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Panasonic Sound Bar - Help Needed
cld92
09-12-2012
I have just purchased a Panasonic Sound Bar SC-HTB20 however having connected the speaker wires and the HDMI-Cable from the base box to the TV, and having selected the Viera link for Home-Cinema we get no sound. Please could someone help me further?
gomezz
09-12-2012
Make and model of TV?
cld92
09-12-2012
My television is a Panasonic TX-P37X10B Viera Link.
chrisjr
09-12-2012
Three things to check.

First. Make sure you are using the HDMI OUT socket on the soundbar NOT the IN socket.

Second. Make sure the TV has ARC (Audio Return Channel) capabilities.

Third. If the TV does have ARC make sure you have the HDMI lead plugged into the right HDMI socket on the TV as it is possible only one has ARC.

If the TV does not have ARC then you may need to use an optical digital lead if the TV has one. The specs of the soundbar imply it has no analogue inputs so if the TV only has analogue outs you could be stuffed.
gomezz
09-12-2012
The TV manual says it is HDMI 1.3a spec so no ARC. No optical output either so with this Soundbar you are stuffed other than to take it back and exchange it for one with an analogue audio (RCA phono) input. Unless anyone knows different?
cld92
09-12-2012
Oh no -_-
chrisjr
09-12-2012
Originally Posted by gomezz:
“The TV manual says it is HDMI 1.3a spec so no ARC. No optical output either so with this Soundbar you are stuffed other than to take it back and exchange it for one with an analogue audio (phono) input. Unless anyone knows different?”

Been reading the manual on line and I have to agree.No mention anywhere of ARC on any of the three HDMI sockets. No sign of a digital output.

There is a table of connections and it only shows the analogue outs as available to connect to an external amplifier.

So as you say the OP is stuffed unfortunately.
gomezz
09-12-2012
They can use it with their Sky box so all is not lost.

And you can get RCA to optical converters.
cld92
09-12-2012
We have a Sky Box! It's about ten years old though, it's not Sky + or HD?
gomezz
09-12-2012
Does the Sky box have an audio optical out?
chrisjr
09-12-2012
Or...

Found this

http://cpc.farnell.com/pro-signal/ps...cal/dp/AV19974

Analogue to digital converter. £30 quid so probably not the ultimate in quality but might be worth a punt? Would at least allow the TV to connect to the soundbar if the internal tuner is used.
gomezz
09-12-2012
The best course of action also depends on whether the OP intends to upgrade their TV in the near future. I am guessing they are not. In their position I would take the soundbar back for exchange either for another soundbar or a budget AV amp/speaker surround system with the inputs they actually need.
cld92
09-12-2012
We do not intend to upgrade our television anytime soon.

Just had a look on the back of our Sky Box, and we have a 'Audio Out' left and right, a red and white socket.
chrisjr
09-12-2012
Originally Posted by cld92:
“We do not intend to upgrade our television anytime soon.

Just had a look on the back of our Sky Box, and we have a 'Audio Out' left and right, a red and white socket.”

That is just as unable to connect to the soundbar as the TV unfortunately.

So as gomezz says probably the best course of action is to try and exchange the soundbar for one that has analogue audio inputs. That would certainly be the easiest solution rather than faff about with extra boxes. If you were intending to upgrade the TV soon then a converter box may have been a stopgap option till the upgrade.
gomezz
09-12-2012
And while you at it, if you bought the soundbar from a store in the high street then give the sales person a kicking for mis-selling you the wrong thing. They really should be aware that three year old TV sets probably do not support ARC and checked that with you.

(cue for Nigel G. )
cld92
09-12-2012
If I were to buy the PRO SIGNAL - PSG03496 - AUDIO CONVERTER, R/L TO OPTICAL/COAX from the website given, what cables would I need to buy also?
gomezz
09-12-2012
One of these

http://cpc.farnell.com/pro-signal/ps...in_merch=true&

And one of these

http://cpc.farnell.com/_/b051/lead-2...in_merch=true&

The TV should pass-through the audio from Sky box and from anything else connected to it so you are then sorted for all sources.
chrisjr
09-12-2012
Originally Posted by cld92:
“If I were to buy the PRO SIGNAL - PSG03496 - AUDIO CONVERTER, R/L TO OPTICAL/COAX from the website given, what cables would I need to buy also?”

Something like this..

http://cpc.farnell.com/bandridge/ba-...-1m/dp/AV17059

and this

http://cpc.farnell.com/bandridge/val...-1m/dp/AV20492
cld92
09-12-2012
Okay thank you very much for all your help. Have decided to go ahead and buy the converter and leads, as to be honest I cannot be bothered to box it all back up, haha. Would there be anything else I would need, or anything else to do on the TV, once I have brought the required box and leads.
gomezz
09-12-2012
Nope. Apart from making sure you have a spare electric socket to plug the converter in to.
cld92
09-12-2012
Okay thank you all for your input.
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