B&O, Sky, Digital Audio, Aaaarg!

[anonymous-user]

So, I inherited a B&O Beovision 7-40 mk2 (I think) when my aunt left London for Canada. Before you think lucky barsteward, I’ve inherited the problems too, that are usually solved with large amounts of cash for those that could afford the silly prices in the first place.
Firstly, it has no HDMI inputs, so I’ve got an HDMI switcher with the output going to DVI. This obviously brings in the issue of audio. From the Xbox and Sky I’m running Digital Audio to the TV, but my HDPC does not seem to output digital audio, or not in the format the TV accepts (although I haven’t played to much in this area).

Now, my issue is it seems only the HD channels on Sky output digital audio, and when I select a non-HD channel, I get no audio. Any ideas how I can resolve this? Searching online keeps brining my to threads about the opposite problem, where HD Audio does not work with regular does. This makes me think the formats or outputs are different.

Hope this makes sense? Thinking of flogging the B&O and going with a Samsung setup.

[talkssense]

Scart lead from the sky box to whichever Scart socket on the v is tied to the av input you are using

[_dobbo_]

Some Sky boxes have YPbPr component outputs - does yours? If so this should get you HD and will provide a better picture than scart.

[talkssense]

_dobbo_ said:

Some Sky boxes have YPbPr component outputs - does yours? If so this should get you HD and will provide a better picture than scart.

The scartis just for analogue audio, the picture still comes over his dvi.

The scart connection would, if required, also allow the sky picture and ound to be distributed to any other Band O tv or speakers in other rooms. All still controlled by the ba and o remote. He could also use the built in DVD/cd player to distribute picture or music to other rooms.

[Gazzab]

I have a 7-32 B&O, I just used scart from the digi box. Not great quality pic or sound but it's fine as its in a room that we don't often use for tv viewing. If I wanted pin sharp I would buy something more mainstream.

[talkssense]

Gazzab said:

I have a 7-32 B&O, I just used scart from the digi box. Not great quality pic or sound but it's fine as its in a room that we don't often use for tv viewing. If I wanted pin sharp I would buy something more mainstream.

There's something wrong with it. Assuming you bought the BeoLab 7 speaker designed to match the TV that's 750w of what is considered the best default speaker ever to ship with a TV. It ou performs most of the current B and O range since market forces have dictated that speakers in a TV are now much slimmer

[Gazzab]

talkssense said:

Gazzab said:

I have a 7-32 B&O, I just used scart from the digi box. Not great quality pic or sound but it's fine as its in a room that we don't often use for tv viewing. If I wanted pin sharp I would buy something more mainstream.

There's something wrong with it. Assuming you bought the BeoLab 7 speaker designed to match the TV that's 750w of what is considered the best default speaker ever to ship with a TV. It ou performs most of the current B and O range since market forces have dictated that speakers in a TV are now much slimmer

The speaker is fine for what it is. The quality of a decent 5.1 is better IMHO. I am not bowled over by it.

[talkssense]

Gazzab said:

The speaker is fine for what it is. The quality of a decent 5.1 is better IMHO. I am not bowled over by it.

Ah right. So you go on a public forum stating that a fantastic stereo speaker is not all that, because it doesn't match a 5.1 system.

I had a go in a Ferrari once, but it was crap at getting up my muddy bumpy 2 mile drive.

[Gazzab]

OK - then its a rubbish speaker compared to my hifi speakers that I could alternatively plug into the TV via an amp etc
It is a good speaker for a TV speaker but not for listening to music or watching films compared to the alternatives - and that is based on facts ie I have the B&O (which are overrated style over substance) and I have a reasonable 5.1 and I have a decent set of british speakers with my hifi.

[TotalZ4]

Gazzab said:

OK - then its a rubbish speaker compared to my hifi speakers that I could alternatively plug into the TV via an amp etc
It is a good speaker for a TV speaker but not for listening to music or watching films compared to the alternatives - and that is based on facts ie I have the B&O (which are overrated style over substance) and I have a reasonable 5.1 and I have a decent set of british speakers with my hifi.

B&O have made HIFI since 1920 and they have done it wrong all that time!

Duh!

[Gazzab]

TotalZ4 said:

Gazzab said:

OK - then its a rubbish speaker compared to my hifi speakers that I could alternatively plug into the TV via an amp etc
It is a good speaker for a TV speaker but not for listening to music or watching films compared to the alternatives - and that is based on facts ie I have the B&O (which are overrated style over substance) and I have a reasonable 5.1 and I have a decent set of british speakers with my hifi.

B&O have made HIFI since 1920 and they have done it wrong all that time!

Duh!

I have no idea if they have had it wrong all the time.
I can only go on the facts I am presented with.
If you happen to look around the web you will see that the B&O Beovision 7 often gets tarred with the 'style over substance' brush.
My father has had a few different B&O systems over the years. In his last house he had the full hifi in every room system. That wasnt very good either - sound quality was fine but not fantastic.
The turntable and speakers he had in the 70s werent that great either.
They all looked great though.
Do you have B&O stuff? You can buy my Beovision 7-32 if you want. £7K new, yours for £2k. Including stand, speaker and screen. Only had about 30 days of use in total.

[anonymous-user]

Gazzab said:

I have a 7-32 B&O, I just used scart from the digi box. Not great quality pic or sound but it's fine as its in a room that we don't often use for tv viewing. If I wanted pin sharp I would buy something more mainstream.

So you would feed a £13k system "Not great quality pic or sound".

[anonymous-user]

talkssense said:

The scartis just for analogue audio, the picture still comes over his dvi.

The scart connection would, if required, also allow the sky picture and ound to be distributed to any other Band O tv or speakers in other rooms. All still controlled by the ba and o remote. He could also use the built in DVD/cd player to distribute picture or music to other rooms.

Okay, I used to have a SCART cable that I removed when plugging in the digital.

Now the question, if both the Scart and the Digital are plugged in, will the DV default to the analogue scart feed when no digital audio is present, or would this require turning off the digital audio input selection in connections

[gizlaroc]

Killboy said:

Now, my issue is it seems only the HD channels on Sky output digital audio, and when I select a non-HD channel, I get no audio. Any ideas how I can resolve this?

Have you checked the audio on the Sky box?

There is an option for Stereo and DD. Change that and see what happens.

[clived]

Killboy said:

but my HDPC does not seem to output digital audio, or not in the format the TV accepts (although I haven’t played to much in this area)

Does the HTPC (I assume you mean HT, not HD?) have a digital output - optical or coaxial - that you've got connected to the TV, but you're hearing nothing? If so you need to make sure that a) that digital output is enabled and b) that the sample rate is set to something the TV can undersand - 16bit / 44.1KHz would be a good starting point. If you're running W7, both of these are accessable by right clicking on the speaker icon bottom left of the screen and going to "Playback devices".

[jinkster]

If there are no HDMI sockets on the rear I am guessing the TV is quite old. Please do not blame B&O for not bring out a TV with HDMI sockets before they were actually mainstream!

http://www.beoworld.org/prod_details.asp?pid=555

You may find this useful.

I would take a visit to your local dealer - they will be more than happy to help. Or join Beoworld and ask the same question on there. I am sure there will be a workaround or something similar.