Skip to main content
trickyblue1878
Contributor I
May 21, 2020
Question

Correct setup for HDMI switch box

I’ve decided to buy a Digital Optical Audio Switcher 4x1 SPDIF Toslink Switch Box to sort my lip sync problems with the Beam. What is the correct setup? I have a BT TV box and an Apple TV.  Should the Beam be connected to the box as an input or output? Beam currently connects to HDMI (ARC) port on the TV. When using the box what connects to the ARC port on the TV? Thanks in advance for any help.

    This topic has been closed for further comments. You can use the search bar to find a similar topic, or create a new one by clicking Create Topic at the top of the page.

    20 replies

    Show previous replies
    John B
    May 22, 2020

    One problem you have here is that the Beam input isn’t HDMI it is HDMI-ARC.  I think your best route is a digital optical solution.  Run optical; out of Sky, BT and TV to an optical switch, with optical out connected to the adaptor supplied with the Beam, which then plugs into the Beam.

    I actually have an optical switch that is surplus to requirements and which you could have for a small donation to charity.  Can’t guarantee it will solve your problem but I think it will and it’s a trivial amount of money to try it.  PM me if you want to pursue that.

    If anyone has a better solution to this please contribute.  I think if an HDMI switch were used it will need to be able to take the TV audio from the HDMI-ARC feed and I am not sure if any do that?

    trickyblue1878Author
    Contributor I
    May 22, 2020

    It’s becoming a bit clearer now. So I run optical cables from both the BT box and the Apple TV into the inputs of the optical switch. Then from the output of the switch I run the optical cable (with adapter) into the Beam.

    So finally do the HDMI cables from the BT box and Apple TV go into the TV as before? And this way I don’t need to use the ARC port on the TV.

     

      John B
      May 22, 2020

      Yes, that is correct, except you also need the optical from the TV into the switch to pick up TV apps like Netflix.

        John B
        May 22, 2020

        I think this is the solution used by @MSterling  - see earlier post.

          MSterling
          Prodigy I
          May 22, 2020

          Here’s what I used for the audio inputs to the Beam.  J-Tech Digital Premium Quality SPDIF TOSLINK Digital Optical Audio 3x1 Switch with Remote Control (Three Inputs one Output) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HQ2R38C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_Zac5nUgSyHCSS
           

          I think you’re in UK so might have to see if they have this or something similar without import. 

          Michael
            trickyblue1878Author
            Contributor I
            May 31, 2020

            I’ve tried setting up my system as discussed previously i.e.

            3 optical inputs into switch (BT TV box, Apple TV, and Smart TV).

            1 optical output from the switch via the adapter to the Beam.

            BT TV box and Apple TV both also connected to TV by HDMI.

            However having done this I can’t get any sound through the Beam and the TV defaults to the ‘TV Speakers’ option.

            Any suggestions of what I could be doing wrong?

            John B
            May 31, 2020

            In your TV sound settings, have you selected to use an external speaker rather than the TVs own speakers?

            John B
            May 31, 2020

            And do you have the correct input selected on the switch for the source you are playing?

            trickyblue1878Author
            Contributor I
            May 31, 2020

            I’ve set the Smart TV to ‘Audio system’ rather ‘TV Speakers’

            Theres an option on the settings: Digital audio out, which gives 3 options but I’ve tried changing them to no avail.

            John B
            May 31, 2020

            What is the TV make and model?

            Can we try an experiment? Run the optical from the BT box to the Beam via the adaptor, bypassing the switch for the moment. Make sure BT box is set to output DD5.1 over optical. For the Beam please make sure TV is selected as the source. Play the BT box. 

            Please report back.

            Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement