Quick question....

My dad had a standard sky box connected to a DVD player which has surround sound. Everything was working fine. He got surround sound when watching a DVD and when watching normal TV.

Recently he had a Humax+ box installed that replaced the Sky box. Now he only gets Surround Sound when he watches a DVD. He's been told by the guy that installed the new box that he needs a "Home Cinema Kit" in order to get surround sound when watching the TV. So, how did he manage to get surround sound when watching TV through a 10 year old Sky box yet this new Humax+ box needs extra kit? Any ideas? Is the installation engineer at it?

How is the kit connected up?

As far as I know he has a Sony Bravia TV with 2 scarts. One scart has Humax input whilst the other is getting input from the DVD player. The surround sound speakers are connected directly to the DVD player. There is no link between the DVD player and the Humax box.

As far as I know he has a Sony Bravia TV with 2 scarts. One scart has Humax input whilst the other is getting input from the DVD player. The surround sound speakers are connected directly to the DVD player. There is no link between the DVD player and the Humax box.

I think the actual programme needs to be broadcast in Dolby by the broadcaster - I think it shoud show up in the corner of the screen or on the information bar if the signal is Dolby.

Apologies if I'm wrong

Therein lies the problem. If the DVD player was producing surround sound from the Sky box then there must have been a separate audio connection to an input on the DVD/Surround system. This could either have been direct from the Sky+ box or via audio out on TV. Most likely this will take the form of a pair of phono (Left / Right == White / Red) sockets.

Or maybe the DVD/Surround system takes the sound from its AV (SCART) connection in which case it is doubtful the Humax box is connected up relative to the DVD/Surround and TV set in the same way as the Sky box was.

In any case surround sound would be limited to Dolby Prologic and not the Dolby Digital sound you would get from a DVD - assuming the Surround system supports Dolby Digital.

It would help if you told us the make and model of the DVD/Surround system and of the TV set so we can check the specs for ourselves and not have to guess.

Your best hope is that the DVD systrem, which does appear to be a 'home cinema kit' from your description, may have an optical audio input. An inexpensive cable would then ensure optimum sound at all times.

A SCART connection will only carry stereo audio signals. This can carry Dolby ProLogic which is a sort of fake surround sound but is nothing like true DTS or Dolby Digital surround sound.

Which is not important for connecting the Humax box as the broadcast signals it receives only use Dolby Prologic.

HD channels transmit some programming in DD5.1 and the rest in DD2.0 in both cases a DD decoder is required to use the higher quality sound.

My apologies for being misled by the reference to a Humax+ box which I took to mean a Humax Freeview+ box.

My original sugestion that the Humax box cannot be connected up the same as the Sky box was (Sky HD or only Sky with Dolby ProLogic?) still stands though.

I still don't follow your argument. Sky boxes only output mpeg1 layer 2 stereo over hdmi whatever other audio tracks are available. Dolby Digital is only output from the spdif optical or coaxial sockets. The hdr outputs all three formats both from hdmi or optical spdif. This means it can be connected exactly the same as a Sky box but unlike a sky box can also connect by hdmi to an AV amplfier and deliver the best sound option from every transmission.

The three analogue audio outputs are also the same as a Sky box.

I bow to your experience of Sky boxes and the Foxsat. Are you saying a standard Sky box outputs Dolby Digital or if not how did the OP get surround sound (of any description) from it? Following your reasoning they would need to have had an optical or co-ax audio connection directly between the Sky box and the DVD/Surround system.

You misunderstand I said that as a hdr has the same audio outputs as either a Sky HD box or a SD box, it's got to be possible to substitute a hdr for any sky box audio wise to get the same results from the same channels. As you say if the old sky box only had analogue stereo outputs then any surround sound options are down to Dolby Surround, Dolby Prologic or DSP (Digital Sound Processing) options in the OP's audio equipment. Pretty sure a sky+ box has a spdif output because a few of the Sky premium SD channels output true Dolby Digital 5.1.

Afaik the only extra output you can get from a sky box is the analogue mono only TV channel from it's internal modulator from rf1 and rf2 out together with a 9v output from rf2

You agree then that it is likely that the HDR is *not* connected up exactly the same as the Sky box it replaces?

Of course . But there's no reason why it can't be.

If it is then what else might explain the OP's problem?

Edit: Ah! You mean "it can't be" as in "it is possible to" not that "it is already connected as before so look elsewhere for the cause of the lack of surround sound".

Pretty well . Now I am confused . If he has an analogue stereo connection from his hdr from either The TV scart, The Vcr scart or the two RCA phonos outputs then it should work exactly the same as the original connection from his sky box if he was using similar analogue options as they will all be delivering the same stereo signals. If he was using digital connections before and is also now same applies except that there is one more choice on a hdr for digital sound. Assuming it was previously using a stereo analogue connection and is now any difference has got to be down the settings on the AV amp (Unless it's bust of course )

Best guess is that he somehow has only a mono connection (say he has connected the yellow rca phono video output rather than the red/white stereo audio connections)

Just a guess here: Maybe one of the Bravia SCARTS is input only. Try swapping the SCART plugs [At the TV]

Although if he actually is using HDMI maybe the TV cannot convert sound from HDMI to SCART.

I doubt that a Sony TV would have a scart without cvbs and stereo audio outputs, most have 1 scart that the output source can be changed (might be a clue) with the other being an output of what's on the screen

Good point about hdmi in that case assuming his suround sound system has analogue inputs he just needs a pair of rca phonos from the hdr audio outputs

Which is where I first came in.

While we to'ing and fro'ing over this it would be nice if the OP got back with an update. I hope they have not electrocuted themselves by trying to put an RCA plug into a power socket.

Thanks to you Graham and Les I have settled for the huge improvement on my old 1280x1024 Plasma with scart RGB and
Bought a Panasonic Home Cinema [470] to replace the antique Sony Prologic..to update the sound..
Two questions if I may in the same input?
The FM is brilliant and the Cds play ok and the DVD is better than it ever was.
.equally we have an unused IPOD but this is linked to a USB which is fantastic down to main root..
BUT i cannot get the Humax to play thru the PAN HC
which sounds like the original input on this topic albeit with a Sony..
Have read the Hnadbook and looked for a 'TURN ON' Sound as you menntioned..
Could you perhap[s help me and possibly others as to just How to turn on the sound p[lease?
Also if i could..
My old sub woofer is a Pan SB wa54 which very strangely PAN in Support Stuff..
refuse to acknowedge as one of theirs!!
It is powered by mains and says 186Watts input..
The new subwoofer is supposed 250W DIN and i ask..
Is it likely that the new one although Passive
is now a better one with an improved electronic amp etc than the powered one?
Thansk a lot to anyone who also has an input on Sound Problems

Stan

Not sure what you mean by "TURN ON Sound"?

At the sake of repeating myself

Sorry Gomez..
..The Hitachi Plasma has only Scart inputs and one is fed from the Humax..
No problem playing back HD and sound as the replacement for a Sky+..
thru the rather natty attached TV speakers and Separate AV input system.[AV4300]

The old Sky+ only powered the Old Sony Prologic,,
from time to time..
by a crude 2 wire outputs from sky+..

New PAN HC [470] tests super all functions to its 5+1 speakers and have tried Optical link from
them to the Optical socket on Humax.. NO joy..
I then tried HTMi lead to link both together..Still no sound to PAN HC speakers..
Have re-read the Booklets on both and still confused..

I only used the term 'Turnon Sound' as this nwas used in another Topic..
which on second thoughts I should have attached my query to perhaps..?
The other topic was ..Connecting to a Sony HTSS100 Sound System .,. with ..ALTONE saying..
after helpful advice..


The Humax does work now that I manually select Sat on the sound system. The DVD does auto select, and I was expecting the humax to do the same

which seemed to be akin to my Hiccup at the moment..
If you can help further then many thanks
Stan.

Don't forget you only get proper dd 5.1 from BBC HD. Tune to the daily HD preview loop it has a 5.1 sound test transmitted with the test card