Arc hdmi's.

jrh1 · 02-01-2015, 20:58

Do arc compatable hdmi's work when the tv does not have arc. Looking at buying a Panasonic sc-hte80 soundstage .And can it be wired so that the Sky box goes through the hte80, and the dvd straight into the tv, only 2 tv hdmi's.

grahamlthompson · 02-01-2015, 21:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrh1

Do arc compatable hdmi's work when the tv does not have arc. Looking at buying a Panasonic sc-hte80 soundstage .And can it be wired so that the Sky box goes through the hte80, and the dvd straight into the tv, only 2 tv hdmi's.

ARC requires both source and destination are ARC compatible.

Nigel Goodwin · 03-01-2015, 08:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrh1

Do arc compatable hdmi's work when the tv does not have arc.

Obviously not.

zapod · 03-01-2015, 09:28

My LG soundbar is fed from the optical output from the TV because the TV lacks ARC compatibility. What is interesting is that the TV (Sony) recognises this and lets me control the volume of the soundbar with the TV remote (whilst muting its own speakers).

Nigel Goodwin · 03-01-2015, 11:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by zapod

My LG soundbar is fed from the optical output from the TV because the TV lacks ARC compatibility. What is interesting is that the TV (Sony) recognises this and lets me control the volume of the soundbar with the TV remote (whilst muting its own speakers).

Sorry, but I don't follow you? - there's only one way communication from the optical output on the TV, it just sends the audio data out and nothing else.

You can certainly set the TV to 'external speakers' which will mute the internal speakers, but there's no way to control the soundbar volume from the TV.

jrh1 · 03-01-2015, 14:09

So, if my tv doesn't have arc or an optical input, then I can't connect a soundstage/bar etc.

chrisjr · 03-01-2015, 14:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrh1

So, if my tv doesn't have arc or an optical input, then I can't connect a soundstage/bar etc.

If it had an optical INPUT it would still be no good, you need an OUTPUT.

What TV do you have? The Panasonic unit you are proposing to buy does have a stereo analogue input so it may still be possible to connect up the TV if it has a headphone or analogue output instead of any sort of digital output.

jrh1 · 03-01-2015, 14:40

Is the sound quality with rca connectors as good as hdmi etc

chrisjr · 03-01-2015, 14:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin

Sorry, but I don't follow you? - there's only one way communication from the optical output on the TV, it just sends the audio data out and nothing else.

You can certainly set the TV to 'external speakers' which will mute the internal speakers, but there's no way to control the soundbar volume from the TV.

The only way I can think that the TV could automatically switch to external speaker mode is if it has a trick optical socket that can detect the presence of a plug inserted into it. As you say the optical out just sends audio data out, which it will do all the time the TV is on whether or not the output is connected to anything. It has no return path to say there is something on the other end of the cable.

And I suspect the TV remote is actually controlling the output level of it's optical out and is having no effect on the soundbar at all.

chrisjr · 03-01-2015, 14:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrh1

Is the sound quality with rca connectors as good as hdmi etc

Absolutely no reason why it shouldn't be. After all the real world is analogue

You haven't said what telly you've got so we can advise what options you may have.

grahamlthompson · 03-01-2015, 15:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrh1

Is the sound quality with rca connectors as good as hdmi etc

Your loudspeakers don't understand digital

. At some point the digital audio has to be converted to analogue. Digital broadcasts for instance can transmit up to 5.1 channels, when converted to analogue you need 6 rca phono cables to a suitable amplifier. Depending on the quality of the digital decoder the phono connection could be superior.

jrh1 · 03-01-2015, 15:50

Panasonic Th 37px70ba.

Nigel Goodwin · 03-01-2015, 16:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisjr

If it had an optical INPUT it would still be no good, you need an OUTPUT.

What TV do you have? The Panasonic unit you are proposing to buy does have a stereo analogue input so it may still be possible to connect up the TV if it has a headphone or analogue output instead of any sort of digital output.

Sony TV's have an audio output socket (3.5mm stereo jack), configurable as either headphone or line out, and as adjustable level or not - it's a VERY, VERY useful feature, and ideal for his purposes.

chrisjr · 03-01-2015, 16:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrh1

Panasonic Th 37px70ba.

According to the manual available on the Panasonic website the only audio outputs on this TV are a pair of analogue phonos. Those are the ones to the right of the VGA PC socket as you look at the rear of the TV.

So a simple stereo phono to phono lead required to connect TV to soundbar.

jrh1 · 03-01-2015, 16:52

So sound quality would be as good with phono connection. The soundstage would have to be switched on manually, would the volume be controlled by the tv remote? Not wanting to spend £150 on something that's more hassle than it's worth.

Nigel Goodwin · 03-01-2015, 19:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrh1

So sound quality would be as good with phono connection. The soundstage would have to be switched on manually, would the volume be controlled by the tv remote? Not wanting to spend £150 on something that's more hassle than it's worth.

You would need to check your TV manual to see if you can configure the audio output as variable or not, as I said above Sony ones can be configured either way - so perhaps Panasonic can as well?.

But often with sound bars you have to use their remote control to alter the volume.

zapod · 03-01-2015, 21:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin

Sorry, but I don't follow you? - there's only one way communication from the optical output on the TV, it just sends the audio data out and nothing else.

You can certainly set the TV to 'external speakers' which will mute the internal speakers, but there's no way to control the soundbar volume from the TV.

It struck me as odd too... however there is more to it, although it's not completely obvious what's going on.

The soundbar - an LG NB4530A - has only two sources wired: The TV via optical, and a Playstation 4 (replacing a Blu-ray player) via HDMI. The HDMI from the PS4 is on a passthrough to the TV so I only get a picture if I select 'HDMI' as the source on the soundbar. I set it up this way in an attempt to get the 'purest' audio feed from the PS4 and eliminate any lag that might crop up.

Where it gets interesting is that, even with 'Optical' as the source input, and the HDMI source off (but connected), when the TV is switched on the soundbar wakes from standby, the TV pops up a message 'Audio System Active', the TV sound is muted and the soundbar takes over. I literally don't have to do anything but sit down.

Volume changes using the TV remote show the message 'Audio System Volume +' & 'Audio System Volume -' with the corresponding volume shown on the soundbar display. That is, the TV is controlling the soundbar, probably via HDMI.

This set-up with the optical audio feed also works for the Humax PVR, only that's just a point-to-point HDMI connection to the TV - the audio is fed to the soundbar in exactly the same way as Freeview, with the volume controlled in the same way.

When the TV is put on standby or turned off, the soundbar goes into standby automatically.

bobcar · 03-01-2015, 21:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by zapod

Volume changes using the TV remote show the message 'Audio System Volume +' & 'Audio System Volume -' with the corresponding volume shown on the soundbar display. That is, the TV is controlling the soundbar, probably via HDMI.

This set-up with the optical audio feed also works for the Humax PVR, only that's just a point-to-point HDMI connection to the TV - the audio is fed to the soundbar in exactly the same way as Freeview, with the volume controlled in the same way.

When the TV is put on standby or turned off, the soundbar goes into standby automatically.

The TV is using CEC to control the soundbar via HMDI. I do the same with my Panny TV and Yamaha soundbar.

zapod · 03-01-2015, 22:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobcar

The TV is using CEC to control the soundbar via HMDI. I do the same with my Panny TV and Yamaha soundbar.

Ah, that would explain it then. Needless to say I was pleased to find this extra layer of functionality (knowing I did not have an ARC compatible TV) - saves a lot of remote juggling, or should I say, more remote juggling

jrh1 · 05-01-2015, 18:58

If I plug a stereoamp/speakers into the phono sockets ,will that give me any indication on how a soundbar/base would work connected the same way?

Nigel Goodwin · 05-01-2015, 19:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrh1

If I plug a stereoamp/speakers into the phono sockets ,will that give me any indication on how a soundbar/base would work connected the same way?

Yes, that's pretty well all a sound bar is - except you get a sub-woofer as well, and a decent pair of speakers would mean you don't really need a sub.

02-01-2015, 20:58	#1
jrh1 Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 34	Arc hdmi's. Do arc compatable hdmi's work when the tv does not have arc. Looking at buying a Panasonic sc-hte80 soundstage .And can it be wired so that the Sky box goes through the hte80, and the dvd straight into the tv, only 2 tv hdmi's.

02-01-2015, 21:21	#2
grahamlthompson Forum Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Redditch Worcs Posts: 17,293	Quote: Originally Posted by jrh1 Do arc compatable hdmi's work when the tv does not have arc. Looking at buying a Panasonic sc-hte80 soundstage .And can it be wired so that the Sky box goes through the hte80, and the dvd straight into the tv, only 2 tv hdmi's. ARC requires both source and destination are ARC compatible.

03-01-2015, 08:47	#3
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by jrh1 Do arc compatable hdmi's work when the tv does not have arc. Obviously not.

03-01-2015, 09:28	#4
zapod Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Glasgow Posts: 656	My LG soundbar is fed from the optical output from the TV because the TV lacks ARC compatibility. What is interesting is that the TV (Sony) recognises this and lets me control the volume of the soundbar with the TV remote (whilst muting its own speakers).

03-01-2015, 11:02	#5
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by zapod My LG soundbar is fed from the optical output from the TV because the TV lacks ARC compatibility. What is interesting is that the TV (Sony) recognises this and lets me control the volume of the soundbar with the TV remote (whilst muting its own speakers). Sorry, but I don't follow you? - there's only one way communication from the optical output on the TV, it just sends the audio data out and nothing else. You can certainly set the TV to 'external speakers' which will mute the internal speakers, but there's no way to control the soundbar volume from the TV.

03-01-2015, 14:09	#6
jrh1 Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 34	So, if my tv doesn't have arc or an optical input, then I can't connect a soundstage/bar etc.

03-01-2015, 14:29	#7
chrisjr Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Reading Posts: 27,916	Quote: Originally Posted by jrh1 So, if my tv doesn't have arc or an optical input, then I can't connect a soundstage/bar etc. If it had an optical INPUT it would still be no good, you need an OUTPUT. What TV do you have? The Panasonic unit you are proposing to buy does have a stereo analogue input so it may still be possible to connect up the TV if it has a headphone or analogue output instead of any sort of digital output.

03-01-2015, 14:40	#8
jrh1 Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 34	Is the sound quality with rca connectors as good as hdmi etc

03-01-2015, 14:45	#9
chrisjr Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Reading Posts: 27,916	Quote: Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin Sorry, but I don't follow you? - there's only one way communication from the optical output on the TV, it just sends the audio data out and nothing else. You can certainly set the TV to 'external speakers' which will mute the internal speakers, but there's no way to control the soundbar volume from the TV. The only way I can think that the TV could automatically switch to external speaker mode is if it has a trick optical socket that can detect the presence of a plug inserted into it. As you say the optical out just sends audio data out, which it will do all the time the TV is on whether or not the output is connected to anything. It has no return path to say there is something on the other end of the cable. And I suspect the TV remote is actually controlling the output level of it's optical out and is having no effect on the soundbar at all.

03-01-2015, 14:49	#10
chrisjr Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Reading Posts: 27,916	Quote: Originally Posted by jrh1 Is the sound quality with rca connectors as good as hdmi etc Absolutely no reason why it shouldn't be. After all the real world is analogue You haven't said what telly you've got so we can advise what options you may have.

03-01-2015, 15:48	#11
grahamlthompson Forum Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Redditch Worcs Posts: 17,293	Quote: Originally Posted by jrh1 Is the sound quality with rca connectors as good as hdmi etc Your loudspeakers don't understand digital . At some point the digital audio has to be converted to analogue. Digital broadcasts for instance can transmit up to 5.1 channels, when converted to analogue you need 6 rca phono cables to a suitable amplifier. Depending on the quality of the digital decoder the phono connection could be superior.

03-01-2015, 15:50	#12
jrh1 Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 34	Panasonic Th 37px70ba.

03-01-2015, 16:20	#13
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by chrisjr If it had an optical INPUT it would still be no good, you need an OUTPUT. What TV do you have? The Panasonic unit you are proposing to buy does have a stereo analogue input so it may still be possible to connect up the TV if it has a headphone or analogue output instead of any sort of digital output. Sony TV's have an audio output socket (3.5mm stereo jack), configurable as either headphone or line out, and as adjustable level or not - it's a VERY, VERY useful feature, and ideal for his purposes.

03-01-2015, 16:22	#14
chrisjr Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Reading Posts: 27,916	Quote: Originally Posted by jrh1 Panasonic Th 37px70ba. According to the manual available on the Panasonic website the only audio outputs on this TV are a pair of analogue phonos. Those are the ones to the right of the VGA PC socket as you look at the rear of the TV. So a simple stereo phono to phono lead required to connect TV to soundbar.

03-01-2015, 16:52	#15
jrh1 Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 34	So sound quality would be as good with phono connection. The soundstage would have to be switched on manually, would the volume be controlled by the tv remote? Not wanting to spend £150 on something that's more hassle than it's worth.

03-01-2015, 19:53	#16
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by jrh1 So sound quality would be as good with phono connection. The soundstage would have to be switched on manually, would the volume be controlled by the tv remote? Not wanting to spend £150 on something that's more hassle than it's worth. You would need to check your TV manual to see if you can configure the audio output as variable or not, as I said above Sony ones can be configured either way - so perhaps Panasonic can as well?. But often with sound bars you have to use their remote control to alter the volume.

03-01-2015, 21:46	#17
zapod Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Glasgow Posts: 656	Quote: Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin Sorry, but I don't follow you? - there's only one way communication from the optical output on the TV, it just sends the audio data out and nothing else. You can certainly set the TV to 'external speakers' which will mute the internal speakers, but there's no way to control the soundbar volume from the TV. It struck me as odd too... however there is more to it, although it's not completely obvious what's going on. The soundbar - an LG NB4530A - has only two sources wired: The TV via optical, and a Playstation 4 (replacing a Blu-ray player) via HDMI. The HDMI from the PS4 is on a passthrough to the TV so I only get a picture if I select 'HDMI' as the source on the soundbar. I set it up this way in an attempt to get the 'purest' audio feed from the PS4 and eliminate any lag that might crop up. Where it gets interesting is that, even with 'Optical' as the source input, and the HDMI source off (but connected), when the TV is switched on the soundbar wakes from standby, the TV pops up a message 'Audio System Active', the TV sound is muted and the soundbar takes over. I literally don't have to do anything but sit down. Volume changes using the TV remote show the message 'Audio System Volume +' & 'Audio System Volume -' with the corresponding volume shown on the soundbar display. That is, the TV is controlling the soundbar, probably via HDMI. This set-up with the optical audio feed also works for the Humax PVR, only that's just a point-to-point HDMI connection to the TV - the audio is fed to the soundbar in exactly the same way as Freeview, with the volume controlled in the same way. When the TV is put on standby or turned off, the soundbar goes into standby automatically.

03-01-2015, 21:50	#18
bobcar Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 14,718	Quote: Originally Posted by zapod Volume changes using the TV remote show the message 'Audio System Volume +' & 'Audio System Volume -' with the corresponding volume shown on the soundbar display. That is, the TV is controlling the soundbar, probably via HDMI. This set-up with the optical audio feed also works for the Humax PVR, only that's just a point-to-point HDMI connection to the TV - the audio is fed to the soundbar in exactly the same way as Freeview, with the volume controlled in the same way. When the TV is put on standby or turned off, the soundbar goes into standby automatically. The TV is using CEC to control the soundbar via HMDI. I do the same with my Panny TV and Yamaha soundbar.

03-01-2015, 22:01	#19
zapod Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Glasgow Posts: 656	Quote: Originally Posted by bobcar The TV is using CEC to control the soundbar via HMDI. I do the same with my Panny TV and Yamaha soundbar. Ah, that would explain it then. Needless to say I was pleased to find this extra layer of functionality (knowing I did not have an ARC compatible TV) - saves a lot of remote juggling, or should I say, more remote juggling

05-01-2015, 18:58	#20
jrh1 Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 34	If I plug a stereoamp/speakers into the phono sockets ,will that give me any indication on how a soundbar/base would work connected the same way?

05-01-2015, 19:07	#21
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by jrh1 If I plug a stereoamp/speakers into the phono sockets ,will that give me any indication on how a soundbar/base would work connected the same way? Yes, that's pretty well all a sound bar is - except you get a sub-woofer as well, and a decent pair of speakers would mean you don't really need a sub.

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Arc hdmi's.