Xbox One X: Can't use Dolby Atmos for Home Theater while headset base station is connected...

Hi bladerunnin,

Thank you for posting on the Xbox Forums.

The reason you need to unplug the base station if you want to use Dolby Atmos for Home Theater is in the way the Dolby Atmos sound format is processed within the Xbox and Dolby Digital 7.1 in the A50's and DTS 7.1 in the TB 800X respectively.

The Dolby Atmos sound format for Home Theater on any platform is processed in the device itself through HDMI, in this case the Xbox's operating system and software. The Xbox will decode the audio in a bitstream format through HDMI for Dolby Atmos HT. The
headset base stations (not the Xbox) process and decode the audio formats and then send the data to the Xbox in bitstream through optical. Since everything is processed through the base stations for the headsets, simply turning off the headset won't remove
the base station as a device that is hooked up and recognized by the console, at least while the audio settings in the Xbox are still set for Optical audio: Bitstream out. That may be why you are getting the message that Dolby Atmos is only supported over
HDMI.

Under Speaker audio in the Audio output settings of the Xbox, try turning off Optical audio while leaving HDMI audio on Bitstream out, then under Bitstream format select Dolby Atmos for HT. When wanting to use the headsets, turn off HDMI audio and then put
Optical audio on Bitstream out, then under the format choose Dolby Digital (Astro A50) or DTS Surround (TB Elite 800X). If you have tried that but still can't enable Dolby Atmos while you have everything plugged in, then just disconnect the optical cable but
leave the USB plugged in, which is what charges the headset, not the optical cable.

Hi bladerunnin,

Thank you for posting on the Xbox Forums.

The reason you need to unplug the base station if you want to use Dolby Atmos for Home Theater is in the way the Dolby Atmos sound format is processed within the Xbox and Dolby Digital 7.1 in the A50's and DTS 7.1 in the TB 800X respectively.

The Dolby Atmos sound format for Home Theater on any platform is processed in the device itself through HDMI, in this case the Xbox's operating system and software. The Xbox will decode the audio in a bitstream format through HDMI for Dolby Atmos HT. The
headset base stations (not the Xbox) process and decode the audio formats and then send the data to the Xbox in bitstream through optical. Since everything is processed through the base stations for the headsets, simply turning off the headset won't remove
the base station as a device that is hooked up and recognized by the console, at least while the audio settings in the Xbox are still set for Optical audio: Bitstream out. That may be why you are getting the message that Dolby Atmos is only supported over
HDMI.

Under Speaker audio in the Audio output settings of the Xbox, try turning off Optical audio while leaving HDMI audio on Bitstream out, then under Bitstream format select Dolby Atmos for HT. When wanting to use the headsets, turn off HDMI audio and then put
Optical audio on Bitstream out, then under the format choose Dolby Digital (Astro A50) or DTS Surround (TB Elite 800X). If you have tried that but still can't enable Dolby Atmos while you have everything plugged in, then just disconnect the optical cable but
leave the USB plugged in, which is what charges the headset, not the optical cable.

I can confirm the same issue happens to me. But if i use atmos on a windows 10 PC and can seamlessly switch between Atoms for headphones and the receiver without issues. That tells me that this is clearly possibly to do on the xbox one. Just a simiple matter
of cutting off the option connect when you choose.

If you have tried that but still can't enable Dolby Atmos while you have everything plugged in, then just disconnect the optical cable but leave the USB plugged in, which is what charges the headset, not the optical cable.

The optical cable does not trigger the Xbox to see the base station...it's the USB cable that - when connected - prompts the Xbox to recognize the presence of the base station/headset and disables Atmos. So it's not possible to charge the headset and use
Atmos.

The optical cable can stay plugged in at all times and does not effect the ability to enable Atmos.

So after following up with the Dolby Access support team, apparently games aren't supported on home theater, only on headphones:

"Unfortunately, Games encoded with Dolby Atmos audio are not compatible with Dolby Atmos for Home Theater, as they are specifically configured for Dolby Atmos for Headphones. If the content you are experiencing is not compatible with the app you are
using, then audio will cease, or will simply output as regular stereo output.

To clarify, Dolby Atmos for Home Theater is included at no charge with any Dolby Atmos supported hardware, such as a receiver or Xbox One X, and is used to activate Dolby Atmos features via HDMI connection for a Dolby Atmos certified AVR, soundbar,
or TV."

"Unfortunately, the version of Dolby Atmos included with your Xbox is Dolby Atmos for Home Theater, which is not compliant with any gaming content."

It kind of strikes me as hard to believe, or that this won't be addressed, but that's what they're saying for now. That said, it still isn't working for me for Netflix content either, so I'm going continue troubleshooting with them and see what's doable
and what's not. Fingers crossed.

Under Speaker audio in the Audio output settings of the Xbox, try turning off Optical audio while leaving HDMI audio on Bitstream out, then under Bitstream format select Dolby Atmos for HT. When wanting to use the headsets, turn off HDMI audio and then put
Optical audio on Bitstream out, then under the format choose Dolby Digital (Astro A50) or DTS Surround (TB Elite 800X).

Hey Diego,

Thanks a lot for the prompt reply. I appreciate you taking time to explain how the audio signal is processed by the various devices in my chain. I just got home and was able to try your suggestions...

It doesn't work.

Once the base station is connected to the Xbox via USB, Dolby Atmos is automatically disabled and cannot be re-enabled no matter what settings I apply. My Audio Output settings are:

- HDMI Audio -> Bitstream Out

- Optical Audio -> Off

- Bitstream Format ->Any attempt to select Dolby Atmos yields the message "For Dolby Atmos for Home Theater, you need to be using HDMI. Dolby Atmos for HT only supports HDMI devices. Try unplugging any headsets or optical headset base stations." and both
DTS and Dolby Digital are selectable.

In other words, turning Optical Audio to OFF does not make the Xbox ignore the base station...so Atmos is still not useable.

Your suggestion makes perfect logical sense and that is exactly how it should work. But the Xbox doesn't seem to behave logically in this instance.

Do you have any other advice?