Netflix 4k/HD 5.1

[MitoMan]

I have recently had a new EE tv box pro, and I am extremally disappointed with the picture on certain sources. Last night I upgraded my Netflix to 4K and I immediately regrated it. Even my Wife who has no interest in picture/sound settings said how poor the picture was.

I have almost 2 grands worth of Surround sound system and recently added Philips 809 OLED 55 which has a seriously good picture. I changed all settings on the tv nothing improved. SI went into tv mode and selected Netflix app. WOW what a picture and sound. And that is how it should be so why is this box putting out such a poor picture. Either the box is at fault or BT/EE are at fault the way they deliver the product. 

On the Netflix app it shoes the following. 4K DOLBY VISION ATMOS. On the EE box it shows 4k HDR 5.1. Now I remember going through all this a few months ago with a BT PRO box. Took out the top Netflix package and provided with a terrible picture/ sound. I cancelled the next day. I spoke to someone who said the box/picture was how it should be. 

I have not been with SKY for some time now, but I never had issues like this with them. I have been with BT BB for many years, and I rate them quite highly. I came across another thread on here with same issues. I connect box with TV Aeriel for Freesat due to the fact I can record several whilst watching one. And the box is connected to WIFI via cable, same as TV. 

Am I missing something in settings? I have checked everything all ok. I find it most odd they say these new boxes are Dolby Atmos / HDR ready but obviously there is an issue somewhere. I find it so frustrating paying for a service that is not up to the delivering what it should be. Anyone have any ideas?  I have pictures will see if I can add to my post. File too big. Thanks

[Midnight_Voice]

@MitoMan 

Unless you have a gaming rig, which should take precedence for it, I’d try the Box Pro in HDMI 1.

And whichever HDMI you use, turn on Deep Colour, or whatever name Philips use for enhancement on HDMI.

And make sure that whatever picture settings you have on the TV are replicated on that HDMI port; some TVs let you make a choice and then copy to all inputs, some you have to do it individually on.

We've found in the past that doing this has brought an apparently inferior picture from a YouView box up to the standard of the same broadcast direct on the TV in question.

AAMOI, re the audio, are you using a soundbar or other AV system?

[MitoMan]

Hi thanks for that. I can't seem to find deep colour setting. I have now bypassed the Denon s 760 avr and picture has improved. Sound still showing 5.1 though not Atmos. 

I am going to wire everything up another way today. Everything to tv then HDMI from tv to the Denon. Could be the Denon at fault? 

Will post my findings later.

[NigelB72]

If you're pushing the audio out via spdif to your Denon, it could be hdcp that's blocking the Atmos audio.

If your TV and denon has arc or earc, go HDMI to your TV and the out via HDMI through the arc/earc HDMI port and set the audio to Pass through... 

[Midnight_Voice]

@MitoMan 

I did an A/B comparison between Netflix on my 66in LG GX and Netflix on my Box Mini, and there wasn’t a scrap of difference, and both were pretty good, but this was just the basic Netflix with ads, SD.

So later on, I flexed up to Netflix 4K; again no difference between the two sources, even though both were now 4K HDR, Dolby Vision, and surround sound. And both were reported as Dolby Audio on my soundbar, even though the movie, Carry-On, was described as Dolby Atmos.

But oh, that Dolby Vision just wasn’t showing me the palette we’d had the evening before when watching it on the basic Netflix.

I’m happy to blame that on the TV getting it all wrong, and when I next get a chance I’ll try it on my 48in C2 native versus the Box Pro plugged into that, and see what I think.

But if that does it too, I’ll bust Netflix back to HD, and try that.

So I’ve found something that gives a poor 4K picture, but nothing to separate the native TV Netflix performance from the EETV box performance.

I don’t suppose one of your sources is giving Dolby Vision, and the other not?

[MitoMan]

Thanks to all. To confirm all HDMI earc connections. Oddly the next day the picture quality matched the app on the Philips tv.  But sound still showing 5.1 and HD. If I remember rightly the last time is subbed to the upper Netflix package, I had an LG C1 OLED. Picture very poor and sound. I arranged to have me Denon checked over to see if it was that. All was OK. 

If these EE boxes state, they are Atmos enabled then why doesn't it say so on screen/settings? Showing 4k 5.1 HD is not reassuring considering I am now paying for the top package.

It is good the picture now matches the Philips TV Netflix app.

[Midnight_Voice]

@MitoMan 

Netflix’s Atmos is a pale shadow of full Atmos, and I suspect some AVs and soundbars may not be fooled.

My LG GX soundbar, which correctly shows Atmos when I play the demo on my Firestick, reports Dolby Audio from Carry-On on Netflix over eARC played from the app on the GX TV, just as it does from Netflix on the Box Mini plugged into the GX TV.

So it’s not just the EETV device not reporting Atmos. But are you saying it is for you? You get Atmos off the native Netflix app, on the TV or some other non-EETV Device?

I did find this:-

https://help.netflix.com/en/node/87

so I need to check my settings there, and maybe you do too.

Bit hard to get at the TV to check anything today, though, as people seemed to want it for just watching programmes 😛

[MitoMan]

I now have to use my Panasonic Blu ray player to watch Netflix. I get the 4K DOLBY ATMOS DOLBY VISION flash up bottom of screen. No problem with picture/sound. Went back later to watch same programme via the EE tv box and shows HD 5.1  DD. The picture is appalling.

Now I know I am getting better picture/sound on EVERYTHING except EE TV PRO BOX. Normal tv pictures there is no problem at all. Amazon seems to be OK but will check again when I can. It is very frustrating. Not prepared to pay the extra for Netflix Ultimate if it doesn't work properly on the ee box. My wife can't change sources / picture settings if I am not here. This is a new TV; however, I had same problem on my LG C1 a few months ago. I watched for one night only and called up to cancel.  

[Midnight_Voice]

@MitoMan 

Sorry, cancel what - EETV or the new TV?

[MitoMan]

Hi sorry I get a bit confused! Actually, I did start thinking it was the new TV which was making me even more stressed. No, the TV is very good a Philips OLED 809 55. 

I have just checked Netflix on EE box, the tv app on Philips and, Panasonic Blu ray player. Firstly picture. The EE box provides me with the worst picture out of all those devices. A lot of noise in background and not quite as sharp/detailed picture overall. Some programmes are worse than others.

Sound. TV APP/BLU RAY APP/ Both show 4k DOLBY VISION/ DOLBY SOUND. My Denon avr confirms that I am getting DOLBY ATMOS SIGNAL. On the EE box it shows HDR 5.1 The Denon confirms this as DD 5.1. And I only have 5.1 speakers in use with EE. With the others I have a full 7.1 sound DOLBY ATMOS.

I have seen a couple of other posts on here asking same thing but, not many. I have no idea why there are not more customers complaining about this situation with the EE and BT PRO boxes.  

I suppose I could ignore this problem and just use Panasonic Netflix app or the one in the TV. But I am paying for a service that has an obvious fault. The other gripe I have is I want everything to work as it should through the EE box. My Wife doesn't know how to switch to different inputs or use the Denon AVR. I also like to have a superb picture and sound to match.  

After the holidays I will contact BT/EE and probably cancel the Netflix ultimate package which is very annoying. As far as I am concerned, I may have to switch to Sky TV but then I am stuck with BT/EE broadband. This will mean I won't be in the best position to get a good deal from SKY. So not happy at all. I have spent a lot of money on my kit and quite rightly want the best out of it.