I have a Samsung LE40M8 TV about 6 years old and I am trying to get it to output 5.1 sound from optical digital out without success. I had recently realised that this was possible as I was investigating the possibilities of getting a new sound setup.

Previously I had my Sony BD player output video via HDMI to the TV and sound via optical out to an old Sony All-In-One dvd system which I now just use for the 5.1 sound. With this setup I only had 5.1 sound when watching DVDs or BD disks. Other stuff all came out the TV speakers.

Now I've discovered that I can take the optical output from the TV instead and and feed it into the ALL-In-One system instead and rely on the HDMI audio from the BD player for sound (optical audio out is moved from BD player to TV). This way all sound is routed through the TV and then into the ALL-In-One system for sound.

The problem is that I cannot seem to get 5.1 sound from the TV or BD player after routing it through the TV. So does anyone know if this is possible at all? Perhaps the TV is already down-mising the sound to stereo before outputting via optical. I've tried adjusting the BD player audio out to HDMI but did did not seem to make any difference.

I doubt you will get 5.1 from your TV, TV's now rarely loop 5.1 audio, those that output 5.1 usually have a HD tuner (Freeview HD/Freesat HD).

Best you will get will be DPL, but the audio will be better through an external sound system than through the TV.

I'd reconnect the BD player to the all in one system and the TV for best quality all round.

I have a newer Samsung TV and from what I recall, the TV explicitly states that it'll only output sound from it in stereo. I route my set-top-box via the blu-ray player which also runs the 5.1 surround sound so I can get 5.1 on Freeview HD channels.

I'd suggest running everything you have that outputs in 5.1 through your sound system, otherwise your TV will downgrade everything to stereo.

Tv's with Freeview-HD tuners will normally output 5.1 over s/pdif or via hdmi if arc equipped from the HD channels when 5.1 is broadcast. Much content is 2.0 Stereo. .

My Samsung Smart TV has a Freeview HD tuner and if you navigate to one of the HD channels, for most programmes it will display ""HE-AAC 5.1" next to the now/next banner. Does this mean it is outputting 5.1?

My TV only has an old standard freeview tuner. I uses Humax Foxsat HD box for my freeview HD. That also has optical out but is unused. Unless I dump the All-In-One and replace it with some sort of AV receiver I think my only option left would be some sort of multi-input optical selector switch.

Probably, the TV should recode AAC 5.1 to AC3 5.1 (Dolby Digital). Only the latest audio kit will have a AAC decoder.

Route the Humax directly through the sound system and use that for your sound bypassing the TV.

The main problem is the All-In-One doesn't have enough inputs to handle sound from my BD player, XBox and Humax.

I've decided to treat myself and just ordered this Onkyo AV receiver and Tannoy speaker bundle:
http://www.richersounds.com/package/...eals/pah011076

Time I retired the old All-In-One I think. I've just checked and it was made in 2002 so it's had a good run. DVD playback was broken ages ago so it was only kept for the sound.

Good choice . It should knock spots off your old kit.