Home audio & video forum: surround sound

Thanks for explaining that dvds have a separate stereo sound track. All of the new TVs in my price range have pathetic little speakers that offend my ears and they don't have analog audio out jacks. This is what is so frustrating: I know the TVs decode any surround sound they see and mix it down to analog stereo to send to the two built-in speakers. That is the signal that I need to send to my stereo receiver. It may need to be impedence matched and/or have hazardous voltages removed and/or have its level adjusted, but that is the analog stereo signal that I need. And, as a bonus, its level is controlled by the TV remote control. The TV manufacturers will not let me have it. They apparently want me to throw away my current audio equipment and buy all new stuff, and they won't even provide the info I need to make intelligent decisions about what to buy.

Nope. Not for your purposes. A totally different discussion. That's only when you start delving into matching speakers to amplifiers or receivers. And even under those circumstances it's not that critical with very typical off the shelf parameters.

There *are* digital optical to analog RCA converters that some folks do use on newer HDTVs, but you may have to work a little to find the right one. I recall at least a thread of two here on this topic. (It may be as simple as a quick trip to Radio Shack though.) In any case, this converting device would allow you to not have to worry about the fact that most of the newer HDTVs (as you have discovered) no longer have analog audio outputs. At least you could potentially keep your current stereo/speaker combo that you are happy with. Maybe put that savings towards a better quality HDTV(!)

For reference, it would be something like the following (probably not the best quality out there):
http://www.amazon.com/SANOXY-Digital-Optical-Converter-Adapter/dp/B005DIRI6I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1343064733&sr=8-1&keywords=digital+optical+coax+to+analog+rca+audio+converter+adapter

I wanted to start from scratch, but maybe a recent events report will help. My state was going to start charging sales tax on Amazon purchases, so I ordered a TV from them before I could find the info I needed. I figured I could find the info and a solution while it was being shipped. I tried the new TV's built-in speakers and they were unacceptable. Then I bought this DAC http://www.ebay.com/itm/390412710811?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649 and it didn't work. Here is the user's manual for the TV http://service.us.panasonic.com/OPERMANPDF/E-HELP_E50.PDF Panasonic customer support couldn't tell me how to get the TV to work with the DAC. I tried a "sound bar". It worked, sort of, but it was unacceptable and overpriced. I sent it all back for refunds just before the refund deadline when I couldn't find a solution. I don't want this TV because of other problems, but as an example, what info do I need from the manual or the TV website in order to choose a DAC that will work? BTW, I did try Radio Shack and the clerk said they didn't sell anything that would have worked. Looking at the technical details for the DAC that you referenced, how do I tell if it will work with a particular TV?

But the lack of paragraphs meant I have to try very hard to see what your SPECIFICATIONS are. These are simple stereo things so no surround sound for you.
Bob

Also, look at 'audio output' on their spec breakdown chart. It states 'digital optical output'. That's where you connect the converter. The real issue is, did your correctly configure your HDTV to utilize this port to properly send audio out(?) As Bob & I have suggested, there's no 'formula' sometimes when using such converters. They either work as advertised, or they do not. Trial and error/patience is a must. Otherwise, you must find the needle in a haystack HDTV with analog outputs for your needs.

When you buy another converter, make certain to go into the TV settings and turn the TV speakers 'off', then hook up your toslink cable to the converter, then red/white to your stereo/AV receiver.

...sources did you try? The Panasonic manual also mentions copy protection preventing some content (certain DVDs) from being passes along via digital optical audio output.

Also, did you check the receiver Aux/ input as well?

Yes, the receiver input was a known good one.

if you are not using hdmi sometimes it is impossable to run surround sound even with a proper av. hdmi is the only way to get around the bandwith issues that sony and the other powers that be keep us down with. they lower the bit rate and frequency as well.

The TV I bought did not have a headphone jack, or I probably would have tried that. I have some doubts about using a headphone jack to connect to a receiver input (aka line in, aka aux input), though. I have tried it before and got noticeable distortion. I have a portable CD player with a headphone jack and a line out jack. When I accidentally plug my Bose table radio into the headphone jack, I get a garbled, distorted sound. I read somewhere that the distortion is caused by impedence mismatching between headphone jack circuitry and standard line in jack circuitry, but I don't completely understand all the details. What I learned from this is: only connect a line in jack to a line out jack, not a headphone jack.

Just set up a proper AV system (for modest cost) and be done with it(!)

My setups focus on movies/tv & surround content more than they does listening to music in stereo, like when I was younger and didn't have to share systems/spaces with the family .

That said, I am familiar with those monster Pioneers. My experience though is that they are much more capable if you mate them with an appropriate, better quality amp, especially class A. The whole 'super tweeter' functionality is a bit overblown as well, but that's a different discussion. ( I supposed it was marketing hype back in the day.) Most important point is that you would like to continue to us them, maybe with a new AV receiver (which you could precisely).

Nearly any new AV receiver (with surround options) will also permit you to only use two speakers and select stereo audio output. You could always add center/sub/rears later on if desired.

Truth be told, there are ways to hide speaker wires so you won't trip over the whole shebang, and could enjoy a surround audio track of a movie like you might in the theater. The stone age of wires all over the place was long ago .

That's what generally *needs* to be done since each room/AV system/speaker placement is a little different. Sometimes, it's the content which requires you to tweak the levels on your surround system.

You would benefit from spending some time over at a much more specialized forum such as AVS, where they will slice and dice these topics for you into oblivion if you like . Understand, Panasonic customer service does not get paid to help you research your system/needs. It's an unrealistic assumption that they would actually spend their work time to assist you. That's why forums are more helpful. Information to help users such as yourself.

Start here and register/post your questions regarding the DAC part:
http://www.avsforum.com/f/91/audio-theory-setup-and-chat

FWIW, they have a whole slew of FAQs here:
http://www.avsforum.com/t/824554/setting-up-your-home-theater-101

If I used a DAC, I would not be able to control the volume of the individual channels before they are mixed to stereo. The TV does not have a way to do it (at least not the one modern TV I have used) The DAC can't do it. And the stereo receiver definately can't do it. So, if I am watching a movie and the dialog is not loud enough, too bad. I was presuming that an AV receiver would have such an adjustment. I am still not sure about that. I have looked at the customer comments about various DACs and there seem to be too many problems not including compatibility issues. I am ruling them out.

I am talking about the volume of the center channel relative to the other channels. If you just turned up the volume on the receiver, it would turn up the volume on all the channels, and you still would not be able to hear what the actors were saying.
I spent a little more money this time to buy a less expensive TV and Sony STR-DH520 AV receiver. As you told me, it is able to mix surround sound down to stereo. Now the problem is that it doesn't have a way to adjust the equalization. Some music is recorded with too much bass or too much treble and I need a way to fix that in order to enjoy listening to it. That is why even the cheapest stereo receivers have always had controls for that. There were at least base and treble knobs on the front, sometimes a midrange knob, and some had graphic equalizers, and a loudness button to boost base and treble when the volume was turned down. This is a big step backwards and it is unacceptable. I looked at the Sony website for an AV receiver that has these controls and did not find one. I will look at other manufacturers now.
In setting up this TV, I found it has a way to select the type of signal that it puts out on the optical digital audio output. It can be surround sound or PCM (which I think must be stereo). The TV I bought before did not have such a selection so it must have only put out surround sound. The DAC I bought before could only decode PCM or LPCM. That must be why they did not work together. The less expensive DACs can only decode PCM or LPCM.