I face it very rarely, but it is there specially when viewing something in CinemaScope with black bars on bottom and top.
Toshiba U79 and U80 Owners Discussion And Review !!
- Thread starter bipin1143
- Start date
I need an advise. I am planning to buy an Airtel xstream box as it is the only one that supports Dolby atmos for netflix , but the downside is it doesn't support Dolby vision but only HDR. So should I trade my u7980's Dolby vision with xstream box's HDR to get Atmos sound as Vidaa's netflix doesn't support Atmos.
Its not much recommended to buy that, rather go for firestick 4k when at 3500 or 4k. It is vfm and has all that you want. Even i was getting it complimentary with airtel bb. But gave a hard pass.If you have an avr that supports atmos you are set.
lightgamer
Well-Known Member
Do you have the height-channel audio equipment to play real Atmos?
To all toshiba U79 users with external streaming devices:
I highly recommend using 'smart youtube TV' which is a third party youtube app that unlocks so many options
It works like Youtube Vanced which is popular on android phones.
Pros:
Advanced Video Resolution presets [great for HDR playback]
Audio presets [opus,m4a]
AutoFramerate
Video buffer adjustment
Advanced media Info
Customizable UI
Background playback
NO ADS!!!! [inbuilt ad-blocker]
Cons:
A bit laggy interface
Voice search doest work properly[on my firestick 4k]
Link https://smartyoutubetv.github.io/
I recommend using the beta version
the stable one has issues playing HDR content
For folks using Firstick
Use apps2fire from your android phones to install on the firestick
I hope this helps your viewing experience
I highly recommend using 'smart youtube TV' which is a third party youtube app that unlocks so many options
It works like Youtube Vanced which is popular on android phones.
Pros:
Advanced Video Resolution presets [great for HDR playback]
Audio presets [opus,m4a]
AutoFramerate
Video buffer adjustment
Advanced media Info
Customizable UI
Background playback
NO ADS!!!! [inbuilt ad-blocker]
Cons:
A bit laggy interface
Voice search doest work properly[on my firestick 4k]
Link https://smartyoutubetv.github.io/
I recommend using the beta version
the stable one has issues playing HDR content
For folks using Firstick
Use apps2fire from your android phones to install on the firestick
I hope this helps your viewing experience
I have a dedicated 7.1 channel home theatre planning to upgrade to 7.1.2 Atmos by installing 2 overhead speakers and a new avr. Hence planning to get xstream box. Will grab Nvidia shield if and when available in india
Firetvstick 4k doesn't support Atmos for netflix even though it is Atmos enabled just like I've 7980 TV.
Had firetvstick 4k supported Atmos for netflix it I would have got it without a thought
lightgamer
Well-Known Member
The TV will likely support Netflix with Atmos by the time you get the overhead speakers and new AVR.
VIDAA 4 update is promised for Q1 and should be here in next couple of months. It will come with the latest Netflix app as well.
That is a bug currently. Firestick 4k used to support Netflix with Atmos. It will be patched likely with the big update coming next month.
Atmos is fairly new and hence there are a bunch of bugs. It will all be sorted out eventually. No need to buy a streaming box now when you don't even have Atmos enabled equipment.
True, I should wait for the TV update for a month atleast. Hope we will also get the Disney+hotstar app also with v4 update. It has also started to support Dolby vision and has good marvel and Disney content
lightgamer
Well-Known Member
Yes, hotstar is also promised with VIDAA 4 update.
I'd put more hopes on the upcoming firestick update though, the VIDAA 4 can take anywhere from Jan to March.
Firestick has not been supporting Atmos in netflix for over a year. I think it's more to do with some licensing issue rather than a technical glitch that has lasted over a year.
Prime video also used to offer atmos and Dolby vision support for their in house show Jack Ryan and which also stopped at the same time last year.
I am not too sure the next update will bring back Atmos for netflix
lightgamer
Well-Known Member
Firestick supports Dolby Atmos and Vision just fine. It's just that these apps don't support Atmos. I can play Atmos and Vision content using Plex on my firestick 4k.
For their own shows, Amazon has decided to go with HDR10+ instead of DV because of licensing. So you won't see Atmos or Vision content in Prime video.
That shouldn't impact the Netflix app though. It's definitely a bug.
Yes I believe netflix and Amazon don't have an agreement that allows firetv to use Atmos on netflix. It's not a technical glitch or bug for sure.
And you can't be sure a mere software update on firetvstick will solve that untill Amazon and netflix agree on Atmos part.
Similarly netflix and Toshiba also don't have an agreement on the atoms part that's why our Atmos capable TV also doesn't have Atmos option on netflix. It might be that netflix demands some money from these companies to enable Atmos.
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lightgamer
Well-Known Member
There's no such agreement needed. There are just two points in the chain that need to be Dolby certified:
- The firestick 4k should be certified to playback Dolby Atmos, which it is. It also plays back Atmos just fine.
- The show must be certified by Dolby for Atmos.
The only two possible reasons for Atmos not working on firestick 4k are:
- Netflix uses a weird and new encoding of Atmos metadata and firestick 4k being old doesn't support it in hardware
- It's a software bug.
It's netflix programmers, that write the code of the netflix app for various platforms. Dolby Atmos is a game changer and people like me want that and netflix can use that for their profits as they know what the market wants.So untill netflix gets its demands fulfilled from these platforms, their programmers can easily disable the Atmos option from their program code. So a disabled Atmos option is not going to carry Atmos signal even if the device is Atmos capable.
It's simple pay the extra amount to netflix to enable the Atmos option . Amazon might have paid the amount for codeof cube but not the stick. Netflix programmers hence enabled Atmos for the cube and not firetvstick.
lightgamer
Well-Known Member
First of all, it's in Netflix's interest to have Atmos working on every single device they are on. Netflix wants you to be engrossed in the content and keep spending money on the UHD subscription. Netflix is the one benefitting from it being accessible from more and more devices as they can get more subscribers. If Netflix would have any demands, it would be that their app is working in the best case possible on as many devices as possible. Also, there's absolutely no reason for Dolby Vision, 4k and HDR to work if Netflix is holding Amazon hostage.
Secondly, these deals are made for a platform level and not device level. So if Netflix and Amazon have a deal, it's for Netflix on FireOS and not Netflix on firestick 4k..... Nobody has time for per device deals between big companies. Then there comes the validation part which is where the root of this issue is.
Thirdly, if anyone is paying in this case it's Netflix and not Amazon. Netflix gains money on subscription and if I cancel something due to no Atmos, it will be Netflix. I've already paid the money to Amazon when I bought the firestick. Very few people even know that Netflix doesn't' support Atmos on firestick 4k. Even if they care about Atmos, they just see that the firestick supports Atmos on the advertising page and buy it.
It's so very not. HDR is way bigger and more impactful than Atmos ever will be. Also, you need very expensive sound equipment to even realize it. It probably caters to 0.1% of the market segment. If Netflix wanted to get money this way(which is a stupid idea and they don't) they would have blocked 4k, HDR or Dolby Vision as they cater to a much better demographic. Also, Netflix's Atmos is over DD+ and not TRUE HD, so it's much lower quality than proper Atmos in a Bluray. Calling it a gamechanger is a lot of assumption.
Your theory holds no water. Also, if there was such a deal, no way Amazon would have paid for entry-level 3rd gen firestick and not the premium firestick 4k. The reason Atmos works on those is just that they are newer devices and hence have more and better validation done for them.
Anyway, we're going off-topic. Let's wait till at least the update.
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Guys I dont think there's a separate licensing between Netflix and device for Atmos or any such codec as such. There is supposed to be just one agreement to enable netflix on these devices. I assume if that's on then anything shd work within netflix unless, either hardware is unsupported or else the software is buggy. Can you imagine netflix allowing only 480p on a mobile device, if the hardware and plan support nf and are officially allowed.
Btw i assume there is a midrange hd firstick with atmos enabled, it already has the new patch so if nf supports atmos on that then it shd work on 4k too
Btw i assume there is a midrange hd firstick with atmos enabled, it already has the new patch so if nf supports atmos on that then it shd work on 4k too
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The sole reason I think Atmos isnot just a bug in firetv stick is because it has lasted over a year. That's a lot of time for a bug to persist specially of such popular product of such a huge company. Also it's not just the firetv stick that is Atmos capable and not delivering Atmos on netflix. It's our Toshiba Too.
People already know like me that netflix supports Dolby Atmos, I wont cancel the subscription but change the device to something that offers Atmos.
Netflix is already huge.lts, the biggest and best ott service in the world. Platforms not offering netflix is a loss for the platform not netflix.
People will only buy a device that supports netflix and netflix also knows that people who want Atmos will want a device where netflix supports atmos. Even if we buy firetvstick and later find out this doesn't offer atmos on netflix , we will tell others to avoid buying firetvstick if their purpose is to watch atmos content on netflix, and it will be a loss for Firetvstick.
Moreover people who can invest in an Atmos setup can easily get another streaming device that supports atmos and keep there firetvstick in the drawer.
Netflix can easily get away with few extra demands from the platform companies. They can charge for enabling Dolby vision and Atmos and platforms who want more customers to buy their devices will pay netflix for it accordingly.
Anyways if firetv stick for over a year has not enable Atmos I wouldn't be too hopefull about it now. It will be good if they offer but I have no expectations.
I can still hope for vidaa update to offer atmos on netflix. Will wait and see. If I get an Atmos setup before the update xstream box it is.
lightgamer
Well-Known Member
I'm sure you know hundreds of people who need firestick 4k and have Atmos setups, right? You are the only one I know with this cheap TV and 1.5+ lacs (I hope) of audio setup. This is a very niche use case.
The reason it's not fixed is because the firestick 4k is an old product now and Amazon doesn't verify stuff for it. There are many bugs in firestick 4k which have persisted for a year which it absolutely can do like the auto resolution and framerate switch not working for a year now too.
Again, people like you are less than 1%. And people like you with Atmos setups don't buy a firestick 4k because they likely have an OLED or high-end LCD with a good OS on it. Very few people buying a firestick 4k actually will use Atmos. Toshiba U7980 is one of a kind case with support for Atmos and Vision but worthless UI. This is why no one knows about this issue apart from very few people like us.
Amazon is actually revamping the fire OS next month. This is a massive overhaul which they haven't done in years. Basically, the entire UX will be revamped and tested again which will bring all the firestick versions on par w.r.t. software version and hence bugs will be squashed.
Tbh I am not a TV guy, I used to have an Epson 1080p projector that has lasted well over 10 years (got the lamp changed after 5 years)untill it broke down recently and I don't intend to get it repaired( as I want to upgrade to 4k now)and with it I used normal hd firetvstick plugged direct into my avr. So yes people do need a streaming device sometimes even with Thier 1.5 Lac setups. I got the Toshiba TV just as temporary thing to try out 4k for the first time. Once I get the Atmos setup , I'll get a benq or Epson 4k hdr projector installed, so I'll definitely need a 4k streaming device some time later plugged directly in the avr. In fact most people who have an expensive Atmos setup have it in a dedicated home theater room with projector installed and not TVs and they are specially the ones who will definitely need streaming devices the most.
I will shift Toshiba TV to my bedroom. I wish I could get the Nvidia shield that can support Dolby Atmos over turehd as I also have a Plex server installed.
If firetvstick doesn't give Atmos update for netflix then xstream box it is , since none of the projectors available now are Dolby vision enabled and are just HDR which the xstream box does support.
Personally I feel Dolby Atmos be it over DD+ is a much much bigger jump than the 25+ year old Dolby digital sound as compared to Dolby vision over hdr specially in a TV less than 1000nits.
And for a projector one doesn't even need Dolby vision.
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