What are the best audio settings?

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eracode

4083 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

# 83232 12-May-2011 22:14

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.

Speedy885

145 posts

Master Geek

# 475213 28-May-2011 18:35

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

4083 posts

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Subscriber

# 475313 29-May-2011 05:33

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

2191 posts

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# 475314 29-May-2011 05:55

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.

Sony 65" A8F OLED TV | Sony 65" X850F LED TV | Sony 55" X900F LED TV

BuckoNZ

129 posts

Master Geek

# 487589 29-Jun-2011 22:38

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

349 posts

Ultimate Geek

# 487605 29-Jun-2011 23:31

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

129 posts

Master Geek

# 487757 30-Jun-2011 11:13

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

349 posts

Ultimate Geek

# 488017 30-Jun-2011 18:38

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.

BuckoNZ

129 posts

Master Geek

# 488018 30-Jun-2011 18:48

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

1022 posts

Uber Geek

# 488134 1-Jul-2011 07:58

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.

BuckoNZ

129 posts

Master Geek

# 488141 1-Jul-2011 08:16

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

349 posts

Ultimate Geek

# 488207 1-Jul-2011 11:37

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

illicit

553 posts

Ultimate Geek

# 488225 1-Jul-2011 12:16

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....?