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Message
Need Help Connecting a New Plasma TV to an Older Surround Sound Device
Posted on 12/28/15 at 4:39 pm
Posted on 12/28/15 at 4:39 pm
Have never had this issue before. I was using a Haier LCD tv, which had rca ports, but I could never get sound with my old surround sound system unless I connected a digital coaxial cable (?) [orange end].
I just changed that tv out for a Samsung plasma, and this new tv doesn't have a digital coaxial cable output (though it does still have the old rca output), Just like the other tv, I'm not able to get sound just by running an rca cable between the tv and surround sound system. The new tv has a digital optical cable output, but my surround sound system doesn't.
1. Is there any reason why my surround sound isn't utilizing sound using the rca cable?
2. Do I need a special cable to convert the digital audio to analog with a cable like this? LINK Or is there a better option? I can already see this cable giving me fits because of its lack of length.
FWIW, my surround system has no HDMI input.
I just changed that tv out for a Samsung plasma, and this new tv doesn't have a digital coaxial cable output (though it does still have the old rca output), Just like the other tv, I'm not able to get sound just by running an rca cable between the tv and surround sound system. The new tv has a digital optical cable output, but my surround sound system doesn't.
1. Is there any reason why my surround sound isn't utilizing sound using the rca cable?
2. Do I need a special cable to convert the digital audio to analog with a cable like this? LINK Or is there a better option? I can already see this cable giving me fits because of its lack of length.
FWIW, my surround system has no HDMI input.
5
Posted on 12/28/15 at 7:02 pm to shutterspeed
You need a new surround sound system.
So many people make this mistake. Go and add new stuff without considering the whole system.
The reason why I don't have a 4k TV yet is because I would have to change out my receiver.
So many people make this mistake. Go and add new stuff without considering the whole system.
The reason why I don't have a 4k TV yet is because I would have to change out my receiver.
This post was edited on 12/28/15 at 7:04 pm
Posted on 12/28/15 at 7:34 pm to shutterspeed
quote:
1. Is there any reason why my surround sound isn't utilizing sound using the rca cable?
If the inputs are assignable, make sure whatever RCA ports you're using are assigned to that input. If the inputs aren't assignable, you'll need to start using whatever input corresponds to those RCA ports.
Also, see if the input you're using on the surround sound system has a "signal selection" option. It may be set to digital, and if so, change it to analog.
quote:
2. Do I need a special cable to convert the digital audio to analog with a cable like this? LINK Or is there a better option?
It should work, but I'd get the one that converts from optical to coax S/PDIF. That way, your surround system would still be surroundin' instead of everything being two channel.
ETA: Forgot to mention that your TV may or may not pass multichannel formats over optical for HDMI devices connected to it. It may pass DD5.1 but not DTS. It's highly YMMV. The only thing that can be said for certain is that it will pass multichannel for its built-in tuner and apps.
This post was edited on 12/28/15 at 7:40 pm
Posted on 12/28/15 at 8:52 pm to SG_Geaux
quote:
You need a new surround sound system
That's the easy way.
Posted on 12/28/15 at 8:54 pm to Spock's Eyebrow
quote:
It should work, but I'd get the one that converts from optical to coax S/PDIF. That way, your surround system would still be surroundin' instead of everything being two channel.
Thanks. You actually seem to have some concrete advice for making the current setup work. I'm utiliIng only 2 front, 1 center, and a sub right now anyway, stereo would probably be ok.
Posted on 12/28/15 at 10:20 pm to shutterspeed
With center and sub, I'd want to keep the discrete channels. If you go with stereo, your TV would have to downmix 5.1 to 2.0 and then your receiver would try to reverse the process.
Posted on 12/28/15 at 11:32 pm to shutterspeed
You may have a setting on your TV that will let you select where the sound is distributed.. Only TV speakers or only external or both. I would also look for this setting in the menu of your TV for sound settings.
Posted on 12/28/15 at 11:55 pm to LSUJay13
Tried that already. Thanks, though.
Posted on 12/29/15 at 7:23 am to shutterspeed
You aren't getting sound out of the RCA cables because the TV is going to be analog in/analog out or digital in/digital out. Unless you're hooked up to the RCA R/L audio inputs those RCA outputs are useless. If you do hook it up that way another problem is going to manifest and that is lip sync issues because you'll be watching a digital signal and listening to an analog signal.
The best solution is to purchase an inexpensive surround receiver that is modern and run the inputs and outputs directly through the receiver with the TV last in the chain.
The best solution is to purchase an inexpensive surround receiver that is modern and run the inputs and outputs directly through the receiver with the TV last in the chain.
Posted on 12/29/15 at 9:47 am to VABuckeye
quote:
You aren't getting sound out of the RCA cables because the TV is going to be analog in/analog out or digital in/digital out.
It's hard to imagine the RCA outs not working for digital audio, particularly if the set has internal speakers, as the TV has to be able to convert it to analog. And that's not just imagination talking; it's direct experience.
quote:
Unless you're hooked up to the RCA R/L audio inputs those RCA outputs are useless.
How else could it be connected? There's no such thing as an RCA -> S/PDIF cable.
quote:
If you do hook it up that way another problem is going to manifest and that is lip sync issues because you'll be watching a digital signal and listening to an analog signal.
Possible, but not terribly likely. Digital audio has to be converted to analog somewhere, and the TV's frame latency WRT to the conversion would have to be rather excessive. For example, the aptX Bluetooth low latency codec achieves 32 msec latency, which is below most people's threshold for noticing lip sync issues assuming zero frame latency. His current surround system (whatever it is, he didn't say) might even have an audio delay feature; my old non-HDMI Yamaha AVR did.
Posted on 12/29/15 at 10:53 am to Spock's Eyebrow
quote:
It's hard to imagine the RCA outs not working for digital audio, particularly if the set has internal speakers, as the TV has to be able to convert it to analog. And that's not just imagination talking; it's direct experience.
Looking at current Samsung models I didn't see one that had RCA outs for audio. Only one optical output. Of course, the OP gave us zero information regarding the TV model so we're both shooting in the dark.
quote:
How else could it be connected? There's no such thing as an RCA -> S/PDIF cable.
No shite. That was my point.
quote:
Possible, but not terribly likely. Digital audio has to be converted to analog somewhere, and the TV's frame latency WRT to the conversion would have to be rather excessive. For example, the aptX Bluetooth low latency codec achieves 32 msec latency, which is below most people's threshold for noticing lip sync issues assuming zero frame latency. His current surround system (whatever it is, he didn't say) might even have an audio delay feature; my old non-HDMI Yamaha AVR did.
It's very possible. That's why there is an adjustment for it and it's not something that will present as a problem on every channel viewed.
This post was edited on 12/29/15 at 10:54 am
Posted on 12/29/15 at 12:06 pm to VABuckeye
quote:
Looking at current Samsung models I didn't see one that had RCA outs for audio. Only one optical output. Of course, the OP gave us zero information regarding the TV model so we're both shooting in the dark.
He specifically said the new Samsung has an RCA output. You're right it is not helpful to withhold model numbers and not to identify the "surround system," but he did provide enough context to talk about things.
quote:
No shite. That was my point.
Your point went without saying and was even more confusing in the context of your preceding statements and what the OP had posted.
quote:
It's very possible. That's why there is an adjustment for it and it's not something that will present as a problem on every channel viewed.
If it's not present on every channel viewed, it's likely an issue with the source, not the hardware, and thus the type of connection doesn't matter. If you could narrow it down to something like "all DD5.1 is affected, but 2ch LPCM is not," that would be different.
My personal experience with running HDMI from my PC to various TVs and S/PDIF from motherboard to AVR is that it does not incur lip sync issues, nor does connecting a Sennheiser RF wireless headset to a TV's RCA out, nor does connecting a Bose tabletop speaker to a TV's RCA out. One of the TV's is a Panasonic plasma with fairly high frame latency, so it could be I'm not extremely sensitive to it, which is part of the YMMV equation. OTOH, I found extreme lip sync issues when I tried to watch a video on my 5th gen iPod Touch while using Bluetooth headphones. Although the headphones are equipped with aptX low latency codec, the Touch is not, and both sides need to play together for the magic to happen. I've also experienced rare, source-specific lip sync issues in WMC and Kodi on the PC previously described and also on a Sony LCD using its internal speakers.
Bottom line is, I wouldn't expect lip sync issues, and I would recommend proceeding with the optical/coax converter I mentioned earlier. That should get the OP back to what he had working before with the old TV for under $20.
Posted on 12/29/15 at 5:51 pm to Spock's Eyebrow
Ok. Here are the models involved in this issue:
Durabrand HT-400 surround sound system (utilizing only center, front left, front right, and subwoofer speakers currently).
Samsung PN51E450A1FXZA plasma tv
Also possibly involved: Motorola DCX700.M cable box
So I went back and tried this and wasn't able to access a "signal selection" option on the tv menu.
The only option I had the ability to toggle was "tv speaker" vs. "external speaker." Neither had any effect.
The s/pdif end of that cord setup looks like some kind of mini connection. I don't see anywhere on the surround sound hardware that would plug into.
Besides the aforementioned digital-analog converter I posted, what do you think about these additional options?
1. Would this digital optical-digital coaxial converter be an even better option? LINK
2. Would it be possible to use my cable box as an intermediary between the tv and surround sound hardware? I have an HDMI cord running from the tv to the cable box and an rca cable running from the cable box to the surround sound and receive audio just fine. The cable box also has a digital optical input. It does not have a digital coaxial input.
Durabrand HT-400 surround sound system (utilizing only center, front left, front right, and subwoofer speakers currently).
Samsung PN51E450A1FXZA plasma tv
Also possibly involved: Motorola DCX700.M cable box
quote:
If the inputs are assignable, make sure whatever RCA ports you're using are assigned to that input. If the inputs aren't assignable, you'll need to start using whatever input corresponds to those RCA ports.
Also, see if the input you're using on the surround sound system has a "signal selection" option. It may be set to digital, and if so, change it to analog.
So I went back and tried this and wasn't able to access a "signal selection" option on the tv menu.
The only option I had the ability to toggle was "tv speaker" vs. "external speaker." Neither had any effect.
quote:
It should work, but I'd get the one that converts from optical to coax S/PDIF. That way, your surround system would still be surroundin' instead of everything being two channel.
The s/pdif end of that cord setup looks like some kind of mini connection. I don't see anywhere on the surround sound hardware that would plug into.
Besides the aforementioned digital-analog converter I posted, what do you think about these additional options?
1. Would this digital optical-digital coaxial converter be an even better option? LINK
2. Would it be possible to use my cable box as an intermediary between the tv and surround sound hardware? I have an HDMI cord running from the tv to the cable box and an rca cable running from the cable box to the surround sound and receive audio just fine. The cable box also has a digital optical input. It does not have a digital coaxial input.
Posted on 12/29/15 at 6:30 pm to shutterspeed
quote:
So I went back and tried this and wasn't able to access a "signal selection" option on the tv menu.
It would have been on the surround sound system, like I said, but yours doesn't have this, so never mind.
quote:
The only option I had the ability to toggle was "tv speaker" vs. "external speaker." Neither had any effect.
That TV option is not going to affect whether the TV's audio outputs are live; they're always live. It just turns the TV speakers off.
Anyway, your TV doesn't have RCA outputs, just an RCA input, so it's a non-starter of an idea. You will have to use the TV's optical out.
quote:
Besides the aforementioned digital-analog converter I posted, what do you think about these additional options? 1. Would this digital optical-digital coaxial converter be an even better option? LINK
Yes, that's what I had in mind.
quote:
2. Would it be possible to use my cable box as an intermediary between the tv and surround sound hardware? I have an HDMI cord running from the tv to the cable box and an rca cable running from the cable box to the surround sound and receive audio just fine. The cable box also has a digital optical input. It does not have a digital coaxial input.
It wouldn't be an intermediary, which I take to mean a switch, but just another source. So, as a source supplying the signal, it's better to talk about it as the HDMI cable running from cable box to TV (which is not to imply ordinary HDMI cables are directional, i.e. it doesn't matter which end you use where). The cable box isn't going to have an "optical input" either, just an output. It's clear now you mistook an input on the TV for an output, so work on getting these things straight.
But yeah, you could certainly use an optical/coax converter between cable box and HT-400, but then you wouldn't be able to connect the TV to HT-400. Bottom line, if you want the TV to play through HT-400, get the converter and connect TV to HT-400.
Posted on 12/29/15 at 6:38 pm to Spock's Eyebrow
quote:
It's clear now you mistook an input on the TV for an output, so work on getting these things straight.
That's weird to think about. Wouldn't that suggest sound going into the tv rather than out of the tv?
quote:
Yes, that's what I had in mind.
Oh well. So much for saving $20. Guess it's better than shelling out for a whole new surround sound system, though.
Thanks for the help.
Posted on 12/29/15 at 6:41 pm to Spock's Eyebrow
So, as I stated when you look at that model it doesn't have analog audio outputs. It only has an optical digital output for audio. Those RCA audio jacks are inputs, not outputs. Clear as day on the manual.
Unless the manual and the spec sheet for the tv are incorrect what the OP would like to do via RCA audio outputs is not possible as there are none.
Apologies accepted.
Unless the manual and the spec sheet for the tv are incorrect what the OP would like to do via RCA audio outputs is not possible as there are none.
Apologies accepted.
This post was edited on 12/29/15 at 6:43 pm
Posted on 12/29/15 at 6:43 pm to shutterspeed
TVs aren't good devices for distributing audio. Frankly they're crappy at it.
Posted on 12/29/15 at 6:51 pm to VABuckeye
Well, thanks for checking into this for me all the same.
Posted on 12/29/15 at 6:58 pm to shutterspeed
You're most welcome. I wish there was a simpler solution. One of the problems is that TVs don't have the feature rich set they used to have which greatly limits connectivity and options in hookup.
Posted on 12/29/15 at 8:55 pm to VABuckeye
quote:
Apologies accepted.
As a kid, I said this to my mom one time when she was adamantly wrong. Didn't go over well. 
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