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Question

5.1 surround sound w/digital optical cable?(Samsung/Sonos)

Feb 17, 2015 3:46AM PST

Sorry if its been talked and retalked about... new here and trying to understand and I have search the forums for an answer and I can not find a solution to my problem.

I just bought a Samsung UN65HU8700 and have connected to it via HDMI: Tivo Roamio, Samsung 3D Blu Ray player and a PS3; I then have the digital optical cable run to my Sonos Playbar, to which I have the sub and two play-1 connected for a 5.1 surround sound system. After connecting everything I just realized that any 5.1 audio is down converted to stereo when sent via the HDTV's digital optical output.

I have called both Samsung (which could be it's own thread) and they can not give me a solution as to how to get the TV to output Dolby digital instead of stereo.

Is there a digital optical splitter where I can run optical cables form my Tivo, Blu Ray, PS3 and TV and then have that run to my Sonos.

Does someone have a solution for me. Please be advised, that I am a newbie to all of this, so I need real specifics.

Thank you all in advance.

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Boom.
Feb 17, 2015 3:58AM PST

The moment you write HDMI and wanted 5.1 out I heard a small explosion.

No. It appears that all Samsungs don't support that. CNET covered this a while back. http://www.cnet.com/news/20-tvs-tested-which-sets-can-pass-surround-sound-to-a-sound-bar/

-> You heard Samsung, we have CNET and as to your question the answer is no, I never expect a Samsung TV to emit 5.1 when HDMI is a source.

-> To fix this you could get a splitter or a receiver. Here's such a thing. No support from me though.
http://www.amazon.com/ViewHD-Extractor-Decoder-Headphone-VHD-H2HADi/dp/B00L0XIHEC

In closing, Dolby Plus does not have support for such yet. Something about DRM?
Bob

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Thank you, but I don't think that splitter will work....
Feb 17, 2015 4:19AM PST

The Sonos Playbar only has an digital optical input, so I would need something that could take all the optical inputs from the various components (at least three - ideally 4) and then output them via one cable to the Sonos system.

Does this exist? If not, any other solutions?

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Why not?
Feb 17, 2015 4:33AM PST

Your top post asked for optical 5.1 from the TV. This thing looks to give you that!

It appears you wanted more than just the optical solution so I'm going with you have a soundbar and all the ugly limitations it provides. It's a soundbar, not a receiver or such. Also, I don't see the other speakers. http://www.sonos.com/shop/products/playbar tells me it's stereo without adding more parts.

Frankly, you need to start looking at receivers.
Bob

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PS. Optical Switch.
Feb 17, 2015 4:35AM PST