Right now, the Amazon Firestick is one of the most significant TV streaming devices on the market. But does the Firestick have 5.1 surround sound?
The FireStick definitely has 5.1 surround sound.
When you connect your TV to a soundbar or home theater receiver using HDMI, you can opt to stream 5.1 surround sound based on the Dolby audio format.Also read: Can You Connect a Firestick to a Soundbar?
Many Firestick users are not familiar with connecting their devices to surround sound. But such is a straightforward process that will not require you to be tech-savvy.
About Firestick and 5.1 Surround Sound
By default, the Amazon Firestick only supports stereo output. For this reason, apps will be able to stream stereo content by default.
However, the device supports Dolby passthrough. Amazon even recommends using it when the playback is on TV speakers.
In addition, when your television connects to an AVR or soundbar via HDMI or Optical audio output, you can stream surround sound in Dolby audio format.
Additionally, the Firestick does not pose an issue when it comes to standard surround sound. It offers dynamic panning and great audio around the soundstage.
To improve the sound quality, you should let your Dolby Atmos AV receiver configure its Dolby Surround mode and add post-processing to it.
Moreover, this fantastic device also works perfectly as a two-channel music source.
How Does the Amazon Firestick Work?
The Amazon Firestick is a video streaming device made by Amazon. It has the shape of an oversized USB flash drive. Additionally, you can plug it directly with the HDMI video input of your television.
According to Amazon, the Firestick can provide your television with tens of thousands of channels.
The channel list includes every streaming service that people are familiar with seeing. For instance, you can use it to watch your favorite shows on:
- Hulu
- Amazon Prime Video
- HBO Now
- Netflix
The streaming device also allows you to access network television apps and sports channels.
You can also use it to see thousands of the less common niche channels that you might not even hear of otherwise.
Moreover, the Firestick comes with remote control. The remote has a built-in microphone, allowing you to access its voice control feature.
Since the Firestick is a product of Amazon, you can expect it to have Alexa support. That means you can deliver commands to the streaming device using Alexa.
It even allows you to control all your home automation products.
Setting Up the Amazon Firestick
The process of setting up the streaming device is pretty straightforward. You want your surround sound working well with Firestick, so ensure you get the setup correct.
The first thing you need to do is plug the Firestick into the power adapter it comes with out of the box. After securing the connection, connect the device to the HDMI video input of your television.
To check if you plugged the device correctly, turn on the TV and see if it will allow you to access the Firestick.
Last but not least, configure the settings of your Firestick. To do this, you need to use the remote and navigate to the welcome and setup instructions that you can find on your TV screen.
It is worth noting that you do not need to use a VPN during this process.
You will need to type in your Wi-Fi password as per the setup instructions. In addition, you will need to log in to your Amazon account.
After logging in to all the required networks, the setting up process finishes. The only thing left for you to do is to add in and log into all the streaming channels that you use.
The Process of Connecting Your Amazon Firestick to a Surround Sound System
When you purchase your Firestick, either from Amazon or other sources on the market, you will not get enough information from the instruction manual.
Typically, connecting the device to surround sound should be an easy task.
However, there are times when things can get a little tricky. In this case, you will need more instructions in terms of the connection process.
Connecting your Amazon Firestick to a surround sound system is a pretty straightforward process.
First, you need to connect your television to an HDMI ARC port to find on your AV receiver.
Next, connect your Firestick to your receiver’s extra HDMI port. If your AV receiver is on and the Dolby Digital Output is off, the surround sound should work correctly.
Why is My Firestick Not Working When I Connected it to My Surround Sound?
Many Firestick owners typically use an AV receiver to push the audio of the Fire Stick through the surround sound of their home theater.
Suppose you are using an external surround sound to bring audio to your home’s entertainment area. In that case, you have to make sure that you turned on the AC receiver.
If you connect your Firestick with the surround sound and it does not produce any sound, then there is a chance that the AV receiver is off.
To check this issue, take a look if any light on your AV receiver is on. If there is none, press the power button to prompt the AV receiver to turn on.
On the other hand, there are also some cases when the AV receiver is on but still produces no sound. To fix this issue, you need to turn off the Dolby Digital Output on the Firestick.
You can do the said process by navigating to the home screen of your Firestick. Using the remote, go to settings and navigate to the display and sound options.
Next, select the Dolby Digital Output and turn it off.
Moreover, suppose the problem persists after you have done the process as mentioned above. Will surround sound work with Firestick, or not?
In that case, you can try these processes below to fix the sound on your Amazon Firestick.
- Faulty hardware
If you used an HDMI cable when you connected your Firestick to your television, try to unplug and plug the hardware.
If this method works, then chances are the problem lies behind your HDMI cable. To fix the issue, you will need a replacement HDMI cable.
However, if you found out that there are no problems with the cable, then the Firestick may be the issue.
- Poor internet connection
Your internet speed can also affect the sound coming from your Firestick. The reason is that most contents need about 3 Mbps for them to function correctly.
To solve this problem, try upgrading to a higher internet connection.
- It would help if you rebooted your Firestick.
Sometimes, your Firestick needs a little restart. To do this, disconnect the power cord from the back of your television for more or less a minute. Next, plug it up and see if you were able to solve the problem.
- Uninstall and reinstall the application that you use
Some Firestick users have issues with the app they are using, resulting in poor sound quality. To fix this problem, you need to uninstall the app and install it back again. Will surround sound work with Firestick? It should, but you may need to reinstall.
You can use your Firestick’s remote to find the uninstall and reinstall options in the settings.
Sources
- Dolby Integration Guidelines (Fire TV), Amazon Developer, https://developer.amazon.com/docs/fire-tv/dolby-integration-guidelines.html/
- Dave Johnson, What Is An Amazon Fire TV Stick?’: Amazon’s Portable But Powerful Streaming Device, Explained, Business Insider, https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-amazon-fire-stick/
- Optimizing Home Audio Speakers for Streaming and Cable, SVS Sound, https://www.svsound.com/blogs/svs/72502275-optimizing-your-home-theater-audio-for-streaming-cable/
- Teodor Nechita, Amazon Fire Stick sound issues? Here’s What You Can Do, Windows Report, https://windowsreport.com/amazon-fire-stick-audio-issues/
Jason is a home theater expert with over 10 years of experience in setting up home cinema rooms and systems. What started out as a hobby soon transformed him into an authority in the audio-visual field. He is passionate about providing readers with accurate and up-to-date information on the latest audiovisual technologies and their applications for home theaters. Read more about Jason.