 planet
join:2001-11-05
Oz
kudos:1
1 edit | [CATV] DVR Audio Settings:Dolby Digital versus HDMI sound My pioneer surround sound receiver has only 2 HDMI input ports and one HDMI output port. It also has and needs connected 2 input digital optical audio ports. When I had only 2 components needing connected, no problem. I had everything wired through the receiver and was able to set my Cox (Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8240 HDC) DVR audio to Dolby Digital.
now:
After adding another component, I have 3 components that are connected via HDMI. Consequently, after I got my third component, I had to move to plugging them into my HDTV (has 3 HDMI inputs) rather than my surround sound receiver (only 2 inputs).
My surround sound receiver must have optical audio connected to function, unforturnately. HDMI alone doesn't do it--another $500 would have done it upgrading to another model.
So, now, I have 3 components plugged via HDMI into my TV. And, I have digital optical audio out from my TV to the receiver.
However, Dolby Digital no longer functions. I have to use HDMI via the audio settings on my DVR.
Consequently, it now seems my sound is degraded. I wish there was a way to continue utilizing dolby digital with my current connections.
My only resort will be to drop one of my components.
Any other people experience this phenomena or have any insights.
regards, planet |
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| Unfortunately that's the nature of hdcp copyright protection embedded in. Hdmi. If you connect Hdmi to your tv and optical or coaxial out from your tv to your receiver it will lower it to stereo sound. This is true for bluray as well. Your ps3 videogames will stay Dolby digital, but the bluray movies use hdcp and will be downgraded, just like what you're experiencing with your cable box. You're better off getting an Hdmi autoswitch, which you can find for 50 bucks. It will turn one Hdmi input on your receiver into 3 or 4. I did this a few years ago and never had an issue. |
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planet
join:2001-11-05
Oz
kudos:1
1 edit | HDMI autoswitch..interesting..on my receiver I must assign the hdmi ports to a component. Say HDMI port 1, I scroll through a listing of components and have to pick one, say DVR. Then I must chose that component (DVR) on the remote to operationalize it. Would this be a problem? or am I thinking about it wrong? If I plug in an autoswitch (with 3 ports) to HDMI port 1, would one component trump another or would none work or could all work, depending on which one was in use and powered on? The actual component assigning being no more than a name to correlate to the button on the remote.
Edit:
I'd likely need a Digital Audio Optical Toslink 3 Input Selector Switch Compatible with Fiber Optic Cables too since I only have 2 digital audio input ports on my receiver. Glad I asked this since it does seem possible to be done to improve my sound.
Why is it though that you have to plug in HDMI as well as the audio optical to your receiver? Why can't the HDMI go only to your TV and then the audio optical to your receiver? |
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 ptrowskiGot Helix?Premium
join:2005-03-14
Putnam, CT
kudos:4 | reply to planet
What model Pioneer? Also what other components do you have that use HDMI? HDMI will carry the sound and video so you don't need both. On my Pioneer I have my PS3, Xbox ,Directv all going into the receiver and then only one HDMI going to the TV. |
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planet
join:2001-11-05
Oz
kudos:1
1 edit | said by ptrowski:What model Pioneer? Also what other components do you have that use HDMI? HDMI will carry the sound and video so you don't need both. On my Pioneer I have my PS3, Xbox ,Directv all going into the receiver and then only one HDMI going to the TV.
Pioneer model: VSX-917V. Only has 2 HDMI inputs and 2 fiber optical sound inputs. Need 3 of each for components.
Components are my DVR, Blu Ray DVD and DVD burner/VCR combo.
My Pioneer receiver will not carry sound with HDMI alone unfortunately.
And, it appears as mentioned, my Sony Bravia HDTV will not carry 7.1 sound from TV to receiver via fiber optic audio. The sound degraded when I moved to 3 components. When I had only 2 components I was able to plug everything directly into my receiver using HDMI and the fiber optic audio then ran HDMI only out to my Sony Bravia HDTV.
Wish I could just plug the fiber optical audio into receiver and leave the HDMI plugged into TV but this doesn't seem to work. Need both (HDMI + fiber optic audio) into receiver for sound to work.
Newer Pioneer models might work with HDMI alone, I'm not sure.
Looking at these. Maybe get better sound without needing to upgrade receiver:
»www.amazon.com/HDMI-1-Out-Auto-S···018DQYQ2
»www.amazon.com/Nyrius-SW100-Digi···00812QC6 |
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