You can use 5.1 surround sound on YouTube TV, but you'll need the right equipment for the job.

We live in the age of streaming, and all the major streamers are in a tight dogfight to add and hold onto audiences. Every element matters in this fight, and that includes sound quality.

Indeed, watching TV is so much better when surround sound is available. And YouTube TV supports 5.1 surround sound. Here's how you can use it.

Although Google killed YouTube originals, it made up for it by making it possible to watch thousands of TV shows for free. And now you can watch some of these shows on Google TV, Android TV, and Roku with 5.1 surround sound.

What is 5.1 surround sound, you ask? It is when you have five speakers and one subwoofer arranged in a style that surrounds your living room (5.1 literally stands for five speakers and one subwoofer).

Therefore, a 5.1 surround sound system feeds sound into five audio channels (speakers) plus a subwoofer channel. This style is widely used in home theater systems.

YouTube's 5.1 surround sound is only available for streaming TV and movie content, unlike the typical YouTube videos (which only feed audio into two channels). Moreover, it won't be available on every show or movie you watch.

The good news is that you don't need to do anything to use surround sound on YouTube TV, but you do need the right equipment for the job. According to Google's support page, as long as you have the YouTube TV app, your device runs on Cobalt 20 or above, and your device and speaker set-up are compatible, you'll automatically get 5.1 surround sound.

However, this will work as long as the content you are watching supports 5.1 surround sound. If you need to check whether your device or the channel you are watching are compatible with 5.1 surround, here's what you need to do:

1. Open the YouTube TV app.

2. Go to your profile photo.

3. Check the version number in parentheses after the word "Cobalt" (it should be 20 and above).

This information is available in the audio details in Stats for nerds.

1. Open the YouTube TV app and play a video.

2. Go to the player controls, then select More.

4. Stats for nerds will be displayed on top of the video while the video is playing.

If surround sound is available for the video you're watching, you'll see AC-3/EAC-3 listed in the Codecs section.​​​​​​​

Some users had complained that audio/video synchronization was not working correctly on some third-party devices such as Roku. However, it should work well on most devices, so give it a go and experience YouTube TV like never before. ​​​​​​​

The streaming wars will continue as different providers compete to create the best possible experience for their audiences.

Although YouTube TV is not exactly in the league of Netflix and Amazon Prime regarding content and subscribers, they are not about to roll over and give up the battle. With 5.1 surround sound, it fired yet another salvo in the streaming wars.

Kariuki is a Nairobi based writer. His entire life has been spent trying to string together the perfect sentence. He is still trying. He has published extensively in Kenyan media and, for a hot 7 years or so, dived into the world of Public Relations where he discovered the corporate world is just like high school. He now writes again, focusing mainly on the magical internet. He also dabbles in the vibrant Kenyan start-up scene, AKA the Silicon Savannah, and occasionally advises small businesses and political actors on how to communicate better to their audiences. He runs a YouTube channel called Tipsy Writers, which attempts to get storytellers to tell their untold stories over a beer. When not working, Kariuki enjoys taking long walks, watching classic movies - especially old James Bond movies - and spotting aircraft. In an alternate universe, he would probably be a fighter pilot.

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