YouTube TV’s Surround Sound Arrives

• Google unveiled YouTube TV’s surround sound in March, a year after promising it.
• Users must have YouTube TV app version 20 or above for 5.1 surround sound.
• Apple TV, Amazon’s Fire TV, gaming consoles still missing.

Google’s YouTube TV now features surround sound. Finally, Google TV and Android TV subscribers can materialise. Google unveiled YouTube TV’s SS in March, a year after promising it. At the time, audio was in testing.

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Last week, YouTube TV said it will provide 5.1 surround sound to Google TV, Android TV, and Roku devices. Google’s help website explains surround sound. If your device and setup fulfil the requirements, you’ll get 5.1 audio anytime it’s available for the show you’re viewing.

Youtube TV version 20 or above is required for 5.1 surround sound. Google’s help website explains how to check. TVs with Cobalt 20 or higher from Samsung, LG, and Vizio work. Pair them with a Chromecast, Android TV, Google TV, or Roku.

And a suitable speaker system. Check that your soundbar has 5.1 ss before posting angrily online.

There isn’t much 5.1 ss material, notes 9to5Google. Some users have found appropriate material on NBC and The CW, while others are baffled that their sports aren’t using their fancy sound.

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YouTube TV is still striving to enable 5.1 on Apple TV, Amazon’s Fire TV, and gaming consoles. Some YouTube TV subRedditors complain about audio/video sync on Roku. Others have had success with Nvidia Shield and TCL-made Google TVs.

The YouTube TV app version to check for is 1.20, according to Google. To check for the update, go to Settings > Apps > YouTube TV. Check your app’s version there. I have Chromecast with Google TV version 1.13, but I never enabled stereo sound. If you can’t manually update the app, it’s still rolling out.