Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Audio / Video
  3. News

YouTube TV now available in 5.1 surround sound on Amazon Fire TV devices

By

In 2021, Google’s YouTube let it be known that it had finally updated its YouTube TV subscription live TV streaming service with 5.1 surround sound, a move that had been eagerly anticipated by its subscribers since, well, forever. But it only covered select smart TV platforms like LG and Samsung. Then, in early June 2022, the service announced that more devices and platforms were joining the 5.1 party, with the addition of Roku, Android TV, and Google TV. But for some reason, Amazon’s Fire TV, the most popular streaming platform in the world, didn’t make the 5.1 cut. Until now.

As of June 23, 2022, Amazon says that, “Fire TV Stick 4k Max, Fire TV Stick, and Fire TV Stick Lite all now support YouTube TV’s 5.1 surround sound feature.” Curiously, Amazon has made no mention of its other Fire TV devices, like its own Fire TV Omni 4K TV, the original Fire TV Stick 4K, or the aging Fire TV Cube. Still, it appears that now pretty much everyone who wants YouTube TV in 5.1 surround sound can get it. Oh, well except for Apple TV owners and those who use game consoles to watch live TV streaming. These folks are still stuck in two-channel stereo, at least for the time being.

Recommended Videos

Not that you can actually watch all of YouTube TV’s content in 5.1, even if you own one of the devices that works with the new feature. Want to know if your chosen show or movie is available in 5.1?

  1. With a channel playing, click the three dots More option in player controls.
  2. Choose the bug icon that also says Stats for nerds.
  3. Look for the codecs section, which shows the type of audio being streamed. If you’re in 5.1 surround sound, you’ll see AC-3/EAC-3.

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Simon Cohen
Simon Cohen
Contributing Editor, A/V
Simon Cohen is a contributing editor to Digital Trends' Audio/Video section, where he obsesses over the latest wireless…
YouTube Playables gets wider availability — here’s where to find it
Some of the games in YouTube's Playables collection.

Some of the games in YouTube's Playables collection. YouTube

YouTube has officially launched Playables, a collection of free games that you can play via the iOS or Android YouTube apps, as well as the streaming giant’s website.

Read more
Fubo adds one of YouTube TV’s best features
The Fubo app icon on Apple TV.

In a change that might actually move the needle toward taking over the No. 3 spot in the (don't call them) Streaming Wars, Fubo has added a feature that until now has been reserved for the No. 1 player.

That is, you can now record as much streaming TV as you want on Fubo. As in unlimited. As in the same as what YouTube TV has had the whole time. And that's a pretty big deal for a number of reasons.

Read more
Android users finally get YouTube TV parity with iPhone
YouTube TV multiview options on an Android phone.

YouTube TV is the biggest live-streaming service in the U.S., and multiview — the ability to watch more than one thing at a time — is a big reason why. And after having spent a couple months on iPhones and iPads, it's now finally available on Android phones and tablets.

You don't have to do anything more than make sure your app is updated. The feature itself is included in the monthly subscription and doesn't cost any extra.

Read more