC-3 under the codecs section, you are consuming the content in 5.1 Dolby surround sound. To check the Cobalt version of your Samsung, LG, or Vizio TV, open the YouTube TV app on the TV and go to your profile photo > About > App Version. You will find the Cobalt version number here. If it’s 20 or more, your TV supports 5.1 Dolby surround sound for YouTube TV.
5.1 Dolby surround sound for YouTube TV will expand to more devices
This update is unchanged following the latest expansion. The company doesn’t seem to have made any notable progress yet. We will let you know as and when we have more information.
