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Connecting PS3 - Help Required


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Old 14-09-2008, 18:55
bf1gun
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Would appreciate any help you can give with regards to the following:

I have a Panasonic PX80 TV, Sky HD, PS3, Nintendo Wii and Harman Kardon HS250 2.1 Home Cinema System.

The Sky, PS3 & HK250 are connected to the TV via HDMI. The Wii is connected to the TV via component leads.

The PS3 had an audio optical lead connected to the HK250 (there is only 1 optical input on the HK250) and the Sky box had the audio out connected to the HK250 via phono leads.

However, I kept getting a crackling / interference type noise whenever I watched Sky content and eventually resolved this by connecting the Sky box to the HK250 via the optical lead.

This means that I now have no sound from the PS3 and I'm not sure how to resolve this. I could buy an AV cable but this means I will not have HD quality output from the PS3.

Any ideas please?

Thanks
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Old 14-09-2008, 19:18
chrisjr
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Get one of these perhaps?

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=35241

3 way Optical switch. Will let you plug both sources (and room for a third) into the home Cinema system. Only downside is you may have to get up out of your seat to switch from Sky to ps3
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Old 14-09-2008, 19:36
EuphoricaL
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The above will definitely work, but if your lazy you could see if one of these works: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Toslink-Optica...QQcmdZViewItem

It will work if both the PS3 and Sky box don't give out a optical signal when in standby. I used one of these to use a xbox and STB on the same optical in on an amp a while back.
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Old 14-09-2008, 19:53
chrisjr
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I am a great believer in using the right tool for the job. A switch is the correct device to join two OUTPUTS to one INPUT. A splitter is the correct device to feed two INPUTS from one OUTPUT.

Either could be used in reverse but both introduce compromises. The biggest compromise with using a splitter in reverse is not being able to have both sources active at the same time. Which could be a problem if you set the Sky box up to record something and want to watch a DVD or play a game on the ps3 at the same time.

In that scenario both optical outs could well be active at the same time and thus cause interference. It all depends on whether you think this is something that is likely to happen and so if you could live with the compromise.
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Old 14-09-2008, 20:32
bf1gun
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Guys,

Thanks for the replies.

I wouldn`t mind manually switching over if that provides the better solution?

If I use the switcher device and have it set on the PS3 I presume it won`t affect anything that I may be recording on the Sky HD box as the sound will be recorded on the HD and will only be output to optical when I playback.

Is that right / makes sense?

My Harman Receiver has a Coax Digital Input and someone suggested using an optical to digital converter http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=29293 any advice on this solution and which option provides the better quality?

Thanks for your help
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Old 14-09-2008, 20:48
Deacon1972
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Guys,

Thanks for the replies.

I wouldn`t mind manually switching over if that provides the better solution?

If I use the switcher device and have it set on the PS3 I presume it won`t affect anything that I may be recording on the Sky HD box as the sound will be recorded on the HD and will only be output to optical when I playback.

Is that right / makes sense?
Correct, it will not affect the audio on recordings.
My Harman Receiver has a Coax Digital Input and someone suggested using an optical to digital converter http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=29293 any advice on this solution and which option provides the better quality?

Thanks for your help
The converter would probably be more user friendly than the 3way switcher, you wouldn't have the need to manually switch inputs.

Fairly sure you wouldn't lose any audio quality by using it either.

In regards to the 2way switcher/splitter, it will work with Sky and PS3 as both boxes disable the optical output when placed in standby mode.
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Old 14-09-2008, 20:50
bf1gun
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Thanks Deacon
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Old 14-09-2008, 20:51
chrisjr
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Having the switch on one setting won't affect the other device in any way. All the recording on the Sky box (if it's the type that can record as well) is done internally. So as long as it is attached to the satellite dish it won't care if you throw the rest of the kit off the roof

The optical out could well be active however if the Sky box has to be out of standby to record. In which case it will output sound from whatever channel it is set to feed to the TV. That means using a splitter instead of a switch won't work if you want to use the ps3 at the time.

You could use the converter if that makes things easier. As it is all digital the only affect should be to convert pulses of light into pulses of electricity. Provided it does this accurately it will have zero effect on quality.

Using separate inputs on the Home Cinema amp might mean you can select source on the remote, depends on whether you subscribe to the view that exercise is good for you
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Old 14-09-2008, 23:12
bf1gun
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Thanks all for your help
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Old 16-09-2008, 11:13
Found_Out
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you could always change the audio signal settings to operate via the hdmi lead on the ps3.

it's in system audio settings i think. you can choose whether you want the signal to go via optical, scart, hdmi etc.
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Old 19-09-2008, 20:48
mlythaby
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you could always change the audio signal settings to operate via the hdmi lead on the ps3.

it's in system audio settings i think. you can choose whether you want the signal to go via optical, scart, hdmi etc.
Yes this is the best option, in fact its a pain as it switches between HDMI or Optical, they wont both work at the same time.

Also I believe the Harman has a coax input, you could buy a optical to coax converter.
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Old 20-09-2008, 07:46
Dave1979
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Correct, it will not affect the audio on recordings.
The converter would probably be more user friendly than the 3way switcher, you wouldn't have the need to manually switch inputs.

Fairly sure you wouldn't lose any audio quality by using it either.

In regards to the 2way switcher/splitter, it will work with Sky and PS3 as both boxes disable the optical output when placed in standby mode.
I have that optical-co-ax converter and it works a treat
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