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Home audio & video: No Dolby 5.1 from HDTV Audio Outputs ?
No Dolby 5.1 from HDTV Audio Outputs ?
by jmacho - 1/3/08 7:41 AMI have an HDTV (Olevia) which is connected directly to my Comcast cable (no box) and I am able to recieve a few unscrambled HD broadcasts. The TV analog audio output is connected to my Onyko HT reciever and I recently tried to connect using both a coax and optic cable and no sound!! I found out that my Olevia does not pass 5.1 signals- only 2.1 so back to the RCA analog. My Onyko does not have HDMI, and my DVD player audio connects to the Onkyo using optical.
What I found interesting is that it appears few HDTV's in fact will pass 5.1 signal and I found no reviews that either mention or test the digital audio outputs. I did notice an earlier thread mentioning the no 5.1 pass through and wanted to understand why this feature or lack of was not mentioned in the CNET HDTV reviews??
First, you need to get 5.1 to the TV
by Dan Filice - 1/3/08 9:57 AM In reply to: No Dolby 5.1 from HDTV Audio Outputs ? by jmachoYou are missing one important step: Getting 5.1 to your TV. You have the cable connected direct to the TV, but I believe what you need in order to get 5.1, is digital cable service...basically you need a cable box (preferably an HD cable box) that will provide you with 5.1. I don't think you can get 5.1 from the standard cable without subscribing to the digital cable service, which requires a set-top cable box. I have the optical audio-out on my cable box connected to my receiver and I get 5.1 on stations that use this. If you had a cable box that had an optical audio-out connection, you could choose to either connect this optical audio to your receiver or your TV (if your TV has optical-in). But, if your TV does not actually pass-through 5.1 then connecting to the receiver is the way to go. Right now, you TV is receiving audio through the coax cable which at best, will give you analog Stereo. In any case, if you get digital cable service that provides 5.1, why would you want to connect the audio to your TV first then to your receiver. This is backwards.
No 5.1 Pass Through
by jmacho - 1/3/08 10:28 AM In reply to: First, you need to get 5.1 to the TV by Dan FiliceDan, thanks for your reply....
I subscribe to Comcast which delivers unscrambled HD content to subscribers. No, you do not need a box or HD subscription to receive what would be "over the air" local channel broadcasts which Comcast provides (at least in my area, anyway)- you do need an HDTV with a QAM tuner capable of decoding the unscrambled digital broadcasts- the extra HD cable service gets you a box and an extensive HD channel lineup which are scrambled. My Olevia channel display confirms the HD and Dolby 5.1 audio signal.
My problem appears to be a Olevia design issue as from what I understand the tuner is not passing the complete Dolby audio channel and as such I am only getting the analog 2 channel stereo. This problem would also occur if I used an outdoor antenna for local HD broadcasts over the air.
Yes, I could spend the extra bucks and upgrade my service, but I give Comcast enough $$. The set top boxes do have the digital audio out (and HDMI). I am content to get the HD games and can live without the 5.1, but it appears from my research that a number of other HDTV sets have the same problem. The purpose of my post is to understand why the HDTV review tests do not include any audio.
Interesting....
by Dan Filice - 1/3/08 11:10 AM In reply to: No 5.1 Pass Through by jmachoI now wonder if my Sonys will pass through 5.1. I never needed to do that so I never hooked them up this way. I wonder if any TV does this?
5.1 Signal
by jmacho - 1/3/08 11:38 AM In reply to: Interesting.... by Dan FiliceDan, the short answer is "it depends"..
Some cable operators do provide limited HD channels as part of their basic service, others do not and require the HD service and set top box. (Satellite is a different animal) This feature is usually not mentioned as of course they want you to subscribe to HD service with all the extra features. ATSC tuners (or digital tuners)in most HDTV's today conform to a digital broadcast standard and use QAM to decode the digital signals. As a rule the cable operators follow that standard but may change some signaling for their network.
You can simply plug the cable into the set and do an auto scan to see if the tuner will pick up any HD signal- note that the HD channels may have a 3.1 or 3-1 displayed on screen whereas the traditional analog will simply list a numeric channel like 3 and usually includes resolution and digital audio
not that I know of
by jostenmeat - 1/3/08 1:14 PM In reply to: Interesting.... by Dan FiliceI do remember someone mentioned it, however, one cannot be sure that the receiver was not simply matrixing a mono or stereo source into 5.1 or 7.1.
Many/most tv's will strip surround encoded audio to 2-channel including many Panasonic and Samsungs, in my experience.
That's what I thought too
by Dan Filice - 1/3/08 2:10 PM In reply to: not that I know of by jostenmeatI think it would be asking a lot of a TV to pass-through a 5.1 signal. "Pass-through" means that the TV would need circuits to keep the 5.1 and spit it out the same way.
Dan...
by hyghwayman - 1/5/08 6:43 PM In reply to: Interesting.... by Dan FiliceI have the Sony KD-34XBR970 and receive all my programming via OTA. It will pass-thru the 5.1 signal to my Pioneer VSX-816k via Coaxial Audio Digital Output, when watching a digital channel w/ 5.1SS. Annalog channels out put 2 channel sterio.
hyghwayman
Also Dan..
by hyghwayman - 1/5/08 6:50 PM In reply to: Dan... by hyghwaymanI forgot to include this bit of info...
My Xbox 360 hooked up to my Sony XBR970 via HDMI will not pass thru the 5.1SS info to my receiver via the Coaxial Audio Digital Output. Only 2 channel audio, that's why I run optical from my Xbox360 to my receiver.
hyghwayman
Same problem here
by bevo00 - 1/6/08 6:38 PM In reply to: Also Dan.. by hyghwaymanSame problem here...
I just purchased a new Panasanic 50" plasma (TH-50PZ700U) and used HDMI to connect a PS3 and HDCable box. I then used the Digital Audio out on the TV and connected that to my AV receiver. The AV receiver shows only a 2CH audio. When I connect the DA cable directly to either the PS3 or the HDCable box, the AV receiver shows 5.1 audio.
Found in the TV manual...
"When audio from other equipment connected to this unit via HDMI is output using "DIGITAL AUDIO OUT" of this unit, the system switches to 2CH audio. (Connect to AV amp via HDMI for higher sound quality)"
Solution:
Run an HDMI out from the TV and into the AV receiver.
My problem:
My AV receiver does not have HDMI terminal and my TV have only 2 HMDI terminals.
My solution:
I added a HDMI switch but the TV rejected the signals for unknown reason.
My dilema.
If I still with this setup, the system is limited to only two HDMI sources and two DIGITAL AUDIO sources. I plan to return the tv for one with more HDMI terminals and a 5.1 DA output .
the solution is staring right at you
by jostenmeat - 1/6/08 8:07 PM In reply to: Same problem here by bevo00use that "DA" cable! just buy one more, say from Monoprice for a few bux.
run both hdmi direct to tv.
run digital audio from each source to the receiver.
piece of cake.
did the hdmi switch reject all signals including PS3?
Look at cable box
by supportlife - 1/5/08 8:41 AM In reply to: No Dolby 5.1 from HDTV Audio Outputs ? by jmachoYour cable box should have an optical audio out, connect from here to your receiver optical in to get 5.1 audio...i have a bose set up and it works fine with my samsung lnt3253h....if you can return your lcd and get a samsung, aqueous or phillips....
I agree - reviews should note digital audio passthrough
by teamtempest - 8/30/08 9:24 AM In reply to: No Dolby 5.1 from HDTV Audio Outputs ? by jmacho... or its absence.
Most of the replies so far seem beside the point to me. Of course the audio output of each individual HD source can be plugged into a multi-channel receiver, provided there are enough inputs of the right type. So what? I'm too cheap to buy a high-buck receiver that can do video switching as well. Which means that to switch sources requires switching inputs on more than one device. What an unnecessary pain that is.
What I want is to plug everything, video and audio, into an HDTV and use it as the central switching device.
In my own case I currently have an old Samsung HD monitor (a CRT!). It has no digital audio out at all, but it does have stereo audio out that is always live. So no matter which input source I'm using (over-the-air STB, DVD, VCR) the associated audio is piped to my old stereo system without my having to bother with anything else (this is what I mean by "central switching device").
That's not helpful for digital audio, but I know it's possible. My brother has a Phillips plasma HDTV with a digital audio in as well as digital audio out. When I hooked it up for him I connected a Toshiba DVD/VCR combo box to the digital audio in and an Onkyo 5.1 receiver to the digial audio out. The Onkyo auto-switches to match whatever it senses coming from the HDTV - real 5.1 from DVD or ATSC tuner when available, otherwise it usually tries to synthesize 5.1 from a stereo source (DVD, tuner or VCR). So simply switching the input source of the Phillips causes the Onkyo to automatically follow as best it can.
At the time I did not realize how rare the digital audio in and passthrough of the Phillips was. It simply seemed like the perfectly obvious extension of stereo passthrough, and not really unexpected as it was several years newer than my Samsung monitor.
I would like to upgrade to a larger LCD HDTV, but the lack of digital audio passthrough on almost every available HDTV is a deal-breaker for me. I can live with what I've got until what I want is something manufacturers will provide (which they obviously can, but for the most part don't).
besides the point?
by jostenmeat - 8/30/08 11:12 AM In reply to: I agree - reviews should note digital audio passthrough by teamtempestI actually found them to be quite salient. At least pertinent to the OP.
Most tv's will pipe out audio as you want it. the only issue with most of us, and not with you, is that its 2 ch only.
so i think you should be fine in many cases.
one problem with the tv being your central switching device is that you need to turn on the display just to listen to a cd. not smart.
it is only in your personal "opinion" that the Onkyo tries to follow as best it can. id personally want stereo as stereo.
you know that the essence of your complaining could be solved if you weren't so lazy to additionally pick up the remote and click a single button.
you could instead by a universal remote, but you are too cheap, and im afraid too lazy to program it.
do you complain that your seat belts don't automatically buckle for you? that's even more work if you ask me.
I'm not only lazy and cheap but quite stupid as well
by teamtempest - 9/1/08 10:03 AM In reply to: besides the point? by jostenmeatHow terribly kind of you to provide unassailable "facts" as opposed to my mere "opinions". Your sincere concern for my many deficiencies is very touching and deeply appreciated.
Your point apparently regarding not being able to play a CD in a DVD player without also turning on the TV, if the TV is used as the central switching device, is of course quite true. I humbly regret that I ever considered the possibility of not playing my CD's in my DVD player, which is the way God intended it to be from the moment of the creation of the universe. I have indeed been sinful as well as stupid. I pray for the merciful forgiveness I clearly do not deserve.
It is my misfortune that my limited mental capacity makes it impossible for me to even purchase a universal remote, let alone begin to understand how to program one. I couldn't recognize the button marked "open/close" the DVD tray on one of these magical devices if it was, well, marked.
For this I blame my parents and their pitiful genetic endowment to me. Unless perhaps it derives from repeatedly banging my head into the wall over trying and failing to understand why I must acquire more and more expensive gadgets to make easy what should have been easy in the first place.
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