Need help with my setup - TV, PS4, and Z-5500

[TVGuyde]

First off, this stuff is all pretty new to me so some feedback from people who are more knowledgeable about it would be greatly appreciated! I have the Logitech Z-5500 connected through an optical cable to my TCL TV. However, due to restraints, I'm only using 3 speakers (front left, middle, and front right) and subwoofer.

In the Roku settings, I currently have it set to auto detect and it's recognizing the speakers as Stereo (but I also have the option to manually choose Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Digital DTS, Dolby Digital Plus DTS). I also have a PS4 that's connected to the TV through HDMI, and for PS4 audio settings, I have output as HDMI out and Audio Format as Bitstream Dolby (I can also choose Linear PCM and Bitstream DTS).

I've fiddled with different variations and here's what I noticed:

Roku Settings - When I have Dolby Digital or Dolby Digital, DTS chosen, the speakers are much quieter than when I have it in stereo mode through auto detect.

PS4 - When I have my output to Digital Out (Optical) and Audio Format to Bitstream Dolby or Bitstream (DTS), the speakers are much quieter than if I set the output to HDMI with Bitstream Dolby or Bitstream DTS. By default, the settings were on output HDMI and Audio Format as Linear PCM, which is also quieter than HDMI/Bitstream Dolby or DTS.

In all scenarios, the subwoofer doesn't seem to work at all. I know it's not the speakers since at my old place, I had the full 5.1 setup on the speakers and everything worked perfectly. Would only using 3 speakers affect this somehow?

I'm just trying to understand what I'm doing wrong here. Thanks in advance!

 

[lovinthehd]

It's one thing to have chosen a potential sound mode, but another as to what the content of your source is in. Are you testing 2.0 content or multich content? The loudness thing could simply be a larger load on the amplification section for all speakers vs just two, but not familiar with Logitech units like that. The subwoofer not working with 2.0 content might make sense, but if upmixing to 5.1 then you should be able to use it. What are you testing with particularly in the way of a show/disc?

 

[TVGuyde]

It's one thing to have chosen a potential sound mode, but another as to what the content of your source is in. Are you testing 2.0 content or multich content? The loudness thing could simply be a larger load on the amplification section for all speakers vs just two, but not familiar with Logitech units like that. The subwoofer not working with 2.0 content might make sense, but if upmixing to 5.1 then you should be able to use it. What are you testing with particularly in the way of a show/disc?

I’m testing through the PS4 (games, Netflix) as well as the Netflix app itself through RokuTV and assume it’s multichannel content.

I’m not sure what you mean by upmixing or how to do that, but I just assumed everything would work even if I’m only using 3 speakers and I have the settings set up properly on my TV and PS4. I’ve tried different things, but can’t seem to get the sub to work. Completely lost here, so thanks for helping me out!

 

[lovinthehd]

I’m testing through the PS4 (games, Netflix) as well as the Netflix app itself through RokuTV and assume it’s multichannel content.

I’m not sure what you mean by upmixing or how to do that, but I just assumed everything would work even if I’m only using 3 speakers and I have the settings set up properly on my TV and PS4. I’ve tried different things, but can’t seem to get the sub to work. Completely lost here, so thanks for helping me out!

Well, there should be information in the Netflix app as to audio in play and in a tv it may not be multich (it isn't in my smart tvs but they're fairly old smart tvs, too). Apps aren't equal in all devices necessarily, what specific model of RokuTV do you have? Does the RokuTV (if like an Apple TV but not sure) connect to the tv via hdmi also? Some tvs do not pass back out but 2.0 audio (and since your Logitech device indicates stereo....). Does your Logitech have hdmi inputs at all?

Not sure if you're getting audio from L/R only or also center speakers? By quiet you mean you do get audio in each channel but you expected it to be louder? If you have only L/R/C speaker and it gets a 5.1 signal perhaps it can't downmix but to 2.0? (upmix would be the reverse process, say taking 2.0 audio and making 3.1 or 5.1).

 

[TVGuyde]

Well, there should be information in the Netflix app as to audio in play and in a tv it may not be multich (it isn't in my smart tvs but they're fairly old smart tvs, too). Apps aren't equal in all devices necessarily, what specific model of RokuTV do you have? Does the RokuTV (if like an Apple TV but not sure) connect to the tv via hdmi also? Some tvs do not pass back out but 2.0 audio (and since your Logitech device indicates stereo....). Does your Logitech have hdmi inputs at all?

Not sure if you're getting audio from L/R only or also center speakers? By quiet you mean you do get audio in each channel but you expected it to be louder? If you have only L/R/C speaker and it gets a 5.1 signal perhaps it can't downmix but to 2.0? (upmix would be the reverse process, say taking 2.0 audio and making 3.1 or 5.1).

I have the TCL 65R625 which has Roku built into it and the Logitech doesn’t have any HDMI inputs. I’m getting sound from all speakers with my current settings, but when I put it to auto detect mode in Roku and it becomes recognized as stereo, I realized the middle speaker doesn’t work, thus making the volume sound lower. However, if I manually choose Dolby Digital mode then I get sound in all three speakers, but the sub doesn’t work no matter which mode I’m in.

 

[lovinthehd]

I have the TCL 65R625 which has Roku built into it and the Logitech doesn’t have any HDMI inputs. I’m getting sound from all speakers with my current settings, but when I put it to auto detect mode in Roku and it becomes recognized as stereo, I realized the middle speaker doesn’t work, thus making the volume sound lower. However, if I manually choose Dolby Digital mode then I get sound in all three speakers, but the sub doesn’t work no matter which mode I’m in.

Sounds like the tv outputs 2.0. From a glance at the manual for your Logitech seems it should be able to upmix via the Dolby Pro Logic sound mode. What does the subwoofer level show as?

 

[TVGuyde]

Sounds like the tv outputs 2.0. From a glance at the manual for your Logitech seems it should be able to upmix via the Dolby Pro Logic sound mode. What does the subwoofer level show as?

I can adjust the bass in settings, but it’ll only affect the bass of the speakers and not the actual sub itself. Nothing I do will get the sub to function. Somebody else who towns the same set just said it was a limitation of these since it’s an old set meant for PC and not necessarily for a TV. It’s looking like I’ll probably have to finally let these rest and move to a sound bar. Appreciate the help!

 

[lovinthehd]

I can adjust the bass in settings, but it’ll only affect the bass of the speakers and not the actual sub itself. Nothing I do will get the sub to function. Somebody else who towns the same set just said it was a limitation of these since it’s an old set meant for PC and not necessarily for a TV. It’s looking like I’ll probably have to finally let these rest and move to a sound bar. Appreciate the help!

There's no actual sub level? I was chatting with someone who has a different Logitech unit and he has no problem getting 2.0 to 3.1 with the upmixer, he also mentioned that the sub level if turned to it's minimum setting essentially turns the sub off. Maybe yours is a bit different? I see in your manual that there's a sub level adjust on your remote so was wondering....

 

[TVGuyde]

There's no actual sub level? I was chatting with someone who has a different Logitech unit and he has no problem getting 2.0 to 3.1 with the upmixer, he also mentioned that the sub level if turned to it's minimum setting essentially turns the sub off. Maybe yours is a bit different? I see in your manual that there's a sub level adjust on your remote so was wondering....

Yeah, even if I turn the sub level all the way up, all it does is turn up the bass on the speakers and not the sub itself. For whatever reason, I’m guessing it’s because it’s not in the native 5.1 setup and it’s being finnicky as a result.

 

[lovinthehd]

Yeah, even if I turn the sub level all the way up, all it does is turn up the bass on the speakers and not the sub itself. For whatever reason, I’m guessing it’s because it’s not in the native 5.1 setup and it’s being finnicky as a result.

I'm curious if you just hooked up two more speakers if the sub would work?