Soundbar Support

[Steve55]

Hi all,

I'm in need of advice please after buying my first soundbar.

I've got a Sony HTX8500 with hdmi cable.

I have a Philips TV with 3 hdmi slots being connected by

Sky box
Xbox
Nintendo

Under differing advice I was told to get an Optical Cable and a HDMI auto splitter for more slots.

I've read that it's best to connect the soundbar using HDMI.

Would someone be able to advise what goes where as I've got lots of cables and not enough common sense. I feel as though Ive bought a number of unnecessary things and just need to know what goes where for maximum effect.

Any advice is welcome.

Thanks

 

[BMXTRIX]

Not sure what actual TV you have. Phillips doesn't narrow it down to any specific model number, and you better believe that the model number matters because some TVs have features that others do not.

If your TV only has 3 HDMI inputs, then you obviously can't connect your Sky Box, XBox, Nintendo, AND a speaker bar to them. That's four devices.

You could connect your Nintendo to the speaker bar, and then connect the speaker bar to the HDMI/ARC connection on the TV, and then your other two sources to the other HDMI inputs on the TV and be done with it. That could very well work. Maybe.

I say maybe, because I have no idea if your TV has a HDMI/ARC connection on it. Your Sony speaker bar DOES have a HDMI input on it, so you can connect a single source to that connection point. But, if your TV does NOT have a HDMI/ARC connection on it, then you will need to use the optical out of the TV... assuming your TV has an optical audio out. But, if your TV has an HDMI/ARC connection, then that's what should be used.

 

[Steve55]

Not sure what actual TV you have. Phillips doesn't narrow it down to any specific model number, and you better believe that the model number matters because some TVs have features that others do not.

If your TV only has 3 HDMI inputs, then you obviously can't connect your Sky Box, XBox, Nintendo, AND a speaker bar to them. That's four devices.

You could connect your Nintendo to the speaker bar, and then connect the speaker bar to the HDMI/ARC connection on the TV, and then your other two sources to the other HDMI inputs on the TV and be done with it. That could very well work. Maybe.

I say maybe, because I have no idea if your TV has a HDMI/ARC connection on it. Your Sony speaker bar DOES have a HDMI input on it, so you can connect a single source to that connection point. But, if your TV does NOT have a HDMI/ARC connection on it, then you will need to use the optical out of the TV... assuming your TV has an optical audio out. But, if your TV has an HDMI/ARC connection, then that's what should be used.

Hi, thanks for replying.

Appreciate that the TV model helps so it's a Philips 43PUS6753.

It's got 3 hdmi slots.

HDMI 1 ARC connection and HDMI 2 and 3 as standard slots.

I did purchase a Duronic HDS3 mini 3 port gold auto switch for more slots to play with.

That should give a better idea of what I'm playing with.
Thanks

 

[NINaudio]

Your TV has an optical out. I'd just use that to connect it to the soundbar and leave everything else connected to the TV as it already is.

 

[Steve55]

Your TV has an optical out. I'd just use that to connect it to the soundbar and leave everything else connected to the TV as it already is.

Is there much of a difference in sound quality between hdmi and optical?

It does seem like the most straightforward way

 

[NINaudio]

There should be no difference at all in your application.

 

[Trebdp83]

Not sure of the XBOX model. The TV supports ARC but eARC not stated as supported. The soundbar may not simulate a full atmos/X setup well, but you want it to do all that it can do. If using an XBOX capable of handling atmos/X, I’d connect it to the soundbar and everything else to the TV so you don’t lose any lossless DTHD/DTSHDMA signals using ARC or optical. You can get lossy DD+/Atmos via ARC and optical. Yes, they are getting Atmos over optical these days. Play around with setups and have fun.

Oh, that splitter is only 1080 HD rated so look for one that meets your TV specs. Yiu don’t want to cripple any devices and have handshake issues.

 

[Steve55]

Not sure of the XBOX model. The TV supports ARC but eARC not stated as supported. The soundbar may not simulate a full atmos/X setup well, but you want it to do all that it can do. If using an XBOX capable of handling atmos/X, I’d connect it to the soundbar and everything else to the TV so you don’t lose any lossless DTHD/DTSHDMA signals using ARC or optical. You can get lossy DD+/Atmos via ARC and optical. Yes, they are getting Atmos over optical these days. Play around with setups and have fun.

Oh, that splitter is only 1080 HD rated so look for one that meets your TV specs. Yiu don’t want to cripple any devices and have handshake issues.

The Xbox is the first edition Xbox One so not sure if it's capable of Atmos/X..it's quite dated now

 

[Trebdp83]

Xbox One now supports Dolby Atmos & DTS:X bitstream

Xbox One and Xbox One S will get bitstream support in the Blu-ray app, allowing you to output Dolby Atmos and DTS:X audio to your receiver

www.flatpanelshd.com

 

[Steve55]

Not sure of the XBOX model. The TV supports ARC but eARC not stated as supported. The soundbar may not simulate a full atmos/X setup well, but you want it to do all that it can do. If using an XBOX capable of handling atmos/X, I’d connect it to the soundbar and everything else to the TV so you don’t lose any lossless DTHD/DTSHDMA signals using ARC or optical. You can get lossy DD+/Atmos via ARC and optical. Yes, they are getting Atmos over optical these days. Play around with setups and have fun.

Oh, that splitter is only 1080 HD rated so look for one that meets your TV specs. Yiu don’t want to cripple any devices and have handshake issues.

That's cracked it.

Got the Xbox and sky all coming through the soundbar.