Dolby Digital Problem when using TV Optical Out

[Telecore]

I have an HD300, Ceton Echo and Roku 3 connected to HDMI inputs 1-3 of my Samsung UN55D6500 TV. The optical output of the TV is then connected to my receiver (Denon AVR-1611). Problem: The Ceton Echo and Roku 3 can get Dolby Digital (DD) audio to the receiver, however the HD300 cannot. Any ideas on how to get DD working?

I have tried both the HD and Bitstream settings on the HD300. For some reason, DD is greyed out on the TV menu for SPDIF setup for HDMI1=HD300. It is not greyed out for the other two devices. Seems like there is an HDMI compatibility issue with the HD300 and the TV?

Previously, I used HDMI connections to the receiver and DD worked, but I am putting a pedestal soundbase speaker under the TV which requires that I use SPDIF. I'm pretty sure that I am running the 20110124 Beta firmware release.

[routerunner]

Originally Posted by Telecore

I have an HD300, Ceton Echo and Roku 3 connected to HDMI inputs 1-3 of my Samsung UN55D6500 TV. The optical output of the TV is then connected to my receiver (Denon AVR-1611). Problem: The Ceton Echo and Roku 3 can get Dolby Digital (DD) audio to the receiver, however the HD300 cannot. Any ideas on how to get DD working?

I have tried both the HD and Bitstream settings on the HD300. For some reason, DD is greyed out on the TV menu for SPDIF setup for HDMI1=HD300. It is not greyed out for the other two devices. Seems like there is an HDMI compatibility issue with the HD300 and the TV?

Previously, I used HDMI connections to the receiver and DD worked, but I am putting a pedestal soundbase speaker under the TV which requires that I use SPDIF. I'm pretty sure that I am running the 20110124 Beta firmware release.

I would do a couple of experiment first:

1. Connect the S/PDIF out of the HD300 directly to your AVR input to see whether the audio works correctly.
2. Connect your HD300 to another HDMI input of your TV as not all HDMI inputs behave exactly the same and there might be extra settings your need to tweak.

Hope it helps
Eddy

[Telecore]

Thanks for the input. Dolby Digital does work when the optical cable is connected directly from the HD300 to the receiver. Changing HDMI inputs on the TV, however, does not work. I have a solution in that the Yamaha SRT-1000 that I am going to set up has two optical inputs. I can use one from the TV output for the Roku and Ceton Echo, and the 2nd direct to the HD300.

It is unfortunate though that the HD300 does not operate as well as the other two devices. I would still be interested in any info. that anyone has regarding how to get this to work - perhaps a different firmware version works better?

[KryptoNyte]

Is it possible that the issue is with the TV passing the digital audio back to the receiver (I had this very problem)? Optical is not technically an HDCP compliant path, and the TV may just refuse to pass the digital audio regardless of input (HD300 being non-HDCP). I can't explain why the other two devices appear to work.

Just out of curiosity, it looks like your receiver should handle all inputs with HDMI and then a single HDMI to the TV. Why try to pass the audio back from the television to the receiver via the optical?

[Telecore]

I am "downgrading" my audio set-up from an HDMI receiver and 5.1 speakers to a platform speaker/amp (soundbase) type setup for purposes of de-cluttering the family room and also because the pre-wired speaker positions were never very good for TV watching. The Yamaha SRT-1000 that I installed only has optical and coaxial inputs. It replaces the receiver and speakers.

With the new setup, I use the TV to switch HDMI inputs and connect audio via digital optical out. I am not sure why the HD300 path via HDMI to the TV-digital optical out doesn't work. I tried everything short of re-flashing a different firmware version into the HD300. In any event, directly connecting the HD300 optical output to the SRT-1000's 2nd optical input is my work-around.

I know that I lose DD-HD and DTS-HD capability, but I still have regular DD and DTS - I seldom used HD audio anyways.

I would definitely like to get the HD300 working if anyone has any ideas. Like I said earlier, the Samsung TV can select PCM or DD for optical out for all other sources except the HD300 which for some reason has DD disabled in the menu - so maybe that's a clue.

[Telecore]

Wanted to revisit this thread regarding 5.1 passthrough (or lack of) with the HD300.

I am considering using an HDMI switch with EDID Audio control and toslink out in order to reduce cable clutter and put the HD300, Ceton Echo and Roku in the cabinet below the TV with a single HDMI to the TV and toslink to the soundbase.

Would use of such an HDMI switch help the HD300 to output DD 5.1 or DTS 5.1 via the TV's optical output? Has anyone tried this?

[KryptoNyte]

Once again, I'm not entirely sure the HD300 is having a problem.

Does this look similar to the problem you are experiencing?

http://support-us.samsung.com/cyber/...XF&idx=347142&

[Telecore]

According to that, I should never be able to get 5.1 out of the optical output via HDMI, but two of my three HDMI connected devices are able to output 5.1. So I have been trying to figure out why the HD300 is different.

Maybe it's a fluke that these two devices work because I have recently read some things on the internet that many TV brands will only output stereo out of the optical output.

[KryptoNyte]

Roku is a streaming device, I can't speak for the Echo unless it's just having a hard time with the audio stream. Regardless, I think it's entirely possible that the HD300 is behaving.

[Fuzzy]

No TV manufacturer builds a tv that works well as the main switching device. You are far better off with some other device to handle your input switching (typically the receiver), and use the TV as nothing but a video monitor.

Something like this may make everything work nicely together.

MONOPRICE: 4x1 HDMI® Switch with Analog, Digital Coaxial, and Digital Optical Audio Outputs $43.64