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ChadB
ChadB
Trending Lyricist I
November 22, 2017
Question

Apple TV 4K + LG OLED55C7P + Playbar/etc. + Belkin Ultra High Speed HDMI Cables

So I recently invested in the LG OLED55C7P, which is gorgeous. I can now run my individual HDMI sources (Cable, Apple TV 4K, Xbox One 😵 to the TV, and audio out through optical to the playbar and beyond. All was good for video and sound - 5.1 for each source, and I didn't need a splitter (I used the Octava before, with my old TV).

In reading about Dolby Vision, etc., I saw that Apple recommended the Belkin Ultra High Speed HDMI cable. I saw conflicting opinions, but I wanted to use the best that I could, so I bought the cable and stuck it between the Apple TV and the TV. Boom - I started getting the 'Unsupported Audio' error in Sonos. I recycled power for everything, tweaked the TV audio output settings, tweaked the Apple TV audio output settings, and no luck. So, I swapped the good old HDMI cable back in, and life is fine.

So my question is - does anyone have perspective on why this cable, which I'd assume would be backward compatible, would have issues? The TV (2017 model) can pass through Dolby Digital/DTS multichannel via Optical, and it works fine with the non-Belkin cable between the Apple TV and it. I'm still getting Dolby Vision via the Apple TV with the old cable, so I don't seem to have lost anything, but it didn't make sense to me, so I figured I'd ask the experts!

Thanks in advance for any thoughts.
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    49 replies

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    marksawbo
    Trending Lyricist II
    November 26, 2017
    I have an optical splitter that works great. You can switch the optical in use by using an IR remote or Harmony Hub in my case.

    The HDMI audio extractors would grant me the Nvidia Shield optical audio. Problem is that one I have linked is not sold in the UK. The ones I have tried from UK store all fall short in one area or another. Either they don’t support full HDR or have issues splitting audio
    ChadB
    ChadBAuthor
    Trending Lyricist I
    November 26, 2017
    Ah, ok, gotcha. Mind sharing the optical splitter model?
    marksawbo
    Trending Lyricist II
    November 26, 2017
    Portta 4 Port 4x1 SPDIF/Toslink Digital Optical Audio Switch/Switcher with IR Remote https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A89OEUY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_UQIgAbQHE5DG4

    That’s the UK link. I’m sure you’ll find one on US store. Are you gonna try the J-Tech one I linked? Worth a go and just return as not working if it doesn’t.
    ChadB
    ChadBAuthor
    Trending Lyricist I
    November 26, 2017
    Nice - thank you, I'm going to give both a shot. I appreciate it.
    marksawbo
    Trending Lyricist II
    November 26, 2017
    No problem. Let me know. Likewise tomorrow when I get the cable.
    ChadB
    ChadBAuthor
    Trending Lyricist I
    November 26, 2017
    Will do. Order complete, should arrive Tuesday.
      marksawbo
      Trending Lyricist II
      November 26, 2017
      https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=24278

      Here’s another one which looks very similar to the jtech one you have ordered. Look at the review, seems promising.
      marksawbo
      Trending Lyricist II
      November 26, 2017
      Okay, so I got my Belkin Ultra High Speed cable plugged from the Nvidia Shield to the TV with the Optical then from the TV into the Sonos via the optical splitter. So far so good. Working as my original cable does but so far no drop outs...

      I will keep using it for tonight and tomorrow and see if I get a drop out. If I do, then we know it’s not a fix. If it turns out to be a fix for me and as someone on reddit said for him, I would be interested to see what’s going wrong on your side. But I will keep you posted.

      Regarding the HDMI audio extractors. Let me know if it works for you. Problem I have found is that my Nvidia Shield needs a specific HDMI setting which must be passed through said extractor.

      3840x2160, 59.940 Hz, YUV 420, 10-bit Rec. 2020

      I’m not sure if the HDMI extractor I linked you supports that. The second one from Monoprice definitely doesn’t. But as the J-tech one is similar looking, I expect the same. It may or may not be an issue for you but I’m unsure how the Apple TV has its HDMI setting.

      I did find another HDMI extractor from a UK website which claims it supports YUV 420 10-bit but no mention of 2020. Here is the link:

      https://www.lindy.co.uk/audio-video-c2/hdmi-2-0-18g-audio-extractor-embedder-p10050

      Will report back soon with updates.
      marksawbo
      Trending Lyricist II
      November 26, 2017
      Okay so it dropped out. Cable is 100% not a fix. HDMI audio extractors are the last hope.
      ChadB
      ChadBAuthor
      Trending Lyricist I
      November 26, 2017
      Ok - fingers crossed for you. I'll let you know how it goes with first extractor. Focusing on the picture today - spending the morning looking for a good calibration service also, I want someone to come out for a visit soon. Running the compensation cycle 'slides' at the moment.
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