I have a Playbar, and a Samsung TV that won't pass through 5.1 from its optical out if the input is HDMI. Our Motorola cable box is connected to our TV using HDMI, and I want to get the 5.1 when I watch TV.
I've looked through the questions and answers posted here and elsewhere, and it seems like some people have used an HDMI switch from Monoprice with an optical out to get around this problem. The suggestion is to connect the HDMI source to the HDMI switch, and the HDMI switch sends out the full 5.1 audio through the optical out and into the Playbar. (I'll call this the "HDMI switch" approach.)
The other approach is to connect the cable box's optical out directly to the Playbar. (I'll call this the "cable box direct" approach.) This works, but I don't like this approach because we leave our cable box on at all times, and when we turn off the TV, the Playbar still plays audio from the cable box, as the Playbar has no idea that the TV's been turned off. It's an inconvenience that I don't want to have to deal with.
Note that with either approach, there is no physical connection from the TV to the Playbar.
Having said all that, the main issue for me is that we use the TV's built-in Netflix and Amazon Video apps. If I went with the HDMI switch approach, then, when we watch Netflix, there will be no audio sent to the Playbar.
I looked into HDMI switches and ARC (using ARC to send the Netflix audio back to the HDMI switch, then out to the optical out), but this doesn't seem like it's been tested.
I also thought about using an optical out switch, where I could switch between optical out sources. However, to do this, I would have to get an HDMI switch with optical out, then connect that optical output into the optical out switch, then to the Playbar. That seems like a lot of work/money/effort.
Any suggestions?
Samsung TV won't pass through 5.1 on optical out if input is HDMI, need suggestions
Userlevel 1
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I also Have the Samsung UN55HU8550 4K. and cannot get the 5.1 sound . Can anyone tell me if the Samsung one connect 2500U will satisfy the need for a HDMI switch in order to get the 5.1 signal. Samsung Tech support is not the greatest and more scripted.
Thanks
Al
Thanks
Al
I use the same monoprice device to get 5.1 to passthrough to my soundbar. Weird thing happened though: with all my devices (ps4, wii u, dish receiver) plugged into the monoprice box, and the box plugged in to the tv with hdmi, I unplugged the toslink that was connected from the monoprice box to the playbar and instead had it plugged in from the playbar straight to the tv, and I was still getting DD 5.1. How did that happen?? I thought I Didn't need the monoprice box after all but when I plugged in all my devices straight to the tv and kept the toslink running from the tv to the playbar, I lost the dd 5.1 signal.
An update - I got everything to work as I wanted.
I got this switch from Monoprice - http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=101&cp_id=10110&cs_id=1011002&p_id=7974 - and set it up like this:
- HDMI from cable box into Monoprice switch
- HDMI from TV into Monoprice switch (the ARC HDMI slot - this is important)
- Optical from Monoprice switch to PlayBar
At first, I wasn't getting 5.1 sound to the PlayBar with this setup. I read the manual that came with the switch, and changed the jumper setting to pull/push 5.1 no matter what (Mode 2), and that solved the issue. The jumpers are on the back (there are three switches).
Now, when I watch TV, I have 5.1 sound. And, when I watch Netflix through the Netflix app on the TV, I have 5.1 sound then as well.
I did have some issues with the HDMI-CEC Support between the TV and the switch and trying to get that to work. When I turned off the TV, the CEC commands would turn off the switch fine, but it wouldn't turn the switch back on when the TV was turned on. Ultimately, I ended up turning CEC off on the TV. Now the switch is on 24/7, but I have it tucked behind the TV, so it's not a big deal for me.
Hope this helps someone.
-Matt
Ohh then i misunderstood the problem. Well with HDMI connected, the Xbox One and Apple TV works with 5.1.
These are the instructions i followed to make that happen for the xbox one:
https://sonos.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2490/
My Xbox One does my Live TV (Happauge 955Q), Plex Front End, Bluray player, and my Netflix Machine (Planning to use the Samsung Tizen one if it gets fixed)
Userlevel 1
An update - I got everything to work as I wanted.
I got this switch from Monoprice - http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=101&cp_id=10110&cs_id=1011002&p_id=7974 - and set it up like this:
- HDMI from cable box into Monoprice switch
- HDMI from TV into Monoprice switch (the ARC HDMI slot - this is important)
- Optical from Monoprice switch to PlayBar
At first, I wasn't getting 5.1 sound to the PlayBar with this setup. I read the manual that came with the switch, and changed the jumper setting to pull/push 5.1 no matter what (Mode 2), and that solved the issue. The jumpers are on the back (there are three switches).
Now, when I watch TV, I have 5.1 sound. And, when I watch Netflix through the Netflix app on the TV, I have 5.1 sound then as well.
I did have some issues with the HDMI-CEC Support between the TV and the switch and trying to get that to work. When I turned off the TV, the CEC commands would turn off the switch fine, but it wouldn't turn the switch back on when the TV was turned on. Ultimately, I ended up turning CEC off on the TV. Now the switch is on 24/7, but I have it tucked behind the TV, so it's not a big deal for me.
Hope this helps someone.
-Matt
Even slightly older Samsung TVs will do 5.1 out. That's not the issue. Also, it's not necessarily an "old vs new" Samsung issue.
The problem that some of us have is that the TV will not output 5.1 -IF- the input source (cable box, DVD player, etc.) is connected via HDMI.
What is this "sonos suggestion" you mentioned?
Userlevel 1
An update - I got everything to work as I wanted.
I got this switch from Monoprice - http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=101&cp_id=10110&cs_id=1011002&p_id=7974 - and set it up like this:
- HDMI from cable box into Monoprice switch
- HDMI from TV into Monoprice switch (the ARC HDMI slot - this is important)
- Optical from Monoprice switch to PlayBar
At first, I wasn't getting 5.1 sound to the PlayBar with this setup. I read the manual that came with the switch, and changed the jumper setting to pull/push 5.1 no matter what (Mode 2), and that solved the issue. The jumpers are on the back (there are three switches).
Now, when I watch TV, I have 5.1 sound. And, when I watch Netflix through the Netflix app on the TV, I have 5.1 sound then as well.
I did have some issues with the HDMI-CEC Support between the TV and the switch and trying to get that to work. When I turned off the TV, the CEC commands would turn off the switch fine, but it wouldn't turn the switch back on when the TV was turned on. Ultimately, I ended up turning CEC off on the TV. Now the switch is on 24/7, but I have it tucked behind the TV, so it's not a big deal for me.
Hope this helps someone.
-Matt
I don't recall having to do anything on the TV side. Though, our TVs are different, so YMMV. Now that it's set up and working, it sounds pretty good.
Do you have the SUB? For me, adding the SUB made a pretty noticeable (positive) difference, for both TV watching and for music.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Userlevel 2
An update - I got everything to work as I wanted.
I got this switch from Monoprice - http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=101&cp_id=10110&cs_id=1011002&p_id=7974 - and set it up like this:
- HDMI from cable box into Monoprice switch
- HDMI from TV into Monoprice switch (the ARC HDMI slot - this is important)
- Optical from Monoprice switch to PlayBar
At first, I wasn't getting 5.1 sound to the PlayBar with this setup. I read the manual that came with the switch, and changed the jumper setting to pull/push 5.1 no matter what (Mode 2), and that solved the issue. The jumpers are on the back (there are three switches).
Now, when I watch TV, I have 5.1 sound. And, when I watch Netflix through the Netflix app on the TV, I have 5.1 sound then as well.
I did have some issues with the HDMI-CEC Support between the TV and the switch and trying to get that to work. When I turned off the TV, the CEC commands would turn off the switch fine, but it wouldn't turn the switch back on when the TV was turned on. Ultimately, I ended up turning CEC off on the TV. Now the switch is on 24/7, but I have it tucked behind the TV, so it's not a big deal for me.
Hope this helps someone.
-Matt
Thanks Matt!!! I am just about to put together bascially the exact same system you have. Did you have to switch your TV settings around to output DD 5.1? I have a samsung hu8550 4k and just wanted to check with you. How does the 5.1 sound now that you got it going? Again, thanks for the update!
Userlevel 1
Hi everyone,
An update - I got everything to work as I wanted.
I got this switch from Monoprice - http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=101&cp_id=10110&cs_id=1011002&p_id=7974 - and set it up like this:
- HDMI from cable box into Monoprice switch
- HDMI from TV into Monoprice switch (the ARC HDMI slot - this is important)
- Optical from Monoprice switch to PlayBar
At first, I wasn't getting 5.1 sound to the PlayBar with this setup. I read the manual that came with the switch, and changed the jumper setting to pull/push 5.1 no matter what (Mode 2), and that solved the issue. The jumpers are on the back (there are three switches).
Now, when I watch TV, I have 5.1 sound. And, when I watch Netflix through the Netflix app on the TV, I have 5.1 sound then as well.
I did have some issues with the HDMI-CEC Support between the TV and the switch and trying to get that to work. When I turned off the TV, the CEC commands would turn off the switch fine, but it wouldn't turn the switch back on when the TV was turned on. Ultimately, I ended up turning CEC off on the TV. Now the switch is on 24/7, but I have it tucked behind the TV, so it's not a big deal for me.
Hope this helps someone.
-Matt
An update - I got everything to work as I wanted.
I got this switch from Monoprice - http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=101&cp_id=10110&cs_id=1011002&p_id=7974 - and set it up like this:
- HDMI from cable box into Monoprice switch
- HDMI from TV into Monoprice switch (the ARC HDMI slot - this is important)
- Optical from Monoprice switch to PlayBar
At first, I wasn't getting 5.1 sound to the PlayBar with this setup. I read the manual that came with the switch, and changed the jumper setting to pull/push 5.1 no matter what (Mode 2), and that solved the issue. The jumpers are on the back (there are three switches).
Now, when I watch TV, I have 5.1 sound. And, when I watch Netflix through the Netflix app on the TV, I have 5.1 sound then as well.
I did have some issues with the HDMI-CEC Support between the TV and the switch and trying to get that to work. When I turned off the TV, the CEC commands would turn off the switch fine, but it wouldn't turn the switch back on when the TV was turned on. Ultimately, I ended up turning CEC off on the TV. Now the switch is on 24/7, but I have it tucked behind the TV, so it's not a big deal for me.
Hope this helps someone.
-Matt
Userlevel 1
Thanks. I was hoping for a solution that wouldn't cost $249. I'm going to try a comparable switch from Monoprice. Hopefully that does it.
http://www.octavainc.com/HDMI%20switch%204port_toslink.htm#HDMIswitchtoslinkzoom
The visual representation of what Chris mentioned above.
http://www.octavainc.com/image/HDMI%20switch%204x1%20ARC/4x1-HDMI-switch+ARC-diagram.jpg
Userlevel 7
+22
also this octava will switch HDMI and toslink so you could run toslink from your TV to the switch.
http://www.octavainc.com/HDMI%20switch%204port_toslink.htm#HDMIswitchtoslinkzoom
http://www.octavainc.com/HDMI%20switch%204port_toslink.htm#HDMIswitchtoslinkzoom
Userlevel 7
+22
In the review for this monoprice switch http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=101&cp_id=10110&cs_id=1011002&p_id=7974&seq=1&...
the poster said he got this for the same reason as you as he had the ARC from his TV back to this box to output to his soundbar.
the poster said he got this for the same reason as you as he had the ARC from his TV back to this box to output to his soundbar.
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