Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

samsung pn58a550 connections

Nov 25, 2008 1:13PM PST

I am seriously confused about connections here. I intended to connect my dvd player and cable box to this tv via hdmi and route the optical out to my receiver, since it does not have hdmi. However, the owners manual says that doing it this way will only yield 2 channel audio. ***?!?! What's the point?!?! I was really hoping to take advantage of the better quality hdmi and reduce the number of cables I have hanging everywhere. Is this a shortcoming on all tv's due to compatibility problems, or just on the Samsung PN series? Someone please enlighten me!

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Stereo Audio
Nov 26, 2008 1:53PM PST

jrf0195,

The television converts the signals to 2.0 signals due to the fact that the television will by default output stereo via the television speakers. We have to take into account the fact that not everyone will have a surround sound system, but those who do will probably have a receiver. So we output the surround sound signal via optical cable for those instances.

It cuts down on the instances of HDMI issues, such as imperfect handshaking (industry standard issues, not just Samsung) as well as give you a direct control of the audio for 5.1 applications as well.

I hope that helps explain why it's set up that way.

--HDTech

- Collapse -
Need Menu item to select Optical output format
Mar 6, 2009 8:10AM PST

Dear HDTech,

It looks to me like your response on this question is self-contradictory, or has missed the point. Consumer jrf0195 has stated that the TV Optical output will only provide 2.0 output even though the HDMI input is carrying 5.1 or above. He is correct. See page 14 of the Owners Manual: "When the source is a digital component such as a DVD and is connected to the TV via HDMI, only 2 channel sound will be heard from the Home Theater receiver."

There is no logic in sending 2.0 to the optical output, especially since if you have an external receiver that accepts optical, it must also be able to decode the multi-channel. You already have 2.0 on the analog output anyway! This is a problem with more than just Samsung TVs. I have an LG with the same limitation, and have seen many forum posts complaining of the same thing on other brands.

What is needed is a TV Menu item to select the optical output format to be either multi-channel or 2.0 (bitstream or PCM?). Most DVD players offer this choice, so why not the TV?? (I'll bet it all comes down to a few dollars more HW or FW).

What say you?

ZeekTheGeek