Geekzone: technology news, blogs, forums
Guest
Welcome Guest.
You haven't logged in yet. If you don't have an account you can register now.


eracode

Smpl Mnmlst
8853 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified
Trusted
Subscriber

#83232 12-May-2011 22:14
Send private message

We have just had to have our My Sky box replaced. I am looking at the audio settings that the Sky guy left us with on Sky's 'Audio & Language Settings' screen.

The Sky box is connected to an upper-market Sony AV receiver via an HDMI cable. The receiver is driving a 5.1 speaker arrangement.

The 'HDMI Digital Audio Output' setting has 'Dolby' or 'MPEG/PCM' options. The SPDIF Digital Audio Output setting has the same options. I am not at all sure what the best settings are and would welcome advice. Am I right in thinking that the SPDIF setting is irrelevant if we are using HDMI?




Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.


Create new topic
Speedy885
182 posts

Master Geek


  #475213 28-May-2011 18:35
Send private message

Both HDMI and SPDIF carry digital audio so it wont matter which one you use. Choose Dolby digital so you can have 5.1 sound on TV3 and other channels that have 5.1 sound (dont have HDi so cant tell you which channels). MPEG/PCM is only stereo audio as far as I know but on most of the channels you dont have a choice.



eracode

Smpl Mnmlst
8853 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified
Trusted
Subscriber

  #475313 29-May-2011 05:33
Send private message

mikelday: Both HDMI and SPDIF carry digital audio so it wont matter which one you use. Choose Dolby digital so you can have 5.1 sound on TV3 and other channels that have 5.1 sound (dont have HDi so cant tell you which channels). MPEG/PCM is only stereo audio as far as I know but on most of the channels you dont have a choice.


Many thanks for this. I posted this a few weeks ago and was a bit disappointed no-one replied.

I couldn't hear any difference between the two settings but had put it on Dolby for no real reason.

Cheers




Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.


corksta
2397 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted
Subscriber

  #475314 29-May-2011 05:55
Send private message

And yes you're right the S/PDIF setting is irrelevant if using HDMI for video and audio.

Setting it to Dolby is correct too - this allows the MySky box to send the Dolby Digital signal to your receiver so that you hear movies, sport, etc in 5.1 sound.




2020 MacBook Air M1 (Space Grey) | 2023 Mac mini M2 | 2021 iPad Pro 11" M1 (Space Grey) | 2021 iPad mini (Space Grey) | iPhone 15 Pro Max (Natural Titanium) | HomePod (Space Grey) | 10x HomePod mini (Space Grey, White, Yellow, Blue, Orange) | 4x Apple TV 4K | Apple Watch Ultra 2




BuckoNZ
136 posts

Master Geek


  #487589 29-Jun-2011 22:38
Send private message


I was under the impression that you could only get Dolby 5.1 sound via the SPDIF connection but that the SPDIF connection was disabled, when you use the HDMI connector?

tkr001
416 posts

Ultimate Geek


  #487605 29-Jun-2011 23:31
Send private message

BuckoNZ:
I was under the impression that you could only get Dolby 5.1 sound via the SPDIF connection but that the SPDIF connection was disabled, when you use the HDMI connector?



They changed so 5.1 was available over HDMI in an update ages ago now. Don't believe SPDIF was ever disabled. 

BuckoNZ
136 posts

Master Geek


  #487757 30-Jun-2011 11:13
Send private message

Well, that's great news!! Only wish I heard about this development sooner!  :)   Off to find a SDPIF cable to go to my Receiver for when there are 5.1 shows!

tkr001
416 posts

Ultimate Geek


  #488017 30-Jun-2011 18:38
Send private message

BuckoNZ: Well, that's great news!! Only wish I heard about this development sooner!  :)   Off to find a SDPIF cable to go to my Receiver for when there are 5.1 shows!



Why? 5.1 is carried over HDMI so if you have a reciever plug HDMI into the receiver. No need for SPDIF.  

 
 
 
 

Shop now on Samsung phones, tablets, TVs and more (affiliate link).
BuckoNZ
136 posts

Master Geek


  #488018 30-Jun-2011 18:48
Send private message

I don't want to fire up my Receiver everytime I watch TV.  I just want the ability to watch my "prime time" shows (the few that have it) in 5.1.  So I'm currently running HDMI from the Sky box to the TV and will add a SPID cable from the Sky box to my Receiver.

clevedon
1059 posts

Uber Geek


  #488134 1-Jul-2011 07:58
Send private message

BuckoNZ: I don't want to fire up my Receiver everytime I watch TV.  I just want the ability to watch my "prime time" shows (the few that have it) in 5.1.  So I'm currently running HDMI from the Sky box to the TV and will add a SPID cable from the Sky box to my Receiver.


How will you know what is in 5.1 if your receiver is off? Any TV guides are highly unreliable in this resect, I reckon anything and everything sounds better through the receiver than any crappy TV speakers anyway. And our Harmony remote does all the setup with the touch of one button.Wink

BuckoNZ
136 posts

Master Geek


  #488141 1-Jul-2011 08:16
Send private message

Yeah. I have a Harmony ONE so I'm aware of it's benefits. ;)

The speakers in my Samsung Tulip M8 actually aren't too bad.  Often shows that have 5.1 audio usually have the "5.1 logo" when the show begins. If it's a show that you regularly watch, you will get to know pretty quickly.  Call me a blouse, but I just don't want to fire up my Receiver, each and everytime I watch TV.

tkr001
416 posts

Ultimate Geek


  #488207 1-Jul-2011 11:37
Send private message

BuckoNZ: Yeah. I have a Harmony ONE so I'm aware of it's benefits. ;)

The speakers in my Samsung Tulip M8 actually aren't too bad.  Often shows that have 5.1 audio usually have the "5.1 logo" when the show begins. If it's a show that you regularly watch, you will get to know pretty quickly.  Call me a blouse, but I just don't want to fire up my Receiver, each and everytime I watch TV.



Blouse Cool 

illicit
553 posts

Ultimate Geek


  #488225 1-Jul-2011 12:16
Send private message

BuckoNZ:  I have a Harmony ONE

 I just don't want to fire up my Receiver, each and everytime I watch TV.




I can't understand your logic.

You don't have to 'fire up' your receiver everytime - your remote does it all for you....? 

Create new topic





News and reviews »

Air New Zealand Starts AI adoption with OpenAI
Posted 24-Jul-2025 16:00


eero Pro 7 Review
Posted 23-Jul-2025 12:07


BeeStation Plus Review
Posted 21-Jul-2025 14:21


eero Unveils New Wi-Fi 7 Products in New Zealand
Posted 21-Jul-2025 00:01


WiZ Introduces HDMI Sync Box and other Light Devices
Posted 20-Jul-2025 17:32


RedShield Enhances DDoS and Bot Attack Protection
Posted 20-Jul-2025 17:26


Seagate Ships 30TB Drives
Posted 17-Jul-2025 11:24


Oclean AirPump A10 Water Flosser Review
Posted 13-Jul-2025 11:05


Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7: Raising the Bar for Smartphones
Posted 10-Jul-2025 02:01


Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 Brings New Edge-To-Edge FlexWindow
Posted 10-Jul-2025 02:01


Epson Launches New AM-C550Z WorkForce Enterprise printer
Posted 9-Jul-2025 18:22


Samsung Releases Smart Monitor M9
Posted 9-Jul-2025 17:46


Nearly Half of Older Kiwis Still Write their Passwords on Paper
Posted 9-Jul-2025 08:42


D-Link 4G+ Cat6 Wi-Fi 6 DWR-933M Mobile Hotspot Review
Posted 1-Jul-2025 11:34


Oppo A5 Series Launches With New Levels of Durability
Posted 30-Jun-2025 10:15









Geekzone Live »

Try automatic live updates from Geekzone directly in your browser, without refreshing the page, with Geekzone Live now.



Are you subscribed to our RSS feed? You can download the latest headlines and summaries from our stories directly to your computer or smartphone by using a feed reader.