No Optical output on new Players

[efiste2]

I am looking to replace my player, to take advantage of the new generation and their capabilities, HOWEVER, my AV amp only has OPTICAL and 5.1 inputs. And the new generation of players only output a Digital coax and HDMI. I know there are optical- coax converters available, but are there HDMI - Optical converters out there and if so which of the two will provide the best connection in terms of quality etc etc.

Also If I connect a new gen player to my TV using the HDMI connection, then connect my TV opitcally to my AV amp, will the 5.1 pass through my TV to the AV amp and emerge in full 5.1 surround.

My TV is a Bravia KDL-42W829B

As ever thanks for any advice

[jman98]

I feel your pain. Some years ago I bought a new receiver and I wanted one with HDMI inputs. I looked everywhere and I couldn't find any at all. So I shrugged and bought a Pioneer. It was a good receiver but in less than a year after I bought it, everybody starting putting out HDMI connections on their receivers. A few years ago I bought a Denon receiver that has HDMI inputs that was put on sale by Woot.com. Two or three times a year Woot has a big sale where they sell receivers with HDMI inputs at very good prices, much better than can find anywhere else. You'll need to sign up for their daily emails and just keep reading them until you finally get one where a receiver with HDMI inputs goes on sale. This is really your best solution.

I tried desperately to get optical audio and HDMI video to work with my new receiver and I was unable to do so. Basically it was just easier to do things that way because I had limited HDMI inputs. I had to use HDMI for audio and video both. I'm not telling you that it's necessarily impossible to get those working at the same time, but it was so complex that I gave up as I put a decent amount of effort into trying to get that working and I was never able to do so. I ended up having to buy a switch box so I could run the HDMI outputs of two different devices into the same HDMI input on my receiver. I just switch between them as necessary on the switch box as I never need to use both at the same time.

I think there are HDMI converters that can produce optical output, but I've never used one so I can offer no personal experience here.

[fritzi93]

My receiver is pre-HDMI as well.

This works for coax to toslink, I have one:

http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Coaxial-Toslink-Optical-Converter/dp/B001622FL8/ref=sr_1...ical+converter

As to optical out from TV, it's likely that only AC3 5.1 will be output intact, and DTS will be downmixed as stereo PCM. That's how it is with my LG 65LW6500 (2011 model) and Sharp 70LE640 (2012 model).

[efiste2]

Great advice thanks . Going to have to have a re shuffle of my system.

[Krispy Kritter]

Check the TV user manual. Most TV's do NOT pass 5.1 audio. They pass stereo or only output 5.1 audio from the internal tuner.

The move to HDMI has been for several reasons: 1) a single cable for audio/video, 2) HDCP for HD content, and 3) HDMI is required for the new HD audio formats (optical and digital coaxial don't have the bandwidth necessary).

In any event, plan your upgrades accordingly. Any new hardware will need HDMI.

[jman98]

Woot is having a sale TODAY for an Onkyo 7.2 receiver. It's a factory refurb for $249.99. Please note that Woot sales ONLY last the day they are posted and they sometimes have limited quantities. When they sell out, you don't get one. You also don't get one if you decide the next day you want it. No rain checks.
http://www.woot.com/offers/onkyo-7-2ch-a-v-receiver-w-wi-fi-bluetooth-34?utm_source=Da...499826#tracked

[tarzan54]

Don't mean to hijack this thread but from what Im reading is it better to plug everything into your receiver with an hdmi cable then using an optical or digital coaxial
cable? That sounds like a great receiver on Woot, jman.

[redwudz]

My receiver has HDMI inputs, but not enough for my needs, so I use a five input HDMI switchbox. My monitor has speakers that do work with HDMI, but the quality is not good. My video projector has no audio.

So what I do is use coaxial/SPDIF/Optical. All the same quality on my system. The optical is converted to coaxial for my surround receiver and I have a second switchbox for that. Both switchboxes have remotes, so easy enough to switch audio and video between two computers, a WDLive box, a satellite receiver and a Blu-Ray set top player. The WDLive is the only device that outputs only optical audio, so it's the only one converted to coaxial.

I also use a HDMI splitter to feed my monitor and video projector at the same time.

[jman98]

Don't mean to hijack this thread but from what Im reading is it better to plug everything into your receiver with an hdmi cable then using an optical or digital coaxial
cable? That sounds like a great receiver on Woot, jman.

Yes, it's far simpler to just use HDMI than anything else if your receiver supports it.

My current receiver is a roughly similar Denon I bought from Woot maybe 2 years ago. It's hard to beat the price the rare times Woot has these receivers available.