Getting TV audio via optical cable from my Panasonic TV to my Panasonic HTS

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Getting TV audio via optical cable from my Panasonic TV to my Panasonic HTS

Cabinet

10 posts

Wannabe Geek

#113428 16-Jan-2013 18:48

Hi,

I have a Panasonic THP42S10Z TV and a Panasonic SA-PT550 HTS connected by HDMI and by optical cable. DVDs work fine and play through the HTS speakers nicely, but I can't get the TV audio to play through the HTS.

I found some instructions on Slide #11 of this: http://tsn.pstc.panasonic.com/PASS/olt/files/MISC/Vieralink/VieraLink_for_Technician.pdf

But I can't follow the steps, because, as it says...

1. Viera Link must also be turned ON.
a) The Home Theater’s remote SETUP button only works
when in DVD mode. Select DVD and press the SETUP
button to get the main menu.
b) Select HDMI (shown) or External connections (not shown)

to get the picture below.
c) Change Viera Link to ON as shown. Press Setup to exit.
Viera link is turned on, and the setup button does indeed only work when in DVD mode.

And yet the following instructions say...

2. An Aux audio cable is needed for TV sound.
a) Analog - Connecting analog audio wires (L & R) between
the TV and Home Theater will provide sound.
b) Digital - If a Fiber Optics cable is used instead, a digital
menu setting is needed. On the PT760 receiver, press Select
until either AUX or D-In input appears in the front display.
c) Press SETUP (remote only) and choose “TV audio”& OK.
Press arrow up or down to view AUX (analog default).
d) Change to digital by pressing SETUP again and the arrow
up button to D-In.

(I realise that says PT760 receiver, but the instructions are meant to be generic).

So these tell me to select D-In and then press SETUP, but as they've just previously stated, you can only press SETUP when in DVD mode, so I can't access anything called 'TV audio'.

Other info: the TV is set to Dolby Digital, and output is set to 'Home Cinema'.

Anyone have any ideas? :/

Thanks in advance.

Cabinet

10 posts

Wannabe Geek

#745931 16-Jan-2013 20:36

Update: got the HTS to switch to D-In automatically using these instructions from the manual:
When you switch the television input to:
? TV tuner mode, the home theater system will automatically
switch to ?AUX ?*
or ?D-IN?*

*
To toggle the mode that this function works with, press
[?SETUP] while the main unit is in ?AUX ? or ?D-IN? mode.
? The default setting is ?AUX ?.

The bad news: still no sound.

Cabinet

10 posts

Wannabe Geek

#746027 16-Jan-2013 23:13

Second update: I get TV audio through the HTS speakers when I connect RCA cables and set the HTS to AUX. Silence when I set it to D-In.

The optical cable is really loose at both connections, but I am seeing a light which I presume proves that the TV's output and the cable itself are working properly.

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#746096 17-Jan-2013 08:27

The optical cable is really loose at both connections, but I am seeing a light which I presume proves that the TV's output and the cable itself are working properly.

Not necessarily. It shouldn't be loose at all. It should be a tight fit.
The plugs should fit quite snugly into the sockets making a light-tight joint. Make sure they are pushed right in to the socket. They also have a locating key on the plug so will only plug in completely when correctly located (unless they are the 3.5mm round variety looking like ordinary stereo plugs).
Could still be a faulty cable or faulty sockets.
May be worth trying another cable.

trig42

5813 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#746101 17-Jan-2013 08:36

Is there somewhere in the TVs setup to turn on or off the optical audio output?

But yeah, optical cables should fit nice and snug.

Goosey

2832 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#746110 17-Jan-2013 08:50

trig42: Is there somewhere in the TVs setup to turn on or off the optical audio output?

But yeah, optical cables should fit nice and snug.

+1 check the TV settings
also have you got sky or somthing else in the loop anywhere?

Cabinet

10 posts

Wannabe Geek

#746434 17-Jan-2013 16:08

Thanks for the replies. This is the cable I've got: http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?z=p&p=CABDNX7048&name=Dynamix-3M-Toslink-Fibre-Optic-Cable-OD-6.0

Yes, it is oriented correctly, but it's not even vaguely tight and a slight tug will pull it out of the socket. I can try another cable but I've seen some posts on other forums of people saying that their connections are fine even though the cables are loose.

Can't see anything in the TV's setup or the manual about needing to enable digital audio out, and as I said, the light is shining through the cable so I assume it's on, but I can check the manual again.

Sky (not HD) is connected to the TV via the AV in but I have the same problem whether I'm running Sky or the Freeview that's built into the TV.

Unfortunately both the TV and the HTS are new to me (second hand) so I'm fairly concerned that one or both may be faulty.

Brunzy

2016 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#746438 17-Jan-2013 16:13

Sure you haven't left the plastic cover on the end?

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#746440 17-Jan-2013 16:13

Gooseybhai:
trig42: Is there somewhere in the TVs setup to turn on or off the optical audio output?

But yeah, optical cables should fit nice and snug.

+1 check the TV settings
also have you got sky or somthing else in the loop anywhere?

+1
Make sure optical out is turned on in the TV Menu although nit may be on all the time by default.
From memory my Sony outputs optical if the sound is set to TV or External. When set to external the audio volume level is fixed, TV speakers off, and volume must be controlled by the external amp.

Cabinet

10 posts

Wannabe Geek

#746583 17-Jan-2013 21:46

Just went through the manual again. It has instructions for connecting a home theatre system, and it says:

If you wish to enjoy the multi-channel sound (e.g. Dolby Digital 5.1ch) via an Amplifier, connect with HDMI cable and Optical digital audio cable (p. 36), and then select "Home Cinema".

And p. 36 says:

To use Player theatre / Blu-ray Disc theatre:

HDMI cable
Optical digital audio cable
or RCA cable

Definitely nothing about needing to enable digital audio out, and nothing in any of the menus.

The optical cable is also really loose on the connection to my blu-ray player (not currently in the loop), so I'll try to get a replacement and hope that's the problem.

And yes I did take off the plastic covers.

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#746652 18-Jan-2013 08:49

Cabinet: Second update: I get TV audio through the HTS speakers when I connect RCA cables and set the HTS to AUX. Silence when I set it to D-In.

The optical cable is really loose at both connections, but I am seeing a light which I presume proves that the TV's output and the cable itself are working properly.

Found this in your manual (Slide #22).

1. My Viera Link never worked. TV sound only works. Home
theater volume number changes but no sound.
No audio cable present in the hookup. Add analog audio cables.

Would certainly indicate your optical cable or connection is at fault!!

Cabinet

10 posts

Wannabe Geek

#747058 18-Jan-2013 18:13

Got a different optical cable from Dick Smith; this one clicks in, and it carries sound: bingo. Just a shame that this one cost $40 and the other one only cost me $14.

Thanks to everyone for the help.

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#747071 18-Jan-2013 18:33

Cabinet: Got a different optical cable from Dick Smith; this one clicks in, and it carries sound: bingo. Just a shame that this one cost $40 and the other one only cost me $14.

Thanks to everyone for the help.

Magic. Pity about the cost but it works.

Goosey

2832 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#747133 18-Jan-2013 20:58

good work !

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#748024 21-Jan-2013 00:23

Did PB's give you your money back?
Or reimburse you for the time their 'affordable' cable stole from your life?