What TV Audio Output for AV Surround?
Discussion
I'm a luddite when it comes to TV surround systems, I have a tendency to buy stuff, hook it up and hope it works out of the box. That all said, I am an audio nerd and have some decent hifi gear that I enjoy very much.
I recently moved and got fed up with a multitude of speakers, wires and trying to get them to work in my place so I decided to bite the bullet and get some new gear, specifically the Sony Quad system. I then realised that Focal/Naim just released the Hekla which aims to replace multiple speakers, wires etc so I bought one.
Unfortunately, it's not working as well as I'd hoped due to the unavoidable corner position so it's going back. I also didn't get any noticeable surround when playing DVDs or Netflix. The Hekla works by firing off walls and ceilings to get the surround effect but because of the poor positioning it's not working as well as it should. I did expect some compromise but also expected to at least some surround as Focal/Naim have a good reputation for quality gear.
Anyway, I thought this evening that one of the problems might be my TV and its sound output as it's nearly ten years old. It's a Sony Bravia 49XE9005 and the only output it has is PCM. This is where my knowledge stops, I have no idea if this is a good enough signal to feed the Hekla which is Dolby Atmos enabled with 15 odd speakers firing off in all directions.
Is PCM good enough or should I have a newer TV with the appropriate outputs?
I recently moved and got fed up with a multitude of speakers, wires and trying to get them to work in my place so I decided to bite the bullet and get some new gear, specifically the Sony Quad system. I then realised that Focal/Naim just released the Hekla which aims to replace multiple speakers, wires etc so I bought one.
Unfortunately, it's not working as well as I'd hoped due to the unavoidable corner position so it's going back. I also didn't get any noticeable surround when playing DVDs or Netflix. The Hekla works by firing off walls and ceilings to get the surround effect but because of the poor positioning it's not working as well as it should. I did expect some compromise but also expected to at least some surround as Focal/Naim have a good reputation for quality gear.
Anyway, I thought this evening that one of the problems might be my TV and its sound output as it's nearly ten years old. It's a Sony Bravia 49XE9005 and the only output it has is PCM. This is where my knowledge stops, I have no idea if this is a good enough signal to feed the Hekla which is Dolby Atmos enabled with 15 odd speakers firing off in all directions.
Is PCM good enough or should I have a newer TV with the appropriate outputs?
Your TV looks to have an ARC HDMI connection. And the Hekla has an ARC input. I'd try that with a decent HDMI cable.
That should ensure you get a decent audio stream from TV to Hekla.
I think PCM is often stereo limited.
Saw the Hekla in a mailshot from Sevenoaks Audio. Looked interesting... Though am skeptical of this type of product with compromised TV positioning.
That should ensure you get a decent audio stream from TV to Hekla.
I think PCM is often stereo limited.
Saw the Hekla in a mailshot from Sevenoaks Audio. Looked interesting... Though am skeptical of this type of product with compromised TV positioning.
Murph7355 said:
Your TV looks to have an ARC HDMI connection. And the Hekla has an ARC input. I'd try that with a decent HDMI cable.
That should ensure you get a decent audio stream from TV to Hekla.
I think PCM is often stereo limited.
Saw the Hekla in a mailshot from Sevenoaks Audio. Looked interesting... Though am skeptical of this type of product with compromised TV positioning.
Aye, I've gone ARC to ARC but I wondered if the PCM output was an issue. What would you say a decent HDMI cable is?That should ensure you get a decent audio stream from TV to Hekla.
I think PCM is often stereo limited.
Saw the Hekla in a mailshot from Sevenoaks Audio. Looked interesting... Though am skeptical of this type of product with compromised TV positioning.
Here is a link to the manual
https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/res/manua...
from the above . . . Page 17
ARC (Audio Return Channel) (HDMI IN 3 only)
(Two channel linear PCM: 48 kHz, 16 bits, Dolby
Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS)
Given the quality of the audio gear purchased I'd also stump up for a more modern TV that passes through all the latest audio standards
https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/res/manua...
from the above . . . Page 17
ARC (Audio Return Channel) (HDMI IN 3 only)
(Two channel linear PCM: 48 kHz, 16 bits, Dolby
Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS)
Given the quality of the audio gear purchased I'd also stump up for a more modern TV that passes through all the latest audio standards
Digger said:
Here is a link to the manual
https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/res/manua...
from the above . . . Page 17
ARC (Audio Return Channel) (HDMI IN 3 only)
(Two channel linear PCM: 48 kHz, 16 bits, Dolby
Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS)
Given the quality of the audio gear purchased I'd also stump up for a more modern TV that passes through all the latest audio standards
Cheers, is Dolby Digital etc not good enough, what should I be looking for really? I'm quite happy to get a new TV but I didn't really want to spend more money if the Hekla is still massively compromised by its position in the corner. https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/res/manua...
from the above . . . Page 17
ARC (Audio Return Channel) (HDMI IN 3 only)
(Two channel linear PCM: 48 kHz, 16 bits, Dolby
Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS)
Given the quality of the audio gear purchased I'd also stump up for a more modern TV that passes through all the latest audio standards
DTS should be enough to test whether you get a usable surround sound effect - it has discrete channels, as opposed to Dolby Digital which creates pseudo-surround channels from a stereo source.
If you want the latest formats like Atmos, which it sounds like this product is aimed at, you need eARC.
If you want the latest formats like Atmos, which it sounds like this product is aimed at, you need eARC.
I disagree with the above, Dolby Digital at least in its 5.1 channel format, is all encoded as discreet channels.
A later iteration, Dolby Digital EX did use a matrix of the discreet rear surround channels to create a rear centre channel, but later again the Dolby True HD format expanded the number of discreet channels possible, so no matrixing involved with that.
The surround sound format that relied on just two encoded channels was many years back, Dolby Pro-logic. This used a decoder to form a centre channel and mono surround channels from just the stereo soundtrack.
A later iteration, Dolby Digital EX did use a matrix of the discreet rear surround channels to create a rear centre channel, but later again the Dolby True HD format expanded the number of discreet channels possible, so no matrixing involved with that.
The surround sound format that relied on just two encoded channels was many years back, Dolby Pro-logic. This used a decoder to form a centre channel and mono surround channels from just the stereo soundtrack.
Techno9000 said:
I disagree with the above, Dolby Digital at least in its 5.1 channel format, is all encoded as discreet channels.
A later iteration, Dolby Digital EX did use a matrix of the discreet rear surround channels to create a rear centre channel, but later again the Dolby True HD format expanded the number of discreet channels possible, so no matrixing involved with that.
The surround sound format that relied on just two encoded channels was many years back, Dolby Pro-logic. This used a decoder to form a centre channel and mono surround channels from just the stereo soundtrack.
Ah yes, pro logic was the one, apologies.A later iteration, Dolby Digital EX did use a matrix of the discreet rear surround channels to create a rear centre channel, but later again the Dolby True HD format expanded the number of discreet channels possible, so no matrixing involved with that.
The surround sound format that relied on just two encoded channels was many years back, Dolby Pro-logic. This used a decoder to form a centre channel and mono surround channels from just the stereo soundtrack.
FarmyardPants said:
DTS should be enough to test whether you get a usable surround sound effect - it has discrete channels, as opposed to Dolby Digital which creates pseudo-surround channels from a stereo source.
If you want the latest formats like Atmos, which it sounds like this product is aimed at, you need eARC.
No DTS on Netflix or DVDs - you'd need Blu-ray discs for DTS or True HD. Netflix is remote Dolby Digital Plus or Atmos.If you want the latest formats like Atmos, which it sounds like this product is aimed at, you need eARC.
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