New Roku Ultra removes optical output

[13Gigatons]

It's hard enough to afford a 4k TV or Projector but also getting a 4K AVR on top of that is painful. Roku Ultra did at least have a SPDIF that could do DD 5.1 and Sony 4K Players have a second hdmi output just for older AVR's. (Great job Sony!!!)

But now Roku has removed the optical output on the newer models....sigh...there must be millions of older AVR's in the field. What are they thinking?

 

[mdram]

most newer tvs have arc
arc supports atmos iirc, so use arc

 

[Ancalagon44]

Doesn't ARC not support anything better than stereo?

 

[Kartajan]

as designed, ARC started as a direct successor to the use of optical, and supported those same formats. TV Manufacturers sometimes only passed 2 channel audio that way.

Under HDMI 2.1, eARC has been added which can support Atmos/ DTS:X, but both the receiver and source must support/ communicate eARC capability.

Short form, YMMV, but ARC should be just as capable if not more capable than an optical audio connection... (Assuming equipment of equivalent generations and capabilities)

 

[sdifox]

ARC is not going to help op.

Something like this might.

https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=15375

 

[Kartajan]

ARC is not going to help op.

Something like this might.

https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=15375

Given that the OP did not mention any specific gear, I am assuming he is not yet at the "help me" stage, but the "WTF are they thinking" stage...
ARC may be useful as long as the TV is where the devices are connected, and the TV Manufacturer did not hobble the ARC function to stereo only.

 

[13Gigatons]

Given that the OP did not mention any specific gear, I am assuming he is not yet at the "help me" stage, but the "WTF are they thinking" stage...
ARC may be useful as long as the TV is where the devices are connected, and the TV Manufacturer did not hobble the ARC function to stereo only.

I really wish a product like the Sony ubp-x800 was combined with a full fledged Roku and sporting a second HDMI 1.4 output, I still don't know why BluRay players don't have full app stores either.

 

[mdram]

ARC is not going to help op.

Something like this might.

https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=15375

wouldnt touch it if 4k is involved
no hdcp 2.2 compliance

 

[Harry_Wild]

HDMI Arc 2.0 a or b! Controls everything with one remote too!

 

[Harry_Wild]

I really wish a product like the Sony ubp-x800 was combined with a full fledged Roku and sporting a second HDMI 1.4 output, I still don't know why BluRay players don't have full app stores either.

Apps seem to be second or third priority to theses electronics makers like Sony, Samsung or LG. They are missing major apps like Direct TV Now, Sling TV, Amazon Prime, etc... They just do not give a rip it seems and that means big opportunities for Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV devices to complete the user's apps library. Sort of stupid for Smart TV electronics providers to not keep up on the new apps that are coming out for main stream, especially the live channel apps and let these box devices take out their built-in Smart TV on their DVDs and TVs. I mean, why put their Smart TV on their devices if it not going be use because it missing major apps? Waste of resources for them all together.