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Arc connection to old TV

  • December 26, 2020
  • 9 replies
  • 1523 views
R
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Hi All,

 

I have just bought the Arc, Sub and two One’s for the surrounds. I am trying to connect to a old TV (I am saving for a new one next year with eArc). The TV is a Pioneer PDP-LX508D, so was planning on using the optical out into the Arc. 

 

However… it seems that:

 

"The Pioneer PDP-508D only has the capability to send audio from it's own internal tuner over optical and is incapable of carrying audio over from any external sources"

 

I don’t use any of the internal tuners - so there is no optical signal being sent from the TV for any of the inputs I use it for. :-(

 

Any ideas on how to get this working (that does not involve me buying a new TV now!)

 

Thanks. 

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9 replies

ratty
  • ratty
  • December 26, 2020

What external sources are you using? Do they have an optical (or even coax) digital output?

G

Based on that quote, I’m afraid you have no other option than to buy a new TV. Your TV is just too old and isn’t very compatible with the Sonos Arc. If you invested that much money into a 5.1.2 Sonos Arc home theater system, you might as well purchase a TV that can take full advantage of the Sonos Arc’s audio capabilities.

EDIT: Could an optical switch work?

"Receive with simplicity everything that happens to you." - Rashi
ratty
  • ratty
  • December 26, 2020

Nonsense. There are various options for bypassing a TV. 

R
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  • Rob_40
  • Author
  • Contributor II
  • December 26, 2020

I have been fiddling in the meantime.. my setup is:

 

Pioneer TV

Humax DVR (Youview) - We use this for watching TV & NetFlix connected to TV via HDMI

Nintendo Switch - connected to TV via HDMI

Blu Ray Player - connected to TV via HDMI

 

Now - it turns out the YouView box has a SPDIF (?) optical out, which does work with the Arc - but the TV also has speakers, so the sound comes out of both. Hence, to listen only to the Arc, I need to mute the TV. Then for using the other components, the TV speakers will need to take over. 

 

Not ideal - but might have to do in the meantime. 

 

Any thoughts?

G

Does the Nintendo Switch and Blu-ray player have optical out?

"Receive with simplicity everything that happens to you." - Rashi
R
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  • Rob_40
  • Author
  • Contributor II
  • December 26, 2020

Does the Nintendo Switch and Blu-ray player have optical out?

Nope - but even if they did, the Arc only has one input. 

G

Does the Nintendo Switch and Blu-ray player have optical out?

Nope - but even if they did, the Arc only has one input. 

If they were equipped with optical out, I was thinking you could get a 4x1 toslink optical switch. You would connect your three devices and TV to the four optical inputs on the switch and the Sonos Arc to the one optical out. The HDMI connections would remain connected to the TV for video. But this option won’t work without optical out from all of your devices.

"Receive with simplicity everything that happens to you." - Rashi
ratty
  • ratty
  • December 26, 2020

@Rob_40 

I suggest you get a combo HDMI switch and audio extractor. There are plenty available on Amazon. Search “hdmi switch audio extractor”.

Plug all your external sources into the switch. The HDMI output goes to just one input on the TV. The optical output from the switch/extractor goes to your Arc via the optical-HDMI dongle.

You may have to dial in a little bit of audio delay on the Arc via the room settings, so as to bring it into lipsync with the picture.

controlav
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  • controlav
  • Lead Maestro
  • December 27, 2020

@Rob_40

I suggest you get a combo HDMI switch and audio extractor. There are plenty available on Amazon. Search “hdmi switch audio extractor”.

Plug all your external sources into the switch. The HDMI output goes to just one input on the TV. The optical output from the switch/extractor goes to your Arc via the optical-HDMI dongle.

You may have to dial in a little bit of audio delay on the Arc via the room settings, so as to bring it into lipsync with the picture.


Good idea, but I don't think this will work for the Switch as it is so backward in terms of audio (only does LPCM). Some BR players also have limited options for down-converting to DD 5.1.

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