Contributor I

5.1 into just a playbar and sub, any difference

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Hi.
I am running a playbar and a sub, and obvisouly I cant get true 5.1 sound, but I was wondering if they receive a 5.1 input does it do some processing of the sound to try and emulate 5.1, or will it sound exactly the same as if it receives a stereo input?

Reason I ask is the sound quality is noticibly best when I watch netflix in 4k (and I can see that sonos is receiving a 5.1 signal), but maybe this is just because it is 4k?

When I used my Humax PVR or Xbox it only receives a stereo signal as it's passed through the TV and out to playbar, so never receives a 5.1 signal - but as I'm only using a playbar and sub would it sound any different it I could get it to output in 5.1?

Thanks

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AjTrek1

Here's a switch I use:

https://octavainc.com/hdmi-switch-hd41arc/
https://en.community.sonos.com/home-theater-228993/octava-swith-for-playbar-or-playbase-6768649

Click links for information:

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A

agh100Author

Contributor I

Yep I have a Panasonic so have the same problem.
Its only since I've got the xbox I've realised I've only ever had 2 channel stereo from the humax box!
So TV will send 5.1 to the switch via hdmi, but it won't a signal received in 5.1 via hdmi out as optical? Mad!
Switch it is then!

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J

John B

I used to use an optical switch (TV, STB and DVD player optical outs to switch, optical switch to Playbar) . Try running optical from the Humax (if it has optical) direct to the Playbar). DD5.1 source should play as 5.1.

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A

agh100Author

Contributor I

Yeah optical switch would work but not sure if that's better than a hdmi switch with optical output?

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J

John B

I can't see any reason for there to be a difference in quality. One possible problem with optical switch is that Blu-Rays (if that's relevant for you) often don't have a DD5.1, just DTS - so silence from Playbar. Routing via TV then does give you sound, albeit only stereo.

The final piece of my jigsaw was a Samsung BR player that transcoded DTS to DD5.1 on the fly.

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A

agh100Author

Contributor I

Well if I do occasionally play a blu Ray it would be played on the xbox, so not sure if that would be an issue..
Thanks!

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agh100Author

Contributor I

Would this switch do the job?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/EkoBuy®-UPGRADED-Control-Optical-Switcher-Black/dp/B0727QF9KH/ref=as_li_ss_tl?tag=comparaboo09a-21&ascsubtag=525396120-311-&SubscriptionId=AKIAJO7E5OLQ67NVPFZA

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A

agh100Author

Contributor I

Or this one?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/HEJSANG-Switcher-Splitter-Extractor-function-black/dp/B072QW26KH/ref=as_li_ss_tl?tag=comparaboo09a-21&ascsubtag=502050107-311-&SubscriptionId=AKIAJO7E5OLQ67NVPFZA

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