TV's that pass through 5.1 audio?

[Frankie]

After years of 720p I'm finally upgrading to 1080p. I'm also interested in getting rid of the 5.1 stereo I have and getting a 5.1 sound bar. I have a DVR, XBox 360 and will have an XBox One later on. All of those components use 5.1 audio.

After looking at some sound bars I'm reading that unless you have a TV that outputs 5.1 audio you would have to plug all the components into the sound bar, I want to avoid that and just plug the components into the TV and output all the audio from there, which is why I would need a TV that outputs 5.1 audio.

The question is, do most LED TV's made today output 5.1 audio or does it have to say that it outputs 5.1 audio? Any help and suggestions would be great. Thanks.

 

[Soundmanred]

http://forums.sonos.com/showthread.php?t=33927

 

[Frankie]

Thanks. I'm going to assume then than not all TV's pass through 5.1 audio? It's going to be a hassle to find one at a good price and one that I want. I might just have to stick with my stereo and get me an optical switcher.

 

[Soundmanred]

Thanks. I'm going to assume then than not all TV's pass through 5.1 audio?

True

 

[LoveMachine]

Some newish TVs will have a Toslink optical audio out, which does carry 5.1 up through standard DTS (I think) or Dolby Digital. I use this with my OTA connected TV to send audio to my receiver. HDMI 1.3 and beyond also allows 2 way transfer, referred to as ARC.

 

[Number1]

What's the point of feeding a 5.1 signal to a sound bar?

 

[Soundmanred]

What's the point of feeding a 5.1 signal to a sound bar?

"a 5.1 sound bar"

 

[destrekor]

What's the point of feeding a 5.1 signal to a sound bar?

Sound bars are designed for that. They are calibrated to take discrete audio channels and send discrete signals to specific sets of drivers in a certain way.

Ideally setup, it's roughly the same (in reality, ears-on) as taking a stereo audio file and running it through something like Dolby Pro Logic II and sending that to a 5.1 speaker set.
Except in this case, it's taking proper audio and utilizing the properties of reflection to push out the discrete surround channels so that they reflect and hit your ears as if coming from that channel's actual recorded location.

 

[destrekor]

What you may also need, depending on the soundbar in question, is a TV with ARC (Audio Return Channel).

You may just need an Optical Out (Toslink) from the TV, which is nearly standard these days for similar uses (getting surround sound to a device, though the TV is the main connection hub).

 

[Kelvrick]

What you may also need, depending on the soundbar in question, is a TV with ARC (Audio Return Channel).

You may just need an Optical Out (Toslink) from the TV, which is nearly standard these days for similar uses (getting surround sound to a device, though the TV is the main connection hub).

Which means he'll need a tv with HDMI 1.4.

 

[destrekor]

Which means he'll need a tv with HDMI 1.4.

IF he wants to go the ARC route. I think, depending on the actual setup, it can sometimes not be the best route. I'm not sure though - I use a receiver that outputs to speakers and my TV so I don't even know how I'd use the HDMI-ARC port on my TV. Since my new TV was the first time I even encountered ARC, I just haven't put any time into getting into the details of it.

 

[mikeford]

Will any TV though pass thru ALL of the HDMI sound signals, or are some blocked like watching a blue ray or SACD?

Is there any real issue with using a non digital input to the soundbar from the TV?

 

[Number1]

Will any TV though pass thru ALL of the HDMI sound signals, or are some blocked like watching a blue ray or SACD?

Is there any real issue with using a non digital input to the soundbar from the TV?

Built in apps in smart TVs will feed a 5.1 signal to the optical and ARC TVs output.

On most TVs, the audio signal coming in trough the HDMI inputs will only be outputted as a stereo signal on the ARC and optical outputs.

If you follow the link posted in this thread there is a list of TVs that suposedly do pass trough the 5.1 signal:

LG 55LX9500
Samsung PN43D490
Samsung UN55C6500VF
Sony 46EX400
Sony KDL32EX400
Sony KDL46EX400
Sony KDL55EX500
Sony KDL xxNX800/KDL-xxNX810
Vizio XVT3D554SV

However, a quick look at the PN43D490 documentation says:

Digital Audio: The optical digital output terminal will output Dolby Digital (when available) or 2 channel PCM. The digital optical output terminal only sends an audio signal in Dolby Digital when receiving Dolby Digital surround sound from a digital broadcast channel through the tuner on the Plasma TV. The optical digital audio output will only output in 2ch stereo from sources connected to the TV via HDMI, RCA, or USB.

 

[Raduque]

Very few TVs will pass-through a 5.1 signal on the toslink or coaxial output. In fact, I'm not sure that any will. My Samsung UN55D7900 only sends a multi-channel signal through the optical if it comes from the tuner or an app such as Netflix, any other source gets downmixed to stereo PCM.

I am unsure if it will pass a 5.1 signal out the HDMI ARC port, as I use my AVR as the hub.

 

[boomhower]

The only way a sound bar is going to give you anything the resembles a faux surround sound is an almost perfectly square room. Odd floor plans and open doorways will completely kill it. Sound will certainly be better than the TV speakers but don't get to worked up over 5.1.

 

[Number1]

Very few TVs will pass-through a 5.1 signal on the toslink or coaxial output. In fact, I'm not sure that any will. My Samsung UN55D7900 only sends a multi-channel signal through the optical if it comes from the tuner or an app such as Netflix, any other source gets downmixed to stereo PCM.

I am unsure if it will pass a 5.1 signal out the HDMI ARC port, as I use my AVR as the hub.

Surprise surprise, I just purchased a cheap Insignia 39" TV and the coaxial audio out jack does pas trough the 5.1 signal coming into the TV'S HDMI inputs!!!!! There is no optical output terminal.