Interconnection of devices--TV, Computer, AV Receiver

[cfxwt]

I'm brand new to this site and a technological Luddite. So, please bear with me if I don't use correct terminology or pose silly questions. Here is one that others might consider simple and obvious but it's got me confused. I have my main computer and 2 screens in my main floor office. Among other things, the computer is used to access my music sources via Roon software. My music library is housed in a Roon Nucleus + computer located in my main listening room--the living room. Roon is configured to direct the same or different music to any one or more of 6 locations throughout my home. In addition, my main office screen is a 55 inch Samsung TV that I essentially employ as both a computer screen and, when desired, I can also watch TV on it while using the second screen to do traditional computer work. Finally, for our purposes, I recently acquired an Onkyo TX-NR696 AV receiver to drive the audio in my office through bookshelf speakers and a sub-woofer which provide significantly improved audio performance.

My problem is this: both the TV and the Receiver have multiple HDMI inputs including one HDMI e-Arc connection on each of them. I use a few outboard boxes in this room including ROKU and Rogers Ignite TV (a wireless "cable" service). The audio output from my computer is plugged into an HDMI input on my receiver, while the Rogers box and ROKU devices are plugged into HDMI inputs on the TV. I switch TV views by using my Samsung remote and selecting the appropriate HDMI source on the TV. In turn, the TV's sound output runs via HDMI e-arc connection directly to the Onkyo receiver HDMI e-Arc connection. As a result of this routing, the Receiver display shows "TV" no matter what audio or video source I am playing. I am also finding that the TV setup for each of the remaining devices doesn't always allow me to optimize their performance: for example, I cannot configure the TV's audio to output itself to my stereo system and appear to be restricted to using the TV's built-in speakers when viewing that source. There are other imporant settings, both video and audio, that I am unable to access and use on these inputs.

At this point, I am assuming that the signal paths that were used are inappropriate. Should we have plugged the outboard devices directly into the receiver instead of the TV? What about the computer's audio and video outputs--should these be connected to the TV or the receiver? Is there any special order of connection? What benefit does the HDMI e-Arc connection provide to me?

I am hopelessly confused and have been unable to resolve the foregoing problems which, by the way, I did not experience when I was using the predessor to the new Onkyo recently installed: it was an old Denon receiver with no HDMI connection. The signal pathways were the same as I have described above with the exception that audio signals were carried over optical rather than HDMI connections.

Sorry for this prolix presentation. I would very much appreciate any input this Forum's membership can provide.

 

[BMXTRIX]

I am hopelessly confused and have been unable to resolve the foregoing problems which, by the way, I did not experience when I was using the predessor to the new Onkyo recently installed: it was an old Denon receiver with no HDMI connection. The signal pathways were the same as I have described above with the exception that audio signals were carried over optical rather than HDMI connections.

You have everything connected properly, it just doesn't f'kn work. Welcome to HDMI and the world of ARC and eARC audio.

You would have to go into the TV to ensure that HDMI audio is enabled, which it sounds like it is since you are getting it from other devices plugged into the receiver. Onkyo is also notorious for not always having the most reliable firmware, so that could play into it. But, mostly, manufacturers just can't seem to get any real standard in place which will actually work properly all the time.

The best practice is typically to plug all your sources directly into your AV receiver (Onkyo) and allow it to process that audio properly and pass video onto the TV. The TV will always stay on the same input, but the receiver will switch to new inputs as your switch sources. For audio from TV viewing, if eARC doesn't work, you can still use the optical audio output from the TV into the Onkyo. It isn't the 'best possible' way to do things, but as you already know, it is a solution that actually works reliably, which is often more important. I mean, if the choice is TV speakers, or your bookshelf speakers, then find a way to use the bookshelf speakers. But, the reality is that the TV shouldn't ever be used for direct content playback. That's what you have a computer, cable box, and Roku for.

 

[cfxwt]

Thank you very much for your insight and comments! Even though mystery remains, I do feel better knowing that I am not the only one affected by these seemingly simple issues. I will reconnect various items to ensure that they are plugged into the receiver instead of the TV, and, use the TV input on the receiver to control the screen, as recommended. Let's see what that does.

Your time, effort and advice are deeply appreciated.

Dave

 

[Trebdp83]

Hello and welcome. The Onkyo TX-NR696 supports ARC, but not eARC. So, HDMI-CEC needs to be on for it to work. Samsung calls HDMI-CEC "Anynet+" in their TVs. Turning it on will allow for audio to be sent to the receiver via ARC but will also introduce issues as it will change the receiver's source input to the TV input when you want it to be on something else. With devices connected directly to the TV and audio sent out using ARC, the receiver will always display TV. The least amount of headaches will be had with HDMI-CEC(Anynet+) turned Off and you connect all of your external devices to the receiver and send an audio signal from the TV to the receiver using an optical cable. Once connected, you must toggle over to the Sound tile in the TV Smart hub and change the audio output from TV Speakers to Optical Output.

One issue may be the computer connection. Can audio and video not be combined into a single HDMI output for connection to the receiver? If not, then video will need to be connected directly to the TV with audio connected to the receiver. This will not present any problems with HDMI-CEC Off. You will simply have to make two source selections. You'll change the video source to your PC in the TV and the audio source in the receiver to your PC as well.

 

[cfxwt]

Hello and welcome. The Onkyo TX-NR696 supports ARC, but not eARC. So, HDMI-CEC needs to be on for it to work. Samsung calls HDMI-CEC "Anynet+" in their TVs. Turning it on will allow for audio to be sent to the receiver via ARC but will also introduce issues as it will change the receiver's source input to the TV input when you want it to be on something else. With devices connected directly to the TV and audio sent out using ARC, the receiver will always display TV. The least amount of headaches will be had with HDMI-CEC(Anynet+) turned Off and you connect all of your external devices to the receiver and send an audio signal from the TV to the receiver using an optical cable. Once connected, you must toggle over to the Sound tile in the TV Smart hub and change the audio output from TV Speakers to Optical Output.

One issue may be the computer connection. Can audio and video not be combined into a single HDMI output for connection to the receiver? If not, then video will need to be connected directly to the TV with audio connected to the receiver. This will not present any problems with HDMI-CEC Off. You will simply have to make two source selections. You'll change the video source to your PC in the TV and the audio source in the receiver to your PC as well.

Thank you so much for this information. It was very geneous of you to spend the time replying to my post. You know a great deal of granular information about the equipment I''m using. I am hopeful that these annoyances can be wrestled to the ground! Oh, and I will look into the question you raised about splitting / combining video and audio sources.

Dave

 

[-Jim-]

I agree the easiest way is to make the Home Theater receiver the control center, and primarily use the TV as just a big monitor. A lot of us don't use the Tuner in the TV but some use an App or two and use eArc or Optical to get that sound into the HT Receiver.

If your computer has an HDMI output, it carries both the video and audio signals. I connect my main computer (in the Man Cave /Junk Room) into the Home Theater setup via a single HMDI cable. If there is no video (think like Windows Media Player) a computer screen shot is sent along with the sound from the tunes - whichever screen you have mapped over. I run dual 24 inch Samsung monitors, and clone the second monitor over to the 55 inch Samsung TV via a Denon HT Receiver. You can drag Windows Media Player to whatever monitor you please (as with almost all Apps). So there's lots of flexibility there. I play YouTube videos on the TV as well. Once in a while I'll connect a Laptop into the Denon via HDMI to see a video or program on the TV.

If you have any more questions, just ask.

 

[Trebdp83]

Oh, forgot to mention that while viewing the TV tuner, its apps or any devices connected directly to the TV, you will not be able to view the Onkyo’s Setup Menu, Quick Menu or Information screens on the TV until you switch to the HDMI input to which the receiver is connected. If you are currently using HDMI-CEC, the TV should have labeled the ARC HDMI port “AV Receiver” and placed it in your source tiles in the TV Smart Hub. It might be labeled “Unknown.” Selecting it will pass the source video of the selected device connected to the Onkyo and menus will now be viewable on the TV screen.

The audio of devices connected directly to the TV will be heard from the Onkyo after a few settings are made. In the Onkyo Setup Menu, go to 5. Hardware and select it. Then, select 1. HDMI. Make sure HDMI-CEC and ARC are both On. Then, go back to the TV Smart hub, move over to the Settings tile. Depending on the model, you should see a Quick Settings menu that includes Sound Output. If it is set to TV Speakers, change it to Receiver(HDMI) to activate ARC. If you’ve already done all of that, well, forget I mentioned it.

 

[cfxwt]

You have everything connected properly, it just doesn't f'kn work. Welcome to HDMI and the world of ARC and eARC audio.

You would have to go into the TV to ensure that HDMI audio is enabled, which it sounds like it is since you are getting it from other devices plugged into the receiver. Onkyo is also notorious for not always having the most reliable firmware, so that could play into it. But, mostly, manufacturers just can't seem to get any real standard in place which will actually work properly all the time.

The best practice is typically to plug all your sources directly into your AV receiver (Onkyo) and allow it to process that audio properly and pass video onto the TV. The TV will always stay on the same input, but the receiver will switch to new inputs as your switch sources. For audio from TV viewing, if eARC doesn't work, you can still use the optical audio output from the TV into the Onkyo. It isn't the 'best possible' way to do things, but as you already know, it is a solution that actually works reliably, which is often more important. I mean, if the choice is TV speakers, or your bookshelf speakers, then find a way to use the bookshelf speakers. But, the reality is that the TV shouldn't ever be used for direct content playback. That's what you have a computer, cable box, and Roku for.

You certainly hit the nail on the head in your 2 opening sentences--very eloquently I might add!
Thank you for your comprehensive recommendations. I really do appreciate it! Indeed, all of the responders provided extremely useful and aligned information with confident expertise. This is, as mentioned, the first time I have posted on this forum: I am more than pleased with the direction, knowledge and effort of all the responders. Thank you!