Theatre System / HDMI Set up gone wrong
 

Hey Guys,

I have a slight problem and I am stumped.....

I have mounted my Plasma TV on the wall and connected a 5.1 Surround sound system to it using 2 Audio cables going directly into an AV Audio splitter at the back of the surround sound player (Audio Out form TV to AV Splitter) , and by a HDMI Cable to the TV.

Secondly, I have connected a Blu-Ray Player to the TV using a HDMI Cable. (See Picture)

The 3rd Box is a Virgin Set Top Box, Connected Via Scart Cable, from this is also a TV Arial. This box is going to be replaced soon for a HDMI compatible box.

After installing the equipment I was getting sound from the two front speakers, but “NOT” the centre or rear speakers, I ran the calibration and it synchronised the surround sound system with the TV (I Think). Basically if I altered the sound using the TV remote the sound on the theatre system also adjusted.

I tried “Ice Age 2” in the Blu-Ray player to test it, as it’s fairly modern but I did not hear any surround sound from it, so I also tried the movie using the Theatre Systems player, This did work, you could definitely notice the surround sound.

I am assuming I have connected this up wrong for surround sound not to work via the Blu-Ray? There is no real options for me to alter the sound settings via the TV’s OSD, Its either “Theatre” or “TV”.

Can anyone help me out here, I’m exhausted trying to figure out where I have gone wrong regarding the set up.

Re: Theatre System / HDMI Set up gone wrong
 

You wont get 5.1 from the V box as the none of the channels produce 5.1 sound.

Just trying to work out the other connections :)

Re: Theatre System / HDMI Set up gone wrong
 

I know, it's not the virgin box i'm worried about, its the fact the blu-ray wont play a movie in surround sound, but the home theatre's dvd player does
:erm:

Re: Theatre System / HDMI Set up gone wrong
 

definately should have plastered those walls after you let the cables into the wall ;) :p:

Re: Theatre System / HDMI Set up gone wrong
 

Its having a channel set into it and re-plastered when everythings set up working as it's supposed to ;)

Re: Theatre System / HDMI Set up gone wrong
 

It looks like your 'home theatre' system is designed to only give surround sound from the in-built dvd player - I can't see any socket for an external sound source in your picture.

I hope I'm wrong, but it seems you are expecting the TV to somehow 'relay' the sound from the Blu-ray player back to the surround amp & I don't think that will work??

Re: Theatre System / HDMI Set up gone wrong
 

If thats true.....then whats the point in a home theatre system if you can only play movies or music via it's own player? I certainly hope you're wrong as well because it was £210 and i destroyed the box now so it can't go back :erm:

Re: Theatre System / HDMI Set up gone wrong
 

is there no way you can connect your home theatre system to your blu ray player independently (optical or co-ax).

Re: Theatre System / HDMI Set up gone wrong
 

As far as i'm aware the theatre system doesn't have an optical output, but I am totally new to this so I have no idea.

I've added a better picture showing the connections...

Re: Theatre System / HDMI Set up gone wrong
 

You need a digital sound input, not an output, on the theatre system to be able to provide surround sound from external devices.

The reason it cost what it did is because I assume it is an upscaling DVD player. (I assume that due to the hdmi output).

Re: Theatre System / HDMI Set up gone wrong
 

Its a Sony DAVDZ280 5.1 ch DVD Home Theatre System

I take it then It's not possible to rig this up to have Blu-ray play in surround sound? No adaptor?

Re: Theatre System / HDMI Set up gone wrong
 

unfortunately don't think so , it says "Sony 5.1ch DVD playback" , and by the looks of the back of it there are no digital inputs as previously said :(

Re: Theatre System / HDMI Set up gone wrong
 

Damn, not good, what about the Blu-Ray player?

Panasonic DMP-BD35EB-K Profile 2 Blu-ray Disc Player

If i got a surround sound system with optical output would it work then? or would i need a different blu-ray player as well?

Re: Theatre System / HDMI Set up gone wrong
 

No problem there , has optical out according to 'amazon'

---------- Post added at 21:17 ---------- Previous post was at 21:16 ----------

yes if you get surround sound system with optical INPUT it would work fine .

Re: Theatre System / HDMI Set up gone wrong
 

The only possibility that I can see is the 'digital media adapter' interface - but how you convert the Blu-ray surround output to be compatible with that is beyond my knowledge, even if it possible.

Re: Theatre System / HDMI Set up gone wrong
 

Hi I have had a quick look at the manual and the other posters seem correct as there are no "standard" coax or optical audio inputs, the official Sony media adapter seems the only input other than SCART. The only media adapters I can find are IPod docks or WiFi adaptesr for streaming solutions. Sorry I really dont think you will be able to get surround sound from external sources on this piece of kit:(

Re: Theatre System / HDMI Set up gone wrong
 

Ok, So if the Blu-Ray has the optical output and I get a Theatre System with Optical input, How does the rest work? as in how does it connect to the TV to have surround sound from normal channels like BBC1, Sky1 etc, Provided the STB can do that (Which it will be able to when I get the HD Box)

Does anyone have any reccommendations on 5.1 Theatre Systems for the set up I want?

Basically I want to watch normal TV channels with Surround sound, and play a DVD or Blu-Ray via the Blue Ray player and have 5.1 surround sound when I watch it.

Re: Theatre System / HDMI Set up gone wrong
 

Your best bet is to actually buy an amplifier, thats how my homecinema works, all cables input to the amp and output to plasma, blue-ray and V+, I can also stream music from my pc via ethernet, you can get some good deals out there but you do have to pay for high spec

Re: Theatre System / HDMI Set up gone wrong
 

head over to the richer sounds website , or pop in if you have a local store , they are very helpful , i have lost touch with recent amps (so wouldn't want to recommend one) but you don't need to spend a fortune to get a half decent setup :) , a proper AV amp will do all of the above. make sure you buy the best speakers you can afford.

Re: Theatre System / HDMI Set up gone wrong
 

Have a look at http://www.amazon.co.uk/Logitech-Dig.../dp/B0006HBCL8

- however you will only get 'true' surround sound from the TV on a channel which is compatible - at present on the V+ box only the BBC HD channel & some VOD programs are compatible.

The speakers linked above do a fair job of simulating a surround sound from a normal stereo TV sound feed, though.

Re: Theatre System / HDMI Set up gone wrong
 

OK its more complicated than it needs to be and can result in you buying the wrong kit. Before HDMI became widespread video was analogue and surround sound audio was digital.

The Video could be sent over composite, RGB, or Component. using either dedicated cables or SCART depending on your system.

Audio used the SPDIF standard, this can be either a copper phono style lead or optical TOSLink cable.

http://www.audioholics.com/education...-interconnects

Until very recently AV Amplifiers could only switch analogue video signals. I have a Yamaha AV Amp which I use for surround sound but each piece of kit is linked to the TV using HDMI to get the best picture quality.

[IMG]http://i634.photobucket.com/albums/u...rawing_old.jpg[/IMG]

Using this configuration means that you have to change the TV channel and the amplifier channel at the same time, not such a hard ship though.You get full surround sound when available and the option of using the AV amp to give you pseudo surround with stereo sources.

However the latest generation of AV Amplifiers have full HDMI capability with multiple inputs, some even feature upscaling so that you can mix and match video sources. This does give a simpler installation which is easier to use.

You need to be careful though because there are different flavours of HDMI.

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2009/04/63.jpg

As previous posters have said Richer Sounds is a good starting point.;)

You can get a decent AV Amp from about £150, although HDMI capable Amps may be £200+, motto is check how many inputs you need, check again and then add at least one ! You may be able to use your existing speakers, if not Richers do a good Yamaha set fro about £80.


Note Other AV retailers and systems are available !!!

Re: Theatre System / HDMI Set up gone wrong
 

Sky movies HD is great in surround sound.I have ps3 xbox 360 and my Sony home theatre system all connected with hdmi and optical/toshlink for sound

Re: Theatre System / HDMI Set up gone wrong
 

I've just bought the Panasonic 1000W DVD Home Cinema System SC-PT460 in place of the exsisting one, this Panasonic is Viera, same as the TV and Blu-ray, making them all Viera and all panasonic. And it has the optical input people have been talking about.

Re: Theatre System / HDMI Set up gone wrong
 

I'd have gone for an AV, much more scope to do things with.

Re: Theatre System / HDMI Set up gone wrong
 

I agree I have a Philips Amplifier and my STB, Xbox, PS3 and others connect to that so all my sound is through the various outputs.

I wouldn't go near the so called DVD surround systems.

Re: Theatre System / HDMI Set up gone wrong
 

Just to give you an idea on connections from an amp, this is the back of mine

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2009/04/57.jpg

Re: Theatre System / HDMI Set up gone wrong
 

Far too much messing for what I want, bare in mind theres only......

TV
Blu-ray
Speakers
Sky HD+

Theres no need for an Amp with that kind of connectivity for what I will be using it for, there wont be an X-box, PS3 etc

there will only be 3 HDMI cables from the TV to each appliance, and with my new Surround sound it will be an optical connection for true 5.1 digital sound, to me that box wont change anything except set me back another £200 and take up yet more room.

So i think i will skip any AMP's for this

Re: Theatre System / HDMI Set up gone wrong
 

Good for you, at least you worked out your own requirements and stuck to your guns :)

Hope it works out for you.....

Re: Theatre System / HDMI Set up gone wrong
 

Anyone who is serious about home cinema will run their system on an amp, my amp was just an example that shows it will cater for any scenario, of course you can buy cheaper systems with less connections, but some enthusiasts prefer one set of connections to another so its basically designed to cater for all connections.

Re: Theatre System / HDMI Set up gone wrong
 

Why not?
If you still have the receipt then theres nothing stopping you taking it back surely.Unless you bought it over a year ago,or outside whatever time policy the retailer in question has in place.
A lack of box shouldn`t be an issue in itself.
It`s certainly never been an issue with my better half and she`s probably changed her mind and returned more stuff over the years than i could even remember.

Re: Theatre System / HDMI Set up gone wrong
 

:shocked: OMG.. that is some serious equipment mate. Is that all used ?

To the OP - good to hear you got it sorted :)

Re: Theatre System / HDMI Set up gone wrong
 

A lot of the conenctions are mutually exlcusive, if you have a WII and use component video then the composite, S Video and HDMI for that channel are redundant. Likewise Optical and CoAx SPDIF and Phono Line In are mutually exclusive. You can only physically use one audio and video input for each channel.

With the adoption of HDMI hopefully this duplication can be simplified , all those physical connectors and cables are expensive and bulky.

Where we are now is a problem for the suppliers, Trying to maintain compatibility with older Composite video stuff as well as keeping up with HDMI means that Amps are a compromise. I would like one with more HDMI and SPDIF inputs with one or two composite video inputs for legacy stuff. Waiting to see what comes next before I upgrade my setup.

Re: Theatre System / HDMI Set up gone wrong
 

iv got my ps3 hooked up via optical works perfect on any panasonic home cinema plus if u use an hdmi it upgrades the picture and sound