Sky HD sound delay through optical?

[justin220]

Evening, I was wondering if anyone can help with my minor problem.

I've got my Sky HD box connected to my TV through HDMI, and to my 5.1 through optical (via a digital optical switcher).

When I just have the sound coming through the tv speakers, and then turn on the surround sound, there is a minor delay from the SS sound, and it sounds like there is an echo. If I then turn the TV to mute, the TV picture and 5-1 sound are ever so slightly out of sync..

Any ideas?

[headcase]

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but its normal. Some surround sound systems have an optical delay option in the menu but to be honest it dosent fix the issue as its generally only the HD channels that are way out of sync then the SD are not as far out. Its a problem as old as the hills that the manufacturers and broadcasters cant agree a solution to.

[justin220]

Yeah, that sounds familiar.. Thanks

[Maximum Attack]

HDMI has numerous versions the latest is version 1.4, if ALL your equipment is version 1.4 then the delay should not occur.(v1.4 has lipsync auto correction) This may occur especially on Plasma sets, or equipment which is v1.3 or earlier. If the surround system is v1.4 and it has HDMI out you should be able to overcome this issue, connect the sky via hdmi to the surround then use the surrounds HDMI out to go to the TV. Use the HDMI connection marked ARC if it is a newish TV. Alternativly the delay should be minimised if you use optical out from the TV to the surround system, and moniter the optical input on the surround.

[Himself]

That's all very well but most Sky HD boxes don't output 5.1 over HDMI.

[samwilliams]

I had the same problem - there's a setting you can change on the sky menus to fix it (Optical output delay, or something like that). To get it right, I kept both the TV and amp sound on and adjusted it until they blended into one.

[headcase]

It does make a difference, the problem is the HD and SD channels run a different amount of delay so is difficult to get a setting that is good for both

[Maximum Attack]

see http://www.hdmi.org/manufacturer/hdmi_1_4/hdmi_1_4...

Audio Return Channel (ARC)

What will I be able to do with an Audio Return Channel -enabled device?

If your HDTV has a built-in tuner, DVD player, or other digital content source, the Audio Return Channel allows the TV to send audio data “upstream” to your A/V receiver, eliminating the need for a separate audio cable in this type of configuration. Audio Return Channel-enabled TVs can either send or receive audio via the HDMI link, giving you greater flexibility in how you set up your home theater equipment and making a separate upstream audio link unnecessary.

Which audio formats are supported over the Audio Return Channel?

The Audio Return Channel supports all the same audio formats that can be sent through a traditional S/PDIF audio connection, including Dolby Digital, DTS, and PCM audio.

Is the HDMI LipSync feature compatible with the Audio Return Channel?

Yes. Whether the TV is sending audio to the sound system or vice-versa, devices featuring LipSync functionality (introduced in HDMI 1.3) will be able to track and correct for any processor lags, and adjust the delivery of audio and video so that the two signals stay in sync.

Will I need a new cable to support Audio Return Channel functionality?

No. Audio Return Channel -enabled devices can be connected via all the existing categories of HDMI cables.

[tdm34]

Sky doesn't do 5.1 via the HDMI, only via the optical (or co-axial if you have a pace box)
go into the set-up menu, then the sound menu and set the delay to 40ms that normally sorts it out.

[Ozzie Osmond]

This delay problem drives me crazy. "Progress" is a strange thing when we have good picture and great sound -but hey don't arrive at the same time!!