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If your setup does not convert bitstream audio into 6 or 8 channel LPCM, then you can use an adapter such as the OREI HDA-934, which converts DTS or Dolby Digital into eARC LPCM.
None of these converts anything. They don’t have decoders. It is all EDID and passing. And usually can solve some EDID problems, but thats about it, the source needs to do bitsream to LPCM and AppleTV does (infact ATV does not support bitstream output at all because of Siri audio overlay and UI effects).
I was not planning to, but apparently I will have to add an Apple TV 4k as the source of the streaming apps, set it to transcode audio to 5.1 LPCM, send to the LG C1, and the TV just set to Pass Through sends audio by eARC to the Flex HTx.
A shame the TV does not actively convert itself... I just tested here with the native Netflix app on webOS and ARC to PCM and my old AVR receives stereo PCM only...
Interesting thing I discovered while using my AVR-X3700H as a pre-pro into a miniDSP Flex HTx.
My original goal was keeping more control over stereo bass/sub integration instead of collapsing everything into a normal AVR subwoofer path. So my bed channels are set Large with Subwoofer=None, while Top Middles are Small at 80 Hz. Bed-layer pre-outs feed the Flex HTx, Atmos channels bypass the Flex and go straight to amps, and my dual subs are fed downstream by the Flex from the redistributed bass/LFE in the bed channels.
While monitoring the real-time output meters in the miniDSP console during Dolby Atmos test tones from Plex on my Shield Pro, I noticed Top Middle test tones lit up all 5 bed-channel outputs on the Flex along with both sub outputs, while the Atmos speakers were still active directly from the Denon.
So on the X3700H at least, with Large bed channels + Subwoofer=None, redirected bass below the Atmos crossover and LFE appear to get folded back into the full-range bed-layer pre-outs instead of only going through a traditional subwoofer output path.
With the Tide16 coming out, I still think the Flex HTx is a pretty interesting value option if you already have an AVR with pre-outs/Atmos and want more DSP/routing flexibility without going full 16-channel processor.
Had to get a little creative with Atmos integration too since the heights bypass the Flex entirely. I compensated for the Flex latency manually through Denon distance adjustments based on the delays already being used inside the Flex.
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