optical audio output

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Batman

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#802202 19-Apr-2013 11:56

essentially your output is either headphone (3.5mm) or optical
you want to plug into input which is either HDMI or headphone (3.5mm)

you have two options
1) use the headphone out plug to headphone in and accept less than ideal (note I didn't say perfect if you want great sound you wouldn't have bought a soundbar) sound output, but the sound could be extremely distorted IF it will were processed by your tv before being sent to the bar - set your sound to flat EQ and turn off all funny surround modulators if the sound is weird - if this makes no difference that means your tv DSP does not affect headphone jack which is good for you

2) buy an optical to analogue converter and some cable adaptors to get the jacks you need

3) give the thing back

Batman

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#802204 19-Apr-2013 11:57

I suggest you try option 1 first the most hassle free

kiwirock

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#802266 19-Apr-2013 13:35

If the device has a headphone "in" then the impedance of the 'in' will be it'll be built for it. If it doesn't, you shouldn't use a headphone jack to power anything other than headphones or if you're lucky 8 ohm speakers if the headphone jack is built for 8 ohm not 600 ohm cans. The impedance will be all wrong and the voltage on the headphone output will be very high for the little power delivered (in this case little volume). One way to cook an audio line input is to drive it with a headphone source! People do it, some get away with it, and others just don't notice if it damages the circuitry and sound. Play roulette if you wish, as an engineer from building broadcast studios, I wouldn't dream of matching headphone outputs with unbalanced line level inputs.

That cable for the X-Box, I can't comment on it because I don't know enough about X-Boxes. I'd imagine the device has circuitry in it to convert the signal to analogue since HDMI is all digital and is powered by the X-Box. But that's assuming it's an HDMI connector in the first place. Unless it's a custom connector and the audio decoding happens on the X-Box its self or provides power to the circuitry in the adaptor.

You need an optical audio to HDMI converter by the sound of it.

cychronz

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#802294 19-Apr-2013 13:59

Hi,
It is possible to convert the Optical output from the TV -> HDMI into the soundbar, and buying the converter might be cheaper than replacing the soundbar.

quick google search found http://www.rapalloav.co.nz/hdmi-2/hdmi-processing/hdmi-dvi-vga-ypbpr-convert/component-ypbpr-s-pdif-digital-coax-optical-toslink-audio-to-hdmi-converter.html

nickb800

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#802299 19-Apr-2013 14:02

cychronz: Hi,
It is possible to convert the Optical output from the TV -> HDMI into the soundbar, and buying the converter might be cheaper than replacing the soundbar.

quick google search found http://www.rapalloav.co.nz/hdmi-2/hdmi-processing/hdmi-dvi-vga-ypbpr-convert/component-ypbpr-s-pdif-digital-coax-optical-toslink-audio-to-hdmi-converter.html

It would work, but the TV wouldn't control the volume, so you would need to get up and hit the volume buttons on the soundbar to adjust the volume. Thats the problem with any solution that uses optical output from the TV

cychronz

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#802316 19-Apr-2013 14:27

100% correct...for some reason I expected the soundbar to have a separate remote...

nickb800

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#802317 19-Apr-2013 14:29

cychronz: 100% correct...for some reason I expected the soundbar to have a separate remote...

And I'm sure the OP did too! Bit of a perfect storm here of device (in)compatibilities

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B1GGLZ

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#802350 19-Apr-2013 16:00

cychronz: 100% correct...for some reason I expected the soundbar to have a separate remote...

According to all the user manuals I've found online it's supposed to come with a remote.

robjg63

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#802354 19-Apr-2013 16:06

The OP states the in the UK it does come with a remote - the OP appears to be in the UK so I realised after a couple of posts.
I am sure there are optical to HDMI sound converters available in the UK.

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#803103 21-Apr-2013 16:15

hate to break this to you -

I presume the soundbar can make use of multichannel audio to produce simulated surround ...

if you use your TV as optical sound out, all sound will be downgraded and mixed into 2 channels by your friendly tv ...

Toadhallglos

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#803262 21-Apr-2013 20:42

Hi again and here is the update!!!......
Even though I searched for "Toslink to HDMI" Amazon threw up the X Box cable assembly which the 'Tech guy' said looked good enough to try... guess what? X Box does not have an HDMI plug, it just looks like one.
so a waste of time and verification for several of you who were sceptical in the first place.
I then tried connecting the HDMI cable coming out of my Freesat (like Freeview but comes via a satellite dish - not sure if you have that in NZ) and sound was 'good' thanks for the suggestion about a Freeview box which led me to try this. However, in the UK the Freeview boxes do not have Toslink sockets (that I have found so far) so it may be a simple task of always watching programs via the Freesat box and using a splitter cable to send video to the TV and audio to the Soundbar - not an expensive option so I will try that.
Yes ther are 'clever boxes' to convert Toslink to HDMI but at a price = last resort!
Thank you all for your input, it really is appreciated.

robjg63

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#803266 21-Apr-2013 20:50

Toadhallglos: Hi again and here is the update!!!......
Even though I searched for "Toslink to HDMI" Amazon threw up the X Box cable assembly which the 'Tech guy' said looked good enough to try... guess what? X Box does not have an HDMI plug, it just looks like one.
so a waste of time and verification for several of you who were sceptical in the first place.
I then tried connecting the HDMI cable coming out of my Freesat (like Freeview but comes via a satellite dish - not sure if you have that in NZ) and sound was 'good' thanks for the suggestion about a Freeview box which led me to try this. However, in the UK the Freeview boxes do not have Toslink sockets (that I have found so far) so it may be a simple task of always watching programs via the Freesat box and using a splitter cable to send video to the TV and audio to the Soundbar - not an expensive option so I will try that.
Yes ther are 'clever boxes' to convert Toslink to HDMI but at a price = last resort!
Thank you all for your input, it really is appreciated.

You shouldnt need a toslink cable at all if you have HDMI out on your freesat box.

It looks like you would just hook the output on the freesat up to the input on the soundbar and the output on the soundbar to one of the inputs on the TV - presumably this will just take the sound for the soundbar and pass the video to the TV - so you should be all go.
You probably just need another HDMI cable.

PS Are you pleased with the sound quality? Good improvement?

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

Toadhallglos

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#803989 22-Apr-2013 22:52

Hi Robig63 and THANK YOU!
such a simple resolution - it works.
Yes the sound output from the Soundbar is good - though the majority of the settings give a bit of an echo type sound. I think this is resolved by fixing the unit to a wall [presumably making it into a soundboard and flattening out the echo] - in my instance this is not practical, but no matter.

Many thanks for your input and to ALL other members - in taking interest in my predicament and finding a resolution.

LennonNZ

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#804000 22-Apr-2013 23:16

It seems the HW-E350 has HDMI ARC and hopefully your TV does as well..

So connect the Soundbar HDMI OUT to the TV HDMI IN (Via HDMI Cable) and when it plays on the TV it should come out of the SoundBar.. (Hopefully if you have the right settings on Soundbar/TV)

ARC = Audio Return so it will return back from the TV -> Soundbar

You can see instructions (different TV) here:

http://www.supportforum.philips.com/en/showthread.php?8184-Connecting-a-Philips-42PFL3507H-to-a-sound-bar-samsung-HW-E350

Toadhallglos

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#804019 23-Apr-2013 00:37

Hi LennonNZ,

Thank you for that, I tried it but the TV does not have ARC (that I can find)
However, it now seems to be resolved with the HDMI from Freesat into the Soundbar and then out to the TV.
Just been playing with it again since seeing your post and the sound is now GOOD. (Daytime TV is NOT good!!!)
Many thanks for your suggestion.

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