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Soundscape1
Contributor I
December 21, 2024
Answered

Connecting the Playbase to a Projector 2024

I’ve been holding on to my Playbase since 2017 because I not only love the sound of it (it outperformed the Beam Gen 2 + Sub mini when I tested them side by side), but it was also a significant investment. However, I’ve run into a few problems. First, I can’t connect it to my new ERA 100s in order to use them as surrounds, because they’re not compatible with the playbase, which means I’ve lost the ability that my old Play 1 speakers provided. Second, it doesn’t have Dolby Atmos or eARC. And now I’ve run into a 3rd problem. It won’t play sound when I connect it to my new projector, even when I use an HDMI audio extractor box with an optical out, which would normally be the solution. To ensure the problem was indeed with the Playbase and not with the projector, the converter box, or the cable, I connected my spare Samsung soundbar to it and it worked perfectly. I can only imagine it’s an issue with an outdated chip in the Playbase. Does anyone know a fix for this?  

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Airgetlam
AirgetlamAnswer
December 21, 2024

You’ve got a couple of things going on.

First, why can’t you still use your PLAY:1s as surrounds, and just place the Era 100s elsewhere? I don’t think I understand your comment there.

Second, what kind (codec) of signal is your new projector putting out, and how? The PLAYBASE is restricted to Dolby Digital (due to the optical connection) and can’t receive Dolby Digital Plus, or Atmos, both of which require ARC or eARC.

Essentially, due to the restriction of the optical connection (and likely the CPU in the PLAYBASE, but that is really secondary), the best the device can process is Dolby Digital, or stereo, even with streaming music.

I think that is likely what you’re running in to, but if not, let us know. 

Bruce
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Airgetlam
AirgetlamAnswer
December 21, 2024

You’ve got a couple of things going on.

First, why can’t you still use your PLAY:1s as surrounds, and just place the Era 100s elsewhere? I don’t think I understand your comment there.

Second, what kind (codec) of signal is your new projector putting out, and how? The PLAYBASE is restricted to Dolby Digital (due to the optical connection) and can’t receive Dolby Digital Plus, or Atmos, both of which require ARC or eARC.

Essentially, due to the restriction of the optical connection (and likely the CPU in the PLAYBASE, but that is really secondary), the best the device can process is Dolby Digital, or stereo, even with streaming music.

I think that is likely what you’re running in to, but if not, let us know. 

Bruce
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