Connecting everything to soundbar

wallofbeans

For reference -- the plan was to buy a PANASONIC 40EX700B TV and a PANASONIC SC-HTB488. Connecting already owned BT YouView+ Recorder and SONY BDP-S6500 Blu-Ray player to them.

[Deleted User]

wallofbeans wrote: »

For reference -- the plan was to buy a PANASONIC 40EX700B TV and a PANASONIC SC-HTB488. Connecting already owned BT YouView+ Recorder and SONY BDP-S6500 Blu-Ray player to them.

Since both the TV & soundbar support HDMI(ARC) I think you should use the TV as the hub with the soundbar connected via the HDMI(ARC) port. That should get you everything you want and make it very easy to use.

wallofbeans

Colin_Maybe wrote: »

Since both the TV & soundbar support HDMI(ARC) I think you should use the TV as the hub with the soundbar connected via the HDMI(ARC) port. That should get you everything you want and make it very easy to use.

I am worried about causing clashes or sync issues, and am happy to work it a different way if it will work more smoothly. I don't want a work around if it's going to potentially be problematic.

The soundbar has two inputs (HDMI and optical) so I'm only missing how to connect the third input.

I've been hearing about the idea of an HDMI switch (or even an optical version - as all the devices have optical out) and wonder if that will help this issue?

almillar

I assume it's more expensive (and probably too long for my 90cm width space) soundbars that have multiple HDMI ports.

I guess so - you're replacing a proper amplifier and 5+ speakers. Even a basic amp would have 2 HDMI inputs (plus an output) for around £150.
Can we agree that you need 2 HDMI in then, and have a look around? And what's the budget? Mush better to do this now, than when you get all the kit home!

Youview - sorry, yes, must have scanned past that! You've got an HDMI DVD player, and a Youview box.

I'm back to being baffled as to the helpfulness of 'Arc' then...

You're watching the TV, via the TV's own tuner. You can listen via the ARC going 'backwards' from the TV to the soundbar. Also applies to anything else you plug into the TV, but the limitation is that it is probably limited to stereo, not surround.

Not on my setup for sure. It's a Yamaha YAS-103 which doesn't even have HDMI inputs, connected to a Sony KDL-50W755C which passes through Stereo, Dolby Digital & DTS sound streams.

Obviously you may well be right about the OP's equipment as I don't know the specs.

I don't have any stats to back it up but I suspect that's a very sweeping generalisation that's probably incorrect.

Yes, I'm generalising since I have (had) no model numbers. For you specifically, you've got a non HDMI amp/sundbar. We're talking about HDMI kit, where HDMI is the best way to connect. I can only assume you're using optical?
And before we do actually disagree, I want to confirm that you actually get DD and DTS *5.1* streams. It could say DD, but could still be 2 channel.
I have experience of a handful of TVs, including ARC equipped ones, 100% of them do not support 5.1 and 0% pass through surround sound. It's an obvious omission, and an obvious thing to upgrade, so I would actually like to be proven wrong over time, but from my research over the years, I found 'very few' TV's that support it, so I'll stick by that.

PANASONIC 40EX700B
https://www.panasonic.com/uk/consumer/televisions/4K-LED-TV/tx-40ex700b.specs.html

Sony KDL-50W755C
https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/support/televisions-projectors-lcd-tvs-android-/kdl-50w755c/specifications

The spec sheet doesn't mention the number of channels - this is the problem, it's hard to find this info.

I think you should use the TV as the hub with the soundbar connected via the HDMI(ARC) port

I disagree, until OP can find out for sure that it won't be downmixed. Both these TVs are newer than anything I have though, so I'm genuinely interested to find out if the manufacturers have sorted it out.

System

wallofbeans wrote: »

I am worried about causing clashes or sync issues

You'd get those no matter what. I've had them when connecting with HDMI, optical cable and headphone socket. Sync issues are more down to image processing in the set top box and TV which is why even Sky boxes have an option to delay the sound in steps of 10ms up to 120ms.

Colin_Maybe wrote:

I don't have any stats to back it up but I suspect that's a very sweeping generalisation that's probably incorrect.

Sdly it isn't. Even my £2000 OLED TV didn't until it had a firmware update last year.

almillar

I've been hearing about the idea of an HDMI switch (or even an optical version - as all the devices have optical out) and wonder if that will help this issue?

This is the kind of rubbish workaround that we're trying to avoid - hold tight and we'll get the right device.
As far as I can see, you've got 2 devices to connect INTO the soundbar, and one to connect OUT OF the soundbar (the TV) - is that correct?

wallofbeans

almillar wrote: »

This is the kind of rubbish workaround that we're trying to avoid - hold tight and we'll get the right device.
As far as I can see, you've got 2 devices to connect INTO the soundbar, and one to connect OUT OF the soundbar (the TV) - is that correct?

Blu-ray player and Youview hard drive recorder, plus the TV itself, all need to get audio to the soundbar.

The soundbar has one HDMI and one optical socket.

I've had a browse of other soundbars and you have to go quite expensive to get more than one of each input, there are some with two and rarely anything with more. Why are these so low on connections? Surely there are people with a playstation etc to connect too.

wallofbeans

This perhaps answers some questions, not for the TV I'm looking to buy but others:

https://www.rtings.com/tv/tests/inputs/5-1-surround-audio-passthrough

[Deleted User]

wallofbeans wrote: »

Why are these so low on connections? Surely there are people with a playstation etc to connect too.

Which is why I'd always recommend using the TV as the hub with just the one connection to the soundbar.

wallofbeans wrote: »

This perhaps answers some questions, not for the TV I'm looking to buy but others:

https://www.rtings.com/tv/tests/inputs/5-1-surround-audio-passthrough

Nice find, although it's relatively limited in scope they're almost universally 5.1 pass-through capable.


@almillar, yes I'm using optical. Of course the Yamaha YAS soundbars are standalone with no separate sub-woofers (for the price they're excellent) and the soundbar the OP is interested in is only 2.1 so even if it didn't pass-through 5.1 I don't think it would make the slightest difference to them. I got the specs for my TV from the downloadable manual which states it's two channel linear PCM, Dolby Digital & DTS output.

wallofbeans

Colin_Maybe wrote: »

Which is why I'd always recommend using the TV as the hub with just the one connection to the soundbar.



Nice find, although it's relatively limited in scope they're almost universally 5.1 pass-through capable.


@almillar, yes I'm using optical. Of course the Yamaha YAS soundbars are standalone with no separate sub-woofers (for the price they're excellent) and the soundbar the OP is interested in is only 2.1 so even if it didn't pass-through 5.1 I don't think it would make the slightest difference to them. I got the specs for my TV from the downloadable manual which states it's two channel linear PCM, Dolby Digital & DTS output.

I'm open to other options on the soundbar front, the problem is I have a maximum width of just over 90cm so many are immediately out of the running.