Go Back   The 75 and ZT Owners Club Forums > Social Forums > Technology Forum
Register FAQ Image Gallery Members List Calendar Mark Forums Read
Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 18th October 2018, 07:23   #1
HarryM1BYT
This is my second home
 
HarryM1BYT's Avatar
 
75 Contemporary SE Mk II 2004 Man. Sal. CDTi 135ps, FBH on red diesel, WinCE6 DD

Join Date: May 2010
Location: Leeds
Posts: 17,273
Thanks: 2,160
Thanked 2,061 Times in 1,586 Posts
Default HDMI new TV and soundbar

I've been thinking for a while to buy a replacement smart TV for the living room, for a while. Present one is plasma, none smart, analogue/digi - but I 'smartened' it with a Firestick. This was our second plasma, the first didn't last long.



New one on order is - slightly larger, smart, UHD and will draw, less than half the watts/ one third. So should maybe pay for itself in saved electric quite quickly.



Long ago, I added a 'soundbar' to the first plasma, to get some decent sound/ better volume. It was less necessary with the second plasma, so it became disused.



The 'soundbar' is a Sony, 6 speaker system with a single HDMI socket, DVD and an FM/AM radio built in. The DVD playing has been its only rare use, the radio a little more so through its own speakers.


New TV when it arrives, has three HDMI sockets, one of which is marked HDMI └ ARC (Audio Return Channel).



Does that last suggest I can use that HDMI port to both play DVD's and feed audio to the 'soundbar' via one single HDMI cable?
__________________
Harry

How To's and items I offer for free, or just to cover the cost of my expenses...

http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...40#post1764540

Fix a poor handbrake; DIY ABS diagnostic unit; Loan of the spanner needed to change the CDT belts; free OBD diagnostics +MAF; Correct Bosch MAF cheap; DVB-T install in an ex-hi-line system; DD install with a HK amp; FBH servicing.

I've taken a vow of poverty. To annoy me, send money.
HarryM1BYT is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18th October 2018, 07:33   #2
Heddy
This is my second home
 
None

Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: None
Posts: 5,556
Thanks: 465
Thanked 1,161 Times in 924 Posts
Default

Strange, was asking a tv engineer yesterday about hooking up my soundbar to the telly. First post, top of the pile, is yours.
My soundbar is a cheap one, it has phono sockets and a toslink, no HDMI. Seems I'm stuck with the toslink because tv has no phono or earphone socket. He said best way is HDMI using the arc outlet on the tv. Dunno how this helps but it's a bit of a job for me to get my head around it all.
Just thinking, there are usually 3 HDMI outlets, I use one for the PVR and the other for the DVD. The aerial goes to the PVR. The one marked 'arc' I'm going to try for the soundbar with a converter for the phono sockets.



Last edited by Heddy; 18th October 2018 at 07:36..
Heddy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18th October 2018, 09:05   #3
Rogue
I really should get out more.......
 
Rogue's Avatar
 
75 CDT SE 160 Saloon

Join Date: May 2017
Location: Thorpe St Andrew, Norwich
Posts: 2,629
Thanks: 1,386
Thanked 1,096 Times in 774 Posts
Default

As long as your soundbar is ARC compatible it should be fine to use it to send the audio signal back from the Tv, you will need to ensure that HDMI control is set to on with your new Tv... However using Arc can be problematic in some cases and can cause issues that may not seem related to the soundbar.

I do suspect that your all in one surround system isn't Arc compatible as most of these don't tend to be and that the Hdmi port is output only!

Check to see if your system has an optical port as they just work with no issues or if it only has an Aux in you can buy a relatively inexpensive Dac that will convert the digital PCM signal from your TV's opt out and convert to 2 channel stereo.


Quote:
Seems I'm stuck with the toslink because tv has no phono or earphone socket. He said best way is HDMI using the arc outlet on the tv. Dunno how this helps but it's a bit of a job for me to get my head around it all.
Optical (Toslink) is fine and is able to send a compressed 5.1 surround signal or uncompressed 2 channel audio which will be the vast majority of programs transmitted but even if the signal is compressed it is very unlikely that you would be able to hear the difference. The advantage using the opt channel is that it 'just works' and everything on screen including the smart services will be transmitted.
__________________

Glutton for punishment --- Previously ... 2.6 SD1 x 2, 3.5 SD1, 820S, 820Si x2, 216 Gsi, 220T saloon, 414, 45 1.4 x2 and now a Cowley 75 CDT

Last edited by Rogue; 18th October 2018 at 09:13..
Rogue is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18th October 2018, 09:52   #4
HarryM1BYT
This is my second home
 
HarryM1BYT's Avatar
 
75 Contemporary SE Mk II 2004 Man. Sal. CDTi 135ps, FBH on red diesel, WinCE6 DD

Join Date: May 2010
Location: Leeds
Posts: 17,273
Thanks: 2,160
Thanked 2,061 Times in 1,586 Posts
Default

The 'soundbar' calls itself a Home Theatre Sony DAV - DZ230. Its HDMI is marked DVD out only, so my guess is that I must have fed audio in via the Sony's SCART port. It looks like I might be out of luck with using its HDMI, though it has a port marked DMPORT, which I need to investigate. The TV will have an Opto port, but there is not one on the new TV.



I'm surprised they don't have speaker level sockets on modern TV, to help get around the poor built in speakers.



Thanks..
__________________
Harry

How To's and items I offer for free, or just to cover the cost of my expenses...

http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...40#post1764540

Fix a poor handbrake; DIY ABS diagnostic unit; Loan of the spanner needed to change the CDT belts; free OBD diagnostics +MAF; Correct Bosch MAF cheap; DVB-T install in an ex-hi-line system; DD install with a HK amp; FBH servicing.

I've taken a vow of poverty. To annoy me, send money.
HarryM1BYT is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18th October 2018, 10:11   #5
Heddy
This is my second home
 
None

Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: None
Posts: 5,556
Thanks: 465
Thanked 1,161 Times in 924 Posts
Default

I'm surprised at the lack of connectivity on modern tv's. Ok, rca sockets are a little dated but I'd prefer a 'hardwire' to other means. Even the lack of a std 3.5 mm h/phone socket caused me problems.
Heddy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18th October 2018, 10:12   #6
Rogue
I really should get out more.......
 
Rogue's Avatar
 
75 CDT SE 160 Saloon

Join Date: May 2017
Location: Thorpe St Andrew, Norwich
Posts: 2,629
Thanks: 1,386
Thanked 1,096 Times in 774 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by HarryM1BYT View Post
The 'soundbar' calls itself a Home Theatre Sony DAV - DZ230. Its HDMI is marked DVD out only, so my guess is that I must have fed audio in via the Sony's SCART port. It looks like I might be out of luck with using its HDMI, though it has a port marked DMPORT, which I need to investigate. The TV will have an Opto port, but there is not one on the new TV.



I'm surprised they don't have speaker level sockets on modern TV, to help get around the poor built in speakers.



Thanks..

I'm surprised your new set does not have an optical port but if it has a headphone socket you could run a 3.5mm to 2 phono lead to a scart adaptor https://www.amazon.com/35570-SCART-A.../dp/B00008A956 ... Note you will need one that you can change from output to input as above. This will at least give you stereo and as mentioned above most Tv programs are only encoded in stereo. You will generally only find films are transmitted in surround if they are broadcast on 'HD' channels as this gives them sufficent bandwidth for the extra audio channels. I didn't look much further than the basic specs of your Sony but it's probable that it will have a sound field setting that will give you psuedo surround from a 2 channel input. Bear in mind that on some tv's activating the headphone socket will mean no sound from the tv's internal speakers although most mainstream sets will allow for both to output simultaneously.
__________________

Glutton for punishment --- Previously ... 2.6 SD1 x 2, 3.5 SD1, 820S, 820Si x2, 216 Gsi, 220T saloon, 414, 45 1.4 x2 and now a Cowley 75 CDT

Last edited by Rogue; 18th October 2018 at 10:14..
Rogue is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18th October 2018, 12:29   #7
HarryM1BYT
This is my second home
 
HarryM1BYT's Avatar
 
75 Contemporary SE Mk II 2004 Man. Sal. CDTi 135ps, FBH on red diesel, WinCE6 DD

Join Date: May 2010
Location: Leeds
Posts: 17,273
Thanks: 2,160
Thanked 2,061 Times in 1,586 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rogue View Post
I didn't look much further than the basic specs of your Sony but it's probable that it will have a sound field setting that will give you psuedo surround from a 2 channel input.

I guess I must have fed the audio in, via the scart then. I remember I got a very good sound from the system, using all six speakers and the old TV is not HD, so it must have a psuedo surround mode. It is an awfully complex audio system with a mass of options.


I have not managed to track down a Sony DMPORT adptor, it seems it was a failed Sony only system.


I wonder if there might be some way to get an HDMI └ ARC to opto adaptor?


Tracking suggests the new TV will arrive tomorrow, then I will know more.
__________________
Harry

How To's and items I offer for free, or just to cover the cost of my expenses...

http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...40#post1764540

Fix a poor handbrake; DIY ABS diagnostic unit; Loan of the spanner needed to change the CDT belts; free OBD diagnostics +MAF; Correct Bosch MAF cheap; DVB-T install in an ex-hi-line system; DD install with a HK amp; FBH servicing.

I've taken a vow of poverty. To annoy me, send money.
HarryM1BYT is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18th October 2018, 12:48   #8
HarryM1BYT
This is my second home
 
HarryM1BYT's Avatar
 
75 Contemporary SE Mk II 2004 Man. Sal. CDTi 135ps, FBH on red diesel, WinCE6 DD

Join Date: May 2010
Location: Leeds
Posts: 17,273
Thanks: 2,160
Thanked 2,061 Times in 1,586 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by HarryM1BYT View Post
I wonder if there might be some way to get an HDMI └ ARC to opto adaptor?

There is, its called an HDMI └ ARC to to TOSLINK adaptor..


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HDMI-ARC-...IlJt:rk:1:pf:0
__________________
Harry

How To's and items I offer for free, or just to cover the cost of my expenses...

http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...40#post1764540

Fix a poor handbrake; DIY ABS diagnostic unit; Loan of the spanner needed to change the CDT belts; free OBD diagnostics +MAF; Correct Bosch MAF cheap; DVB-T install in an ex-hi-line system; DD install with a HK amp; FBH servicing.

I've taken a vow of poverty. To annoy me, send money.
HarryM1BYT is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18th October 2018, 16:31   #9
Rogue
I really should get out more.......
 
Rogue's Avatar
 
75 CDT SE 160 Saloon

Join Date: May 2017
Location: Thorpe St Andrew, Norwich
Posts: 2,629
Thanks: 1,386
Thanked 1,096 Times in 774 Posts
Default

Quote:
I have not managed to track down a Sony DMPORT adptor, it seems it was a failed Sony only system.


I wonder if there might be some way to get an HDMI └ ARC to opto adaptor?
As you have already realised the sony port never went anywhere and as you have neither Hdmi nor Optical inputs on your sound system the adaptor mentioned above would not help. Let me know the model number of your set and i can give you an idea of how to connect the two together.
__________________

Glutton for punishment --- Previously ... 2.6 SD1 x 2, 3.5 SD1, 820S, 820Si x2, 216 Gsi, 220T saloon, 414, 45 1.4 x2 and now a Cowley 75 CDT
Rogue is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18th October 2018, 16:45   #10
HarryM1BYT
This is my second home
 
HarryM1BYT's Avatar
 
75 Contemporary SE Mk II 2004 Man. Sal. CDTi 135ps, FBH on red diesel, WinCE6 DD

Join Date: May 2010
Location: Leeds
Posts: 17,273
Thanks: 2,160
Thanked 2,061 Times in 1,586 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rogue View Post
As you have already realised the sony port never went anywhere and as you have neither Hdmi nor Optical inputs on your sound system the adaptor mentioned above would not help. Let me know the model number of your set and i can give you an idea of how to connect the two together.

The Sony does have an opto port. It is a Home Theatre Sony DAV - DZ230.


The new TV is an LG 49UJ630V
__________________
Harry

How To's and items I offer for free, or just to cover the cost of my expenses...

http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...40#post1764540

Fix a poor handbrake; DIY ABS diagnostic unit; Loan of the spanner needed to change the CDT belts; free OBD diagnostics +MAF; Correct Bosch MAF cheap; DVB-T install in an ex-hi-line system; DD install with a HK amp; FBH servicing.

I've taken a vow of poverty. To annoy me, send money.
HarryM1BYT is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 11:19.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright © 2006-2023, The Rover 75 & MG ZT Owners Club Ltd