Panasonic SC-HTE80EB-K - optical vs HDMI ARC

soulboy22 · 25-12-2013, 12:56

Hi All,

Merry Christmas, Hope we are all having fun!

Looking at getting one of the above to connect to my Panasonic TX-P42UT50B.

I already have both the HDMI ports used (one with the sky box, the second has connected the switch from which I run my laptop or ps3. My question is this. I do not want to have the sky box connected to the switch, because I have heard they never play nicely together. Would there big a big disadvantage in connecting the speakerboard to the optical out rather than HDMI?

Sorry for the slightly newbie question I am normally fairly tech savvy but I get a bit lost when it comes to connecting things up as I am in a wheelchair, so I often have to rely on others to do the connecting, which means I don't always visualise it right!

Many Thanks

chrisjr · 25-12-2013, 21:28

There will probably be no difference at all in the ones and zeros being fed out of the optical port to those going back down the hDMI lead via ARC.

So sonically there will be no difference between the two.

soulboy22 · 26-12-2013, 06:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisjr

There will probably be no difference at all in the ones and zeros being fed out of the optical port to those going back down the hDMI lead via ARC.

So sonically there will be no difference between the two.

May Thanks for the ifo chrisj, so even through the optical out the speakerboard would automatically switch to all the different inputs (Sky, Freeview and PS3?

Lidtop2013 · 26-12-2013, 09:48

What's a speaker board? Lol. Another name for a soundbar?

soulboy22 · 26-12-2013, 10:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lidtop2013

What's a speaker board? Lol. Another name for a soundbar?

seems to be a rather posh soundboARD more rectangular in shape than the usual hence the name . see pic in link:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Panasonic-SC...c+speakerboard

chrisjr · 26-12-2013, 11:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by soulboy22

May Thanks for the ifo chrisj, so even through the optical out the speakerboard would automatically switch to all the different inputs (Sky, Freeview and PS3?

The soundbar won't be doing any switching, the telly will

So it is down to the TV what comes out of the optical out, as it is what would be fed back down the ARC on the HDMI. The vast majority of TVs I have seen feed sound from whatever is being watched out of the optical/ARC outputs.

One thing to be aware of is that the optical/ARC output will not be affected by the TV's volume control in all likelihood so the soundbar you use must have it's own volume control.

soulboy22 · 27-12-2013, 09:56

Hi Guys,

Look at the manual here: http://tda.panasonic-europe-service..../rqt9865-z.pdf

It appears to suggest on page 6 that you both HDMI and optical plugged in judging by the diagram (I am more than likely mistaken!) could anybody possibly confirm if that is the case or not? why would it be so?

Many Thanks

chrisjr · 27-12-2013, 11:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by soulboy22

Hi Guys,

Look at the manual here: http://tda.panasonic-europe-service..../rqt9865-z.pdf

It appears to suggest on page 6 that you both HDMI and optical plugged in judging by the diagram (I am more than likely mistaken!) could anybody possibly confirm if that is the case or not? why would it be so?

Many Thanks

That link is broken. Which is par for the course withPanasonic manuals, you can never properly link direct to the PDF.

You only need the HDMI if you want to use the Viera Link, ARC or have some device plugged into the HDMI in on the sound bar. If all you want is audio and are prepared to use the sound bar remote to control the volume then all you need is the optical link.

soulboy22 · 27-12-2013, 12:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisjr

That link is broken. Which is par for the course withPanasonic manuals, you can never properly link direct to the PDF.

You only need the HDMI if you want to use the Viera Link, ARC or have some device plugged into the HDMI in on the sound bar. If all you want is audio and are prepared to use the sound bar remote to control the volume then all you need is the optical link.

May Thanks,

This shall be my new year treat!

derek39 · 06-01-2015, 16:48

this unit Panasonic SC-HTE80EB-K won't pair up (BlueTooth) with my Panasonic AX802

Stig · 06-01-2015, 18:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by derek39

this unit Panasonic SC-HTE80EB-K won't pair up (BlueTooth) with my Panasonic AX802

I think the Bluetooth in the AX802 TV is just for the touch pad controller, not audio. You would need to connect via HDMI or optical.

chrisjr · 06-01-2015, 18:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stig

I think the Bluetooth in the AX802 TV is just for the touch pad controller, not audio. You would need to connect via HDMI or optical.

Looking at a manual found on the Panasonic website I would have to say you are more or less correct. They do say it will pair with a keyboard or a mouse as well but no mention I can find that the Bluetooth is audio capable.

derek39 · 07-01-2015, 08:21

Thanks for the info Guys

25-12-2013, 12:56	#1
soulboy22 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 360	Panasonic SC-HTE80EB-K - optical vs HDMI ARC Hi All, Merry Christmas, Hope we are all having fun! Looking at getting one of the above to connect to my Panasonic TX-P42UT50B. I already have both the HDMI ports used (one with the sky box, the second has connected the switch from which I run my laptop or ps3. My question is this. I do not want to have the sky box connected to the switch, because I have heard they never play nicely together. Would there big a big disadvantage in connecting the speakerboard to the optical out rather than HDMI? Sorry for the slightly newbie question I am normally fairly tech savvy but I get a bit lost when it comes to connecting things up as I am in a wheelchair, so I often have to rely on others to do the connecting, which means I don't always visualise it right! Many Thanks

25-12-2013, 21:28	#2
chrisjr Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Reading Posts: 27,916	There will probably be no difference at all in the ones and zeros being fed out of the optical port to those going back down the hDMI lead via ARC. So sonically there will be no difference between the two.

26-12-2013, 06:41	#3
soulboy22 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 360	Quote: Originally Posted by chrisjr There will probably be no difference at all in the ones and zeros being fed out of the optical port to those going back down the hDMI lead via ARC. So sonically there will be no difference between the two. May Thanks for the ifo chrisj, so even through the optical out the speakerboard would automatically switch to all the different inputs (Sky, Freeview and PS3?

26-12-2013, 09:48	#4
Lidtop2013 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: West Midlands Posts: 2,450	What's a speaker board? Lol. Another name for a soundbar?

26-12-2013, 10:11	#5
soulboy22 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 360	Quote: Originally Posted by Lidtop2013 What's a speaker board? Lol. Another name for a soundbar? seems to be a rather posh soundboARD more rectangular in shape than the usual hence the name . see pic in link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Panasonic-SC...c+speakerboard

26-12-2013, 11:10	#6
chrisjr Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Reading Posts: 27,916	Quote: Originally Posted by soulboy22 May Thanks for the ifo chrisj, so even through the optical out the speakerboard would automatically switch to all the different inputs (Sky, Freeview and PS3? The soundbar won't be doing any switching, the telly will So it is down to the TV what comes out of the optical out, as it is what would be fed back down the ARC on the HDMI. The vast majority of TVs I have seen feed sound from whatever is being watched out of the optical/ARC outputs. One thing to be aware of is that the optical/ARC output will not be affected by the TV's volume control in all likelihood so the soundbar you use must have it's own volume control.

27-12-2013, 09:56	#7
soulboy22 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 360	Hi Guys, Look at the manual here: http://tda.panasonic-europe-service..../rqt9865-z.pdf It appears to suggest on page 6 that you both HDMI and optical plugged in judging by the diagram (I am more than likely mistaken!) could anybody possibly confirm if that is the case or not? why would it be so? Many Thanks

27-12-2013, 11:30	#8
chrisjr Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Reading Posts: 27,916	Quote: Originally Posted by soulboy22 Hi Guys, Look at the manual here: http://tda.panasonic-europe-service..../rqt9865-z.pdf It appears to suggest on page 6 that you both HDMI and optical plugged in judging by the diagram (I am more than likely mistaken!) could anybody possibly confirm if that is the case or not? why would it be so? Many Thanks That link is broken. Which is par for the course withPanasonic manuals, you can never properly link direct to the PDF. You only need the HDMI if you want to use the Viera Link, ARC or have some device plugged into the HDMI in on the sound bar. If all you want is audio and are prepared to use the sound bar remote to control the volume then all you need is the optical link.

27-12-2013, 12:03	#9
soulboy22 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 360	Quote: Originally Posted by chrisjr That link is broken. Which is par for the course withPanasonic manuals, you can never properly link direct to the PDF. You only need the HDMI if you want to use the Viera Link, ARC or have some device plugged into the HDMI in on the sound bar. If all you want is audio and are prepared to use the sound bar remote to control the volume then all you need is the optical link. May Thanks, This shall be my new year treat!

06-01-2015, 16:48	#10
derek39 Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: livingston scotland Posts: 228	this unit Panasonic SC-HTE80EB-K won't pair up (BlueTooth) with my Panasonic AX802

06-01-2015, 18:17	#11
Stig Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Sandy Heath, Beds. UK Posts: 10,384	Quote: Originally Posted by derek39 this unit Panasonic SC-HTE80EB-K won't pair up (BlueTooth) with my Panasonic AX802 I think the Bluetooth in the AX802 TV is just for the touch pad controller, not audio. You would need to connect via HDMI or optical.

06-01-2015, 18:37	#12
chrisjr Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Reading Posts: 27,916	Quote: Originally Posted by Stig I think the Bluetooth in the AX802 TV is just for the touch pad controller, not audio. You would need to connect via HDMI or optical. Looking at a manual found on the Panasonic website I would have to say you are more or less correct. They do say it will pair with a keyboard or a mouse as well but no mention I can find that the Bluetooth is audio capable.

07-01-2015, 08:21	#13
derek39 Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: livingston scotland Posts: 228	Thanks for the info Guys

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Panasonic SC-HTE80EB-K - optical vs HDMI ARC