problem hooking up LG 306 to Sony lcd tv.

[godsey1]

Hi all. I have a Sony XBR 52 inch LCD TV. I have hooked up an LG 306 home theater system up to the TV with HDMI cable. The 306 doesn't have an HDMI input, just an output. I have an optical cable hooked from the receiver to the TV for the satellite reciver, PS3, and XBox 360.

The sound system will work with surround sound through the bluray player, but the surrounding sound system will not work when I try any of the sat receiver, PS3 nor the XBox 360. If I disconnected the HDMI cable, then the sat revived and the rest will play through it just fine. If I plug in the HDMI the TV will revert back to the TV speakers. Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[TLS Guy]

Hi all. I have a Sony XBR 52 inch LCD TV. I have hooked up an LG 306 home theater system up to the TV with HDMI cable. The 306 doesn't have an HDMI input, just an output. I have an optical cable hooked from the receiver to the TV for the satellite reciver, PS3, and XBox 360.

The sound system will work with surround sound through the bluray player, but the surrounding sound system will not work when I try any of the sat receiver, PS3 nor the XBox 360. If I disconnected the HDMI cable, then the sat revived and the rest will play through it just fine. If I plug in the HDMI the TV will revert back to the TV speakers. Does anyone have any suggestions?

First of all, you should not have bought an HTIB. You should have bought a proper receiver, BD player and decent speakers. HTIBS are bad news and a headache.

I have been though you manual multiple times.

You should be able to hear your surround speakers from your Blue Ray player with the HDMI cable plugged in.

It does say you unit is not HDCP code certified, and their may be problems using the unit with other brands. So this may be the source of your trouble.

The manual is lousy, but I suspect you are right that you do have to make the optical connections you have for the peripherals, and to the TV, if you want the TV speakers to work from the peripherals.

I have no idea why you have to remove the HDMI cable to hear audio from the optical inputs. I suspect it is a code issue.

If that is a new unit return it and get a proper system, and not a half baked HTIB, complete with a pretty much useless manual.

 

[Adam]

Welcome to the forum!

To me, this seems like an issue with one of the TV settings. From what you wrote, it seems that the optical output on the TV isn't sending a signal, and you hear sound when you plug in the HDMI cable to the TV. Seems like the TV speakers are set to "on," which often disables the optical output from the TV.

What is the model number of your TV? I'll be happy to check through the manual to see if there's a setting that's being missed for the speakers. In general, though, there should be a setting to turn the TV speakers off - which you might have never done if you just now got an external speaker system.

 

[TLS Guy]

Welcome to the forum!

To me, this seems like an issue with one of the TV settings. From what you wrote, it seems that the optical output on the TV isn't sending a signal, and you hear sound when you plug in the HDMI cable to the TV. Seems like the TV speakers are set to "on," which often disables the optical output from the TV.

What is the model number of your TV? I'll be happy to check through the manual to see if there's a setting that's being missed for the speakers. In general, though, there should be a setting to turn the TV speakers off - which you might have never done if you just now got an external speaker system.

The problem is there is no setting to switch the HDMI audio out, on and off.

I don't understand why having the HDMI cable plugged in mutes the audio form the optical ins. I just hate HTIBs with a passion. This is a typical HTIB fracas.

 

[Adam]

The problem is there is no setting to switch the HDMI audio out, on and off.

I don't think that there needs to be. I don't turn the HDMI audio output off on my receiver.

I don't understand why having the HDMI cable plugged in mutes the audio form the optical ins.

I believe that it's related to the TV, like I mentioned above. The TV speakers are coming on, which will disable the optical output on some/most TVs. I'll bet that there's a setting on the TV. I could be wrong, but that's where my money is.

 

[adwilk]

I agree with you, Adam.. But I'm not sure a TV would have a setting to fix the issue. This is an unusual one.

Does the receiver have enough inputs to hook up each component directly to it; using the TV as only a monitor?

 

[Adam]

Does the receiver have enough inputs to hook up each component directly to it; using the TV as only a monitor?

Not in a very good way, no. One optical input, one RCA left/right input, and one 3.5mm stereo input on the front. (tailored for an MP3 player).

 

[godsey1]

Hi again and thanks for the replies. The TV is a Sony bravia xbr52-hx909. It has no HDMI inputs (I didn't realize this until I bought it). The reason I bought one of these cheap boxes, is our living room is small (10 x 18 with our vewing on the 10 side) and I didn't think we needed a fancy system, but now am wondering about that.

 

[Adam]

Well, you might decide that you want a fancier system - but let's see if we can get you set up on the one that you have now...then you can decide.

I'm working through Sony's online i-Manual, so I hope that I describe this sufficiently:

• Go to the Home menu.
• Go to the Sound menu.
• Go to the Speakers menu.
• Select "Audio System" (or maybe it's "External Audio System") to enable the optical output.

If you would, try that and let us know if it works for you. You might also have to turn off the HDMI control feature on the TV, but we'll cross that bridge if we come to it.

 

[ARES24]

I just hate HTIBs with a passion. This is a typical HTIB fracas.

Maybe there should be a sticky in this section warning new users about posting these kind of problems. jk

 

[TLS Guy]

Well, you might decide that you want a fancier system - but let's see if we can get you set up on the one that you have now...then you can decide.

I'm working through Sony's online i-Manual, so I hope that I describe this sufficiently:

• Go to the Home menu.
• Go to the Sound menu.
• Go to the Speakers menu.
• Select "Audio System" (or maybe it's "External Audio System") to enable the optical output.

If you would, try that and let us know if it works for you. You might also have to turn off the HDMI control feature on the TV, but we'll cross that bridge if we come to it.

That i-manual is the dumbest thing I ever saw. What a mess. I guess I won't be buying or recommending Sony TVs anymore.

I guess the OP should work through customer service and make the manufacturers do some work for creating this mess. I bet he will get: - "My name is Peggy" though.

That LG unit looks close to fraudulent to me. There ought to be a prison sentence for marketing a fraud like that. And Sony need a big kick you no where.

On my unit and I think most, you have to switch off HDMI out, which is the audio via HDMI to the TV, in order to get sound to your external audio system.

I leave it switched off though, as my TV has no speakers. That is the way ALL flat panel TVs should be made. Trying to put speakers in flat panel TVs is just daft and a waste of money.

The OP needs to take that LG unit back and get something else. If he can't take it back, it needs a a few smart well directed hammer blows and a trip to the recycling center.

His room is quite big enough to drop 100K + of audio gear into if he desires.

 

[godsey1]

I went in to the home menu and went to the speaker option. The only thing it has (there are a few more options but none that deal with the optical plug settings) is to select the tv speakers or external, and it is set to external.

I will agree that the LG is a pretty bad system. It is the first time that I have bought a sound system. If we can't figure something out I will try another one, but a better system. thanks for the replies.

 

[TLS Guy]

I went in to the home menu and went to the speaker option. The only thing it has (there are a few more options but none that deal with the optical plug settings) is to select the tv speakers or external, and it is set to external.

I will agree that the LG is a pretty bad system. It is the first time that I have bought a sound system. If we can't figure something out I will try another one, but a better system. thanks for the replies.

This is not your fault. From the manuals I don't see a way out of this. Your only mistake, is that your bought junk. Junk products are the most expensive purchases you ever make, you can do no wrong by strenuously avoiding it.

What ever else you do, do not buy another HTIB,

 

[godsey1]

Areally big thanks for helping. I will check into getting a better system, one with hdmi in puts. Thanks again for eveyones help

Tony

 

[Adam]

Good morning, Tony.

Check to see if the "Control for HDMI" is set to "on" on your TV. If it is, set it to off and see if that fixes this issue.

I'm convinced that this is a settings issue and not something inherent in the new LG system. I could be wrong, of course, but I'd be very surprised. Companies work hard to make their products compatible with each other. However, the default settings don't always lend themselves to having everything work the way everyone wants it to, so don't be surprised when you need to go in and tweak some things.

HTiB aren't going to be top-of-the-line, but they might be perfect for you. HTiB are typically limited in the connectivity, but there are some that connect just as well as lower-priced receivers.

 

[godsey1]

That did it. It works with both cables hooked up. THANK you a bunch. This system will work until I find the right setup for our room. I am a happy TV watcher.

Tony

 

[Adam]

Awesome - I'm glad that it's working for you, now!

 

[godsey1]

My wife just got up and is happy that it is working. She was not happy that we were going to have to by another system