Marantz 7400 Digital Audio Out Question

[Littletommy]

Hello,

I have a Marantz 7400 receiver & I have three digital optical audio inputs in use. The TV cable box is set to Dig2, the DVD is set to Dig1, and the cd changer is set to Dig3. I have a pair of 'TV Ears' connected to the Marantz via the digital optical audio output, but the only signal I can get to the TV Ears is the cable box (Dig2) audio.

I was thinking that there would be some internal switching taking place so that when one of the digital inputs is selected,the same signal would feed the digital output. I guess that's not the case because when I switch to the DVD input (Dig1), I get no signal from the digital output. I can only get a signal when I have the input set to TV (Dig2).

I must be missing something here. Is there not a way to switch output signals?

Thanks!

 

[MDS]

Generally the way the digital audio out works is it outputs any signal that came in to the receiver digitally. It won't take an analog input and digitize it to send to the digital out. In your case, everything should be available on the digital out.

But, it depends on the format of the incoming digital signal. Usually the digital out can be set to output Dolby Digital or 2 channel PCM. I don't know if it will take a 5.1 DD stream and downmix it to 2 channel PCM if your output setting is set to 2 channel PCM. So check the digital out setting and compare it to what format the DVD and CD changer are sending the receiver.

The CD changer is certainly sending 2 channel PCM. If the digital out is set to DD, I don't think the receiver will pass it to its digital out.

 

[Adam]

Welcome to the forum!

You didn't mention trying the CD changer input on your TV Ears. Does that work? I ask because the Marantz manual specifically mentions that some DVD players inhibit digital output and to check the owners manual for your DVD player. If it also doesn't work when you select your CD changer, then it's something else.

 

[Littletommy]

Generally the way the digital audio out works is it outputs any signal that came in to the receiver digitally. It won't take an analog input and digitize it to send to the digital out. In your case, everything should be available on the digital out.

But, it depends on the format of the incoming digital signal. Usually the digital out can be set to output Dolby Digital or 2 channel PCM. I don't know if it will take a 5.1 DD stream and downmix it to 2 channel PCM if your output setting is set to 2 channel PCM. So check the digital out setting and compare it to what format the DVD and CD changer are sending the receiver.

The CD changer is certainly sending 2 channel PCM. If the digital out is set to DD, I don't think the receiver will pass it to its digital out.

I know how to set the digital inputs, but I cant seem to locate anywhere on the Marantz where I can check/change the digital output setting?

 

[Littletommy]

Welcome to the forum!

You didn't mention trying the CD changer input on your TV Ears. Does that work? I ask because the Marantz manual specifically mentions that some DVD players inhibit digital output and to check the owners manual for your DVD player. If it also doesn't work when you select your CD changer, then it's something else.

I just tried the CD changer & it's working fine through the TV Ears. It's a new blu-ray DVD player and when watching a movie, the 'DTS' indicator is lit. Since the TV Ears are analog, I have to run the digital optical output signal through a Gefen digital audio decoder to make them work.

The Gefen product states:

"The GefenTV Digital Audio Decoder takes audio encoded in Dolby Digital (at up to 5.1 channels) from your multichannel S/PDIF or TOSLINK digital audio source and converts it to L/R analog audio -- without the need for any other external equipment!"

*Converts S/PDIF or TOSLINK digital audio to L/R analog audio
*Digital interpolation filter and digital to analog converter (DAC)
*Supports up to 6 channels (up to 5.1 Surround) of audio encoded in Dolby Digital
*Auto samples at frequencies of 32, 44.1, 48 KHz

The product lit mentions nothing about DTS format. Could that possibly be the issue?

Many Thanks!

 

[Adam]

The product lit mentions nothing about DTS format. Could that possibly be the issue?

That sure sounds like the issue to me.

Try watching a disc with a Dolby Digital sound track on it and see if that works. Many blu-rays will have a Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track in addition to a DTS-HD track, so if you're watching one of those, you could manually select the DD track and see if that works. If you're watching a DVD, I'm not aware of many that have both DD and DTS, but some do. Many DVDs are encoded with a DD soundtrack, though.

 

[MDS]

I just tried the CD changer & it's working fine through the TV Ears. It's a new blu-ray DVD player and when watching a movie, the 'DTS' indicator is lit. Since the TV Ears are analog, I have to run the digital optical output signal through a Gefen digital audio decoder to make them work.

The Gefen product states:

"The GefenTV Digital Audio Decoder takes audio encoded in Dolby Digital (at up to 5.1 channels) from your multichannel S/PDIF or TOSLINK digital audio source and converts it to L/R analog audio -- without the need for any other external equipment!"

*Converts S/PDIF or TOSLINK digital audio to L/R analog audio
*Digital interpolation filter and digital to analog converter (DAC)
*Supports up to 6 channels (up to 5.1 Surround) of audio encoded in Dolby Digital
*Auto samples at frequencies of 32, 44.1, 48 KHz

The product lit mentions nothing about DTS format. Could that possibly be the issue?

Many Thanks!

Yep, I'd say that's the issue. You can always select the Dolby Digital track on the BluRay instead of the DTS track. Try that and see if it works.

What exactly are these 'TV ears'? Are they some kind of 2 channel speaker system? If so, you could also set the digital out of the bluray player to PCM, which will cause the player to downmix to 2 channel PCM.

 

[Adam]

What exactly are these 'TV ears'?

They're wireless headphones.

I guess that Google stopped serving people in Texas. J/K!

 

[Littletommy]

Yep, I'd say that's the issue. You can always select the Dolby Digital track on the BluRay instead of the DTS track. Try that and see if it works.

What exactly are these 'TV ears'? Are they some kind of 2 channel speaker system? If so, you could also set the digital out of the bluray player to PCM, which will cause the player to downmix to 2 channel PCM.

Yup...wireless headsets for those of us who can't hear anymore! They do help on certain movies/tv shows where the actors voices are 'muffled' or speaking in a foreign language.

 

[Littletommy]

That sure sounds like the issue to me.

Try watching a disc with a Dolby Digital sound track on it and see if that works. Many blu-rays will have a Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track in addition to a DTS-HD track, so if you're watching one of those, you could manually select the DD track and see if that works. If you're watching a DVD, I'm not aware of many that have both DD and DTS, but some do. Many DVDs are encoded with a DD soundtrack, though.

Switching the output format on the blu-ray player from DTS to DD did the trick! My 'Ears' are now working fine!

Thanks!

 

[Littletommy]

Yep, I'd say that's the issue. You can always select the Dolby Digital track on the BluRay instead of the DTS track. Try that and see if it works.

What exactly are these 'TV ears'? Are they some kind of 2 channel speaker system? If so, you could also set the digital out of the bluray player to PCM, which will cause the player to downmix to 2 channel PCM.

Switching the output format on the blu-ray player from DTS to DD did the trick! My 'Ears' are now working fine!

Thanks!