Walmart’s New Google TV 4K Stick Is the First Onn Streamer to Support Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD/X Lossless Audio

Key Takeaways

• First Onn streamer supports Dolby TrueHD, DTS‑HD, DTS:X
• Kodi passes through lossless audio; Plex and Jellyfin may not
• Realtek processor enables lossless support, unlike Amlogic‑based models
• Retail price observed as low as $19.88, under $30 typical
• No Dolby Vision support; falls back to HDR10

Pulse Analysis

The streaming‑device market has long been divided between premium boxes that boast full‑range audio codecs and low‑cost alternatives that sacrifice sound quality to keep prices down. For consumers building a home‑theater system, lossless formats like Dolby TrueHD and DTS‑X deliver the nuanced, channel‑accurate experience that compressed codecs cannot match. Walmart’s Onn 4K Stick disrupts this status quo by delivering those high‑fidelity audio streams at a price point traditionally reserved for basic 1080p players, making premium sound accessible to a broader audience.

Technical analysis reveals that the stick’s advantage stems from its Realtek chipset, which unlike the Amlogic processors used in other Onn devices, does not lock out lossless audio passthrough. However, the Android‑based OS still reports limited support, causing many media‑player apps—such as Plex, Jellyfin, and Emby—to block the formats. Kodi sidesteps this limitation by ignoring the OS report and forcing passthrough, which explains why signde’s tests succeeded only with that player. Developers may need to update app detection logic to fully leverage the hardware’s capabilities, a step that could unlock broader compatibility across the Android TV ecosystem.

From a market perspective, the stick’s observed price of $19.88—well below the $30 range initially noted—positions it as a disruptive offering in the ultra‑budget segment. This pricing, combined with lossless audio, could attract cord‑cutters seeking high‑quality sound without the premium cost of devices like Apple TV 4K or Nvidia Shield. Competitors may feel pressure to incorporate similar chipsets or negotiate better licensing terms for audio codecs, potentially reshaping the price‑performance curve for streaming hardware. While future Onn models that revert to Amlogic may lose this edge, the current stick sets a new benchmark for what consumers can expect from a $20 streaming stick.