Dolby Digital sound from new Apple tv without optical input

JEFF62 · 02-10-2015, 16:53

I have a Samsung Blu Ray Home Cinema system (Ht4500R) and I have it connected to Sky box and Apple tv using the Lindy optical switch which was recommended on here so I have one optical lead for Sky box and one for Apple tv. I was really looking forward to getting the new Apple tv coming out later this month. But apparently there is no Optical input. So that is the problem. How will I be able to get DD sound from the new Apple tv to the home cinema system? Will it still be possible? The HC system only has one HDMI input. Any ideas appreciated. Thanks.

chrisjr · 02-10-2015, 17:14

First thing. You are confusing Inputs and Outputs. What you have on the Apple TV is an optical Output and what is on the home cinema system is an HDMI Output. Think of which way the signal travels and it all becomes clear.

You could use a box that sits inline with the HDMI out from the Apple TV and provides a digital optical output from that. Something like this

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Neet%C2%AE-C.../dp/B00H8T1DJ8

Or throw away the Samsung system and buy a proper AV system with enough HDMI inputs to take all your sources and a bit of room for expansion.

JEFF62 · 02-10-2015, 17:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisjr

First thing. You are confusing Inputs and Outputs. What you have on the Apple TV is an optical Output and what is on the home cinema system is an HDMI Output. Think of which way the signal travels and it all becomes clear.

You could use a box that sits inline with the HDMI out from the Apple TV and provides a digital optical output from that. Something like this

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Neet%C2%AE-C.../dp/B00H8T1DJ8

Or throw away the Samsung system and buy a proper AV system with enough HDMI inputs to take all your sources and a bit of room for expansion.

That sounds great. However if the ATV only has one HDMI slot then that has to connect to the back of the tv. So where will this box fit in? I see the optical lead will go from the HC system to the back of the box. But there will be nowhere to connect the HDMI lead to as that port will be in use to connect to the back of the tv. Or am I getting mixed up?

chrisjr · 02-10-2015, 21:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by JEFF62

That sounds great. However if the ATV only has one HDMI slot then that has to connect to the back of the tv. So where will this box fit in? I see the optical lead will go from the HC system to the back of the box. But there will be nowhere to connect the HDMI lead to as that port will be in use to connect to the back of the tv. Or am I getting mixed up?

It goes in line between the Apple TV and the TV. If you notice it has HDMI input and output connectors, You connect the Apple TV to the box input and the box output to the TV.

JEFF62 · 03-10-2015, 09:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisjr

It goes in line between the Apple TV and the TV. If you notice it has HDMI input and output connectors, You connect the Apple TV to the box input and the box output to the TV.

Sorry I am being really thick now but where is the HDMI input on the box? The picture on Amazon shows only one HDMI port for HDMI out. Where is HDMI in? Or perhaps I am looking at the wrong product. It comes up with this:-
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Neet®-Conver.../dp/B00H8T1DJ8

1 x 1 audio out. I can only see one HDMI port. Is it one of the other products I should be looking at?

JEFF62 · 03-10-2015, 09:50

Ignore my last post. I can see the in port on the front. So I would have one HDMI lead from the Apple tv into the HDMi in on the box and then another HDMI lead from HDMI out to the back of the tv. So would I still use the optical lead from the HC system to the box? Sorry this is doing my head in!

AT the end of the day why on earth are Apple removing optical port from the new Apple tv?

chrisjr · 03-10-2015, 13:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by JEFF62

Ignore my last post. I can see the in port on the front. So I would have one HDMI lead from the Apple tv into the HDMi in on the box and then another HDMI lead from HDMI out to the back of the tv. So would I still use the optical lead from the HC system to the box? Sorry this is doing my head in!

AT the end of the day why on earth are Apple removing optical port from the new Apple tv?

If you want audio from the Apple TV then yes you will need the optical cable to the NEET box.

There is another avenue you could investigate. If the TV has a digital output then you could use that direct to the HC system. You wouldn't need any other connections as audio from whatever is connected to the TV will appear on the digital output.

The downside of this is that the TV may only be able to pass stereo from HDMI in to digital out. If you set the Apple TV or Sky box or whatever else to send surround sound up the HDMI there is a chance nothing will come out of the TV digital out.

The only way is to try it and see what you get.

02-10-2015, 16:53	#1
JEFF62 Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 3,539	Dolby Digital sound from new Apple tv without optical input I have a Samsung Blu Ray Home Cinema system (Ht4500R) and I have it connected to Sky box and Apple tv using the Lindy optical switch which was recommended on here so I have one optical lead for Sky box and one for Apple tv. I was really looking forward to getting the new Apple tv coming out later this month. But apparently there is no Optical input. So that is the problem. How will I be able to get DD sound from the new Apple tv to the home cinema system? Will it still be possible? The HC system only has one HDMI input. Any ideas appreciated. Thanks.

02-10-2015, 17:14	#2
chrisjr Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Reading Posts: 27,916	First thing. You are confusing Inputs and Outputs. What you have on the Apple TV is an optical Output and what is on the home cinema system is an HDMI Output. Think of which way the signal travels and it all becomes clear. You could use a box that sits inline with the HDMI out from the Apple TV and provides a digital optical output from that. Something like this http://www.amazon.co.uk/Neet%C2%AE-C.../dp/B00H8T1DJ8 Or throw away the Samsung system and buy a proper AV system with enough HDMI inputs to take all your sources and a bit of room for expansion.

02-10-2015, 17:47	#3
JEFF62 Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 3,539	Quote: Originally Posted by chrisjr First thing. You are confusing Inputs and Outputs. What you have on the Apple TV is an optical Output and what is on the home cinema system is an HDMI Output. Think of which way the signal travels and it all becomes clear. You could use a box that sits inline with the HDMI out from the Apple TV and provides a digital optical output from that. Something like this http://www.amazon.co.uk/Neet%C2%AE-C.../dp/B00H8T1DJ8 Or throw away the Samsung system and buy a proper AV system with enough HDMI inputs to take all your sources and a bit of room for expansion. That sounds great. However if the ATV only has one HDMI slot then that has to connect to the back of the tv. So where will this box fit in? I see the optical lead will go from the HC system to the back of the box. But there will be nowhere to connect the HDMI lead to as that port will be in use to connect to the back of the tv. Or am I getting mixed up?

02-10-2015, 21:02	#4
chrisjr Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Reading Posts: 27,916	Quote: Originally Posted by JEFF62 That sounds great. However if the ATV only has one HDMI slot then that has to connect to the back of the tv. So where will this box fit in? I see the optical lead will go from the HC system to the back of the box. But there will be nowhere to connect the HDMI lead to as that port will be in use to connect to the back of the tv. Or am I getting mixed up? It goes in line between the Apple TV and the TV. If you notice it has HDMI input and output connectors, You connect the Apple TV to the box input and the box output to the TV.

03-10-2015, 09:02	#5
JEFF62 Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 3,539	Quote: Originally Posted by chrisjr It goes in line between the Apple TV and the TV. If you notice it has HDMI input and output connectors, You connect the Apple TV to the box input and the box output to the TV. Sorry I am being really thick now but where is the HDMI input on the box? The picture on Amazon shows only one HDMI port for HDMI out. Where is HDMI in? Or perhaps I am looking at the wrong product. It comes up with this:- http://www.amazon.co.uk/Neet®-Conver.../dp/B00H8T1DJ8 1 x 1 audio out. I can only see one HDMI port. Is it one of the other products I should be looking at?

03-10-2015, 09:50	#6
JEFF62 Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 3,539	Ignore my last post. I can see the in port on the front. So I would have one HDMI lead from the Apple tv into the HDMi in on the box and then another HDMI lead from HDMI out to the back of the tv. So would I still use the optical lead from the HC system to the box? Sorry this is doing my head in! AT the end of the day why on earth are Apple removing optical port from the new Apple tv?

03-10-2015, 13:46	#7
chrisjr Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Reading Posts: 27,916	Quote: Originally Posted by JEFF62 Ignore my last post. I can see the in port on the front. So I would have one HDMI lead from the Apple tv into the HDMi in on the box and then another HDMI lead from HDMI out to the back of the tv. So would I still use the optical lead from the HC system to the box? Sorry this is doing my head in! AT the end of the day why on earth are Apple removing optical port from the new Apple tv? If you want audio from the Apple TV then yes you will need the optical cable to the NEET box. There is another avenue you could investigate. If the TV has a digital output then you could use that direct to the HC system. You wouldn't need any other connections as audio from whatever is connected to the TV will appear on the digital output. The downside of this is that the TV may only be able to pass stereo from HDMI in to digital out. If you set the Apple TV or Sky box or whatever else to send surround sound up the HDMI there is a chance nothing will come out of the TV digital out. The only way is to try it and see what you get.

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Dolby Digital sound from new Apple tv without optical input