XDA is right that surround sound quality depends on one streaming box spec almost nobody lists: how it processes lossless audio. A box that transcodes Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD MA into stereo before sending it out will feed a receiver a pale imitation of what the disc or file contains. The same goes for Dolby Atmos on streaming apps: some clients handle Atmos passthrough, some downmix, and the difference on a 7.1.4 setup is night-and-day.
The seven desktop apps below actually get Dolby Atmos and DTS-X to your AV receiver intact. Every pick works on Windows or macOS (or both), and each one has been vetted against home-theater forum posts specifically about lossless passthrough.
What to look for in a Dolby Atmos-capable player
Not every media player handles surround sound correctly. Check these five before installing anything:
- Passthrough of Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD MA, and Dolby Atmos MAT streams
- Bit-perfect audio output over HDMI to an AV receiver
- Handling of E-AC-3 with JOC (streaming Atmos) as well as MAT (Blu-ray Atmos)
- Support for Auro-3D and DTS-X on receivers that decode them
- Frame-rate switching so the display doesn’t downshift and mangle sync
Anything that lists “Dolby Atmos” without saying “passthrough” is silently downmixing.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Free plan | Starting price | Standout feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kodi | Open-source home-theater default | Yes | Free | Passthrough of every codec |
| Plex | Best client polish for family use | Yes | Pass optional | Dolby Vision + Atmos on many clients |
| Emby | Middle ground with per-user rules | Yes | Premiere optional | Fine per-user audio profiles |
| Infuse | Best macOS and Apple TV playback | Trial | Pro subscription | Ships Atmos passthrough on tvOS |
| MPC-BE | Windows deep-tinker player | Yes | Free | Exposes every audio filter |
| PotPlayer | Windows player with strong HDR | Yes | Free | HDR tone-mapping controls |
| MPV | Scriptable open-source player | Yes | Free | Config-driven, no bloat |
The apps
1. Kodi – Best open-source home-theater default
Kodi is what the home-theater crowd has run for two decades. Its audio pipeline supports passthrough of Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD MA, Dolby Atmos (MAT and JOC), DTS-X, and Auro-3D over HDMI. Every codec route is configurable, and the built-in “Passthrough” toggle in system audio does exactly what its name promises: the file’s original audio track flows to the receiver without touching Kodi’s mixer.
Where it falls short: UI density is high on a first install. Skins vary widely in quality; the default Estuary is the safest starting point.
Pricing:
- Free: Open-source under GPL.
- Paid: None.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Nvidia Shield, Fire TV.
Download: Kodi
Bottom line: The reference open-source player. Every other pick is compared against it.
2. Plex – Best client polish for family use
Plex ships Atmos passthrough on Apple TV 4K, Nvidia Shield, Fire TV 4K Max, and the newer Roku models. Dolby Vision passes through on the same clients. Plex Pass is the tier that unlocks hardware transcoding for other files, which matters when you have older content that a receiver can’t decode natively.
Where it falls short: Web client and browser playback don’t pass Atmos through; only native apps do. Some clients require you to enable “Direct Play” explicitly in settings.
Pricing:
- Free: Server, most features.
- Paid: Plex Pass monthly or lifetime.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, NAS.
Download: Plex Media Server
Bottom line: The most family-friendly server. Buy Plex Pass if you plan to run it long term.
3. Emby – Best middle ground with per-user audio rules
Emby offers the same server-side capabilities as Plex, with an audio profile system that lets you cap the max bitrate or force stereo downmix on a per-user basis. If one household member has a soundbar and another has a 7.1.4 receiver, per-user profiles route the right stream to each without duplicating files.
Where it falls short: Client polish trails Plex on some smart TVs. The Atmos-passing native apps mirror Plex’s list.
Pricing:
- Free: Full server.
- Paid: Emby Premiere monthly.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, NAS.
Download: Emby
Bottom line: Buy Premiere if per-user audio profiles matter more than raw catalogue depth.
4. Infuse – Best macOS and Apple TV Atmos playback
Infuse is the Apple TV and macOS client of choice for Atmos passthrough. On tvOS specifically, it hands off Atmos MAT and E-AC-3 JOC streams to the Apple TV’s audio pipeline without touching them, so the receiver sees the intended bitstream. On macOS it works alongside a home server or SMB share and passes lossless audio to an HDMI receiver.
Where it falls short: Client only; you need a server or share behind it. No Windows or Linux client.
Pricing:
- Free: Basic local playback.
- Paid: Infuse Pro annual subscription or lifetime.
Platforms: macOS, tvOS, iOS.
Download: Infuse
Bottom line: The macOS or Apple TV Atmos pick. Pair with any server above.
5. MPC-BE – Best Windows deep-tinker player
MPC-BE (Media Player Classic - Black Edition) is the fork of MPC-HC that home-theater PC builders lean on for lossless passthrough. Every audio filter, every renderer, every path is exposed. It uses madVR for video and bitstreams every audio codec HDMI can carry. If a codec is somehow refusing to pass through, MPC-BE has a checkbox for it.
Where it falls short: Windows only. The configuration surface is huge and expects some knowledge of DirectShow.
Pricing:
- Free: Open-source.
- Paid: None.
Platforms: Windows.
Download: MPC-BE on SourceForge
Bottom line: The Windows HTPC power-user pick. Combine with madVR for reference video quality too.
6. PotPlayer – Best Windows player with strong HDR controls
PotPlayer matches MPC-BE on audio passthrough and adds one thing MPC lacks: excellent per-file HDR tone-mapping controls. If you have a Dolby Vision file and no Dolby Vision display, PotPlayer’s Reinhard and Hable curves are the best software fallback available.
Where it falls short: Windows only. Some plugins and codec packs from third parties are questionable; use the base installer only.
Pricing:
- Free: Full feature set.
- Paid: None.
Platforms: Windows.
Download: PotPlayer
Bottom line: The Windows player when HDR matters more than Kodi’s library features.
7. MPV – Best scriptable open-source player
MPV is the minimalist open-source player. Its config file drives everything. For Atmos and DTS-HD MA passthrough, a single audio-spdif line in the config file routes those streams to the receiver untouched. Lua scripts extend playback with keyboard shortcuts, subtitles, and stream switching.
Where it falls short: No library UI. No thumbnails or covers. Config file learning curve.
Pricing:
- Free: Open-source under GPL.
- Paid: None.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.
Download: MPV
Bottom line: The keyboard-driven power-user pick, and the lightest install on the list.
How to pick the right one
Pick Kodi as your default if you build the HTPC around your receiver. Pick Plex or Emby if you want a media server as well as playback, and prefer Emby only if per-user audio profiles matter. Pick Infuse for macOS or Apple TV clients. Pick MPC-BE if you’re the only user of a Windows box and want deep control. Pick PotPlayer for HDR tone-mapping. Pick MPV for a minimal, scriptable install.
Skip built-in TV apps for Atmos-critical playback; most of them downmix.
FAQ
What is the difference between MAT and JOC Atmos? MAT is the Blu-ray flavour of Atmos, carried inside Dolby TrueHD. JOC is the streaming flavour, carried inside E-AC-3. A player must handle both to cover a full home library.
Do these apps work on smart TVs? Kodi runs on Fire TV and some Android TV devices. Plex, Emby, and Infuse ship apps for most major smart-TV platforms. MPC-BE, PotPlayer, and MPV are desktop-only.
Why does my streaming box downmix Atmos? Either the client app isn’t passing through (Netflix on Windows browsers, for example, always downmixes), or the box lacks a MAT decoder, or HDMI-CEC is renegotiating audio. Kodi and Plex report the current audio path in a debug overlay so you can confirm.
Do I need Plex Pass for Atmos passthrough? No, passthrough is free. Plex Pass unlocks hardware transcoding, which matters for older content that must be re-encoded.
Which is the cheapest option? Kodi, MPV, MPC-BE, and PotPlayer are free forever. Plex and Emby run free with optional paid tiers. Infuse is subscription-only past the trial.
Does macOS pass Atmos through natively? Not from Finder or Quick Look. Infuse and MPV both handle it. Apple TV 4K running the tvOS Plex or Infuse app also passes it through.
