Skip to main content
No1Miller
Avid Contributor I
Jan 10, 2017 8:07 AM UTC
Question

Playbar & Sub With Sky HD Setup

I have a Playbar & Sub with Samsung Tv (it doesn't pass through digital audio) connected to the Playbar optical input. Sky HD, Bluray DVD and Apple TV all connected to the TV by HDMI's.

All Audio In received by the Playbar is Stereo but I'm looking to get the best audio possible and aiming for DD 5.1 assuming that will improve the audio quality for my set up? I'm not looking to add Play 1's as rear speakers at least not in the foreseeable.

I've played around with the digital optical plugging Sky directly into the Playbar and get differing results depending on the audio format of the programme being broadcast. In cases where DD 5.1 is received by the Playbar all is good, however, when Stereo or DD 2.0 is received the audio is out of sync with the TV.

I have ordered a dual optical in switch with single out to connect the TV and Sky to the Playbar but given the syncing issues I wonder whether it's worth it and indeed whether the audio will be noticeably improved for my current set up.

Any advice you could offer would be very much appreciated.
    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.

    26 replies

    Greg_M12
    Avid Contributor I
    Jan 10, 2017 8:45 AM UTC
    Hi No1Miller,

    That pretty much exactly mirrors my setup (Samsung TV, Playbar, Sub, Sky HD, Apple TV, PS4) and for me the optical switch has solved any issues I had and allows quick and easy selection of optical audio sources with no sync issues (that I can notice).

    I would go ahead with the optical switch and make any adjustments for sync issues when everything is connected.

    Cheers
    Greg
    Translate
      No1MillerAuthor
      Avid Contributor I
      Jan 10, 2017 9:16 AM UTC
      Hi Greg

      I've thanks for the reply. I've also got Apple TV & Bluray DVD attached but 90% of the time watch content from Sky so I want to concentrate on getting that sorted.

      As a test I attached the optical out from a Sky direct to the Playbar with HDMI to the TV. With DD5.1 content everything worked perfectly but with lower quality feeds audio and video are out of sync. I don't want to have to continually adjust syncing depending on content quality so unless I can find a permanent fix for all I'm thinking I might have to stick with stereo audio and the tv optical direct to the Playbar.

      Obviously will give the optical switch a go but I'm not hopeful.

      Any ideas?

      Cheers
      David
      Translate
      ratty
      ratty
      Jan 10, 2017 9:48 AM UTC
      The Sky box could be responsible for the difference in latency between 5.1 and 2.0 from its optical out. In my experience PLAYBAR's latency doesn't change significantly with source.

      It must be a substantial difference for you to notice though. It's pretty hard to discern a change of 20ms.

      If the Sky box is that variable, one solution might be to use an HDMI switcher with built in audio extractor, instead of an optical switch. All HDMIs would go to the switch, with a single feed to the TV. An optical from the switch then goes to the PLAYBAR.
      Translate
        No1MillerAuthor
        Avid Contributor I
        Jan 10, 2017 10:11 AM UTC
        Hi Ratty
        Thanks for the reply but the tv doesn't pass through digital sound so I'm guessing the HDMI suggestion probably wouldn't work for my set up?

        I'm thinking I may have missed an obvious solution :-

        Optical from Tv & Sky to Optical Switch to Playbar then if there's a sync issue on certain content from Sky I switch to TV on the Optical Switch. Does that sound plausible?

        Thanks

        David
        Translate
        ratty
        ratty
        Jan 10, 2017 10:22 AM UTC
        the tv doesn't pass through digital sound so I'm guessing the HDMI suggestion probably wouldn't work for my set up?
        My suggestion was that you extract the audio from the HDMI before the TV. If you also play in-TV sources -- its tuner or apps -- you'd still need an optical from the TV as well.

        If your TV has ARC (Audio Return Channel) on the HDMI you could use that instead, for both in-TV and extra-TV sources (Sky etc.).

        Optical from Tv & Sky to Optical Switch to Playbar then if there's a sync issue on certain content from Sky I switch to TV on the Optical Switch. Does that sound plausible?

        That could also work. You'll want to keep the PLAYBAR's lip-sync adjustment at minimum (the default), and dial up a bit of delay in the Sky box to suit your taste.
        Translate
          Stuart_W
          Stuart_W
          World-Class Superstar
          Jan 10, 2017 10:23 AM UTC
          No1Miller

          ratty's suggestion is fine - that is exactly what I do - Obviously if you collect all your input sources into an HDMI switcher and output the audio directly into the Playbar from the switcher then what the TV does to audio pass through becomes irrelevant.

          I also get some issues with lip sync that I notice between TV audio sources (My Samsung Will pass DD5.1 via ARC to the HDMI switcher) and my satellite PVR (Which is basically the equivalent of your SKY box) - I find I have to change the audio sync on my Sonos Playbar and also on the PVR
          Translate
          Arc + Sub (Gen 1) + 2 x Play 1/ Stereo Play 3s/ Era 100 Stereo in Kitchen, One Stereo in Bedroom, Play 1 stereo pair in Study, Play 1in Bathroom, Sonos Move 2
          ratty
          ratty
          Jan 10, 2017 10:26 AM UTC
          There is another option for the delay-sensitive: an S/PDIF switch with per-input delay settings. I use the Felston DD740. However they're not cheap.
          Translate
            No1MillerAuthor
            Avid Contributor I
            Jan 10, 2017 10:31 AM UTC
            Hi Stuart, Ratty,

            Thanks for the explanation...every day's a school day :-)

            You given me a few options there so I'll stick with it and see how it goes with the optical switch (seeing as it's just been delivered) and if that doesn't work try a few more suggestions.

            I'll get back to you if I get stuck...which I probably will!

            Ta
            David
            Translate
            Freewheelin Jack
            Avid Contributor I
            Jan 10, 2017 1:36 PM UTC
            After trying several options, I've ended up with a One For All SV 1620 HDMI switch (http://www.oneforall.co.uk/accessories/signal-distribution/smart-hdmi-switch.html) and a Neet audio extractor (https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00H8T1DJ8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_2pnDybAD0D949) which sits between the TV and the switch and is then connected to the Playbar.

            As long as all your devices support CEC the SV 1620 seamlessly switches between them (no UHD/4K support though). Other switches I tried either didn't auto-switch or did but also auto-powered off and sometimes didn't wake up.

            Now I have no lip sync issues on any source (Humax Freeview box and Apple TV) and full 5.1 when it is available.
            Translate
            No1MillerAuthor
            Avid Contributor I
            Jan 10, 2017 1:53 PM UTC
            Thanks for that Jack. That gives me another option. I was on the verge of packing in and accepting lesser quality audio but I'll preserve now. I can't watch TV out of sync though it's more than a tad irritating!

            Ta
            David
            Translate
              Show more replies
              Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement