HTPC and Dolby/Surround fiasco?

[Gimpymoo]

I naively thought that a HTPC could do EVERYTHING.

How wrong I was.

BBC IPlayer on TV app - Dolby Digital
BBC Iplayer on Website - PCM

NOW TV app on TV - Dolby Digital
NOW TV native PC app - PCM

Seems a very messy situation.

Seems like a tablet connected via HDMI to the TV would do things better?

 

[jpaul]

BBC IPlayer on TV app - Dolby Digital

do you mean on (smart) tv, as a comparison, or,
do you mean the dedicated Iplayer app/program on a HTPC(PC), which is what I use.
[since you then said "NOW TV app on TV" that did seem to be on a tv ]


Many Iplayer program don't have 5.1 Dolby Digital, and in that case PCM(2.0) will just be the the decoded AAC(2.0) codec they stream, so you have not lost anything, even though it is pcm.
Exclusively sending that audio to the htpc hdmi output device, without going through the system sound-mixer is another problem too

 

[ubern00b]

I bought a Shield TV Pro 2019 this week and it's the best purchase I have made in some time. An all-in-one solution for Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Kodi (for local content) with HDR/Atmos/DoVi. I assume the same will be true (Dolby Digital anyway) for iPlayer, 5od, ITV Hub etc. Can certainly test for you if you like.

Might be a little pricey but for not having to change devices to play content it's certainly worth it.

 

[jpaul]

Another thought - for nowtv, it is only with this new 1080p boost add-on that they are advertising 5.1 DD which kinda confirms, that it is only 2.0 for the basic service,
so, it would not be a loss if the the 2.0 AAC is converted to pcm.