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pankaj100887
Contributor I
July 16, 2019
Question

APPLE TV 4k with playbase

Here is the issue in point wise manner:

1:I recently bought sonos playbase, which have only optical audio input.

2: But my TV has regular 02 HDMI and 01 HDMI ARC ports (I don’t want other audio outputs to use be cause of poor audio output quality) and TV has no optical output.

3: I watch content on my TV using Apple TV 4K , which has only single HDMI port as output.

NOTE: I don’t want to use AIR PLAY for SONOS due to audio lag issues.

MY CONCERNS:

1: If I choose a HDMI audio video splitter will it affect my Apple TV video quality.

2: If I choose the splitter should I use it take input from apple TV and then put HDMI output from Splitter to TV and Optical out put to SONOS playbase.

OR

3: I should use Splitter at HDMI ARC as input to splitter and optical out put from splitter to SONOS playbase.

What difference will it make between choosing Option 2 and 3 (of My concerns). Please suggest some good quality splitter also.

SPECIAL MENTION:
I learned that SONOS beam comes with “Sonos Optical Audio Adapter”
to take optical in from TV and provide HDMI ARC at other end to connect to SONOS beam.
I want to ask that if I can use this cable for reverse use like taking HDMI ARC input at one end of this “Sonos Optical Audio Adapter” and plugging other end to SONOS play base.


Regards
Pankaj Kumar
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    22 replies

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    pankaj100887Author
    Contributor I
    July 17, 2019
    Dolby Digital is a compressed data stream, and the optical S/PDIF interface can carry the compressed 5.1 signal. I think you should have received an optical cable with the Playbase in the box the base came in.

    You may need to set the TV to output DD rather than DTS. The Playbase will not do any conversion: it ONLY accepts a DD input (or stereo/PCM).

    When a DD signal is being sent to the Playbase, fire up your app and go to Settings, About my Sonos System

    There, you'll see info about your system, and in the Playbase section it will include "Audio In: xxxx" If a DD 5.1 signal is being sent to the Playbase, this will confirm it. Or it'll say a stereo, or whatever, signal is being received.


    my tv modal is: Mi LED TV 4 PRO 55

    Socket

    USB：2.0 x 2
    HDMI：3（1 contain ARC）
    AV：1
    Ethernet：1
    S/PDIF out：1
    WIFI： 2.4GHz/5GHz, 802.11 a/b/g/n
    Bluetooth：BT 4.2

    Decoder
    Video decoder
    MPEG1/2/4，REAL，H.264
    Audio decoder
    DOLBY AUDIO, DTS
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    pankaj100887Author
    Contributor I
    July 17, 2019
    pankaj100887,

    Just to add to nik9669a's correct comments, that you need to select just “Dolby Digital” output for the TV's S/PDIF's optical port and not “Dolby Digital Plus”, which the TV also supports, I believe.

    Just thought it worth clarifying that matter as the DD Plus codec is not currently supported by Sonos.

    my tv modal is: Mi LED TV 4 PRO 55

    Socket

    USB：2.0 x 2
    HDMI：3（1 contain ARC）
    AV：1
    Ethernet：1
    S/PDIF out：1
    WIFI： 2.4GHz/5GHz, 802.11 a/b/g/n
    Bluetooth：BT 4.2

    Decoder
    Video decoder
    MPEG1/2/4，REAL，H.264
    Audio decoder
    DOLBY AUDIO, DTS
    Translate
    nik9669a
    Senior Virtuoso
    July 17, 2019
    I'm not sure why you keep giving us that information.

    It says the TV has an S/PDIF output, and it says it supports DOLBY AUDIO, which comes in several varieties.

    You need to set the TV so it outputs a DD signal on the S/PDIF channel, and link the S/PDIF optical output of the TV to the optical input of the Playbase using an optical cable.

    Then get a DD signal playing out of the TV (from a DVD player, perhaps, or a High Definition DD TV channel?) and check the correct signal reaches the Playbase.
    Translate
    AjTrek1
    AjTrek1
    July 17, 2019
    Hi pankaj100887

    Thanks for sending the link to your TV specs. I see that you do not have an optical out on your TV in the conventional sense. However, you can send a signal via S/PDIF to the Playbase with the correct interface.

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    Together Everyone Achieves More = T.E.A.M.
    nik9669a
    Senior Virtuoso
    July 17, 2019
    If so, why did the OP say it was optical when asked?

    But if not, thanks!
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    AjTrek1
    AjTrek1
    July 17, 2019
    If so, why did the OP say it was optical when asked?

    But if not, thanks!

    I believe the OP may have not realized the subtle difference. In fact s/he was not entirely off base. Just took a little digging to determine what was actually available as a connection point. Asking the right question is 99% of what is required in most instances. There’s always the possibility that I may still be wrong in my assumption. 🤔

    Cheers!
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    Together Everyone Achieves More = T.E.A.M.
    pankaj100887Author
    Contributor I
    July 17, 2019

    If so, why did the OP say it was optical when asked?

    But if not, thanks!
    I believe the OP may have not realized the subtle difference. In fact s/he was not entirely off base. Just took a little digging to determine what was actually available as a connection point. Asking the right question is 99% of what is required in most instances. There’s always the possibility that I may still be wrong in my assumption. 🤔

    Cheers!

    sorry to bother u guys , i appreciate ur support.... i understand how sometime missing information can lead to confusion...hence i am attaching the actual pic of my TV audio outputs along with sonos supplied Optical cable. hope this will clear all doubts.


    just look at it ,is it Mini-TosLink or Coaxial.
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    pankaj100887Author
    Contributor I
    July 17, 2019
    I'm not sure why you keep giving us that information.

    It says the TV has an S/PDIF output, and it says it supports DOLBY AUDIO, which comes in several varieties.

    You need to set the TV so it outputs a DD signal on the S/PDIF channel, and link the S/PDIF optical output of the TV to the optical input of the Playbase using an optical cable.

    Then get a DD signal playing out of the TV (from a DVD player, perhaps, or a High Definition DD TV channel?) and check the correct signal reaches the Playbase.



    sorry to bother u guys , i appreciate ur support.... i understand how sometime missing information can lead to confusion...hence i am attaching the actual pic of my TV audio outputs along with sonos supplied Optical cable. hope this will clear all doubts.
    [img]https://uploads-eu-west-1.insided.com/sonos-en/attachment/bb0b6efd-6cce-43b9-aa22-affb8a0a633e.jpg[/img]

    just look at it ,is it Mini-TosLink or Coaxial.
    Translate
    Airgetlam
    Airgetlam
    July 17, 2019
    That's a coax output. You'd need to get an adapter to change from electrical output to optical. I'd think perhaps one may have come with the TV, otherwise you can probably pick up one from Amazon.

    Something along these lines:

    https://www.amazon.com/C2G-40018-Coaxial-Converter-Compliant/dp/B0002J2MV4

    Note that this was a 3 second search, I'm not recommending this device, it's just an example. You'd need to figure out which one serves your budget best, and from a location that suits you, if Amazon isn't it.

    I believe that Flexson makes one of these as well, and they appear to be Sonos oriented. I've got several of their speaker stands, and while they're not electronic devices, I've been pleased with the engineering standards of the company.
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    Bruce
      AjTrek1
      AjTrek1
      July 17, 2019
      No need
      Translate
      Together Everyone Achieves More = T.E.A.M.
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