Dolby D over HDMI from Sky box

[djdestiny]

This is driving me crazy!
I have an Amstrad DRX890 with the latest software, this model supports DD over HDMI.
If I change the settings on the Sound menu for Digital Audio Output - HDMI from NORMAL to DOLBY D the sound on whatever channel you have on stops instantly.
If I unplug the Sky box and reboot it, then while the Sky intro channel is on I can swap between NORMAL and DD with no loss of sound.
However, as soon as I select another channel there is no sound until I go back into the menu and switch it to NORMAL again!

We have a Playbar, so one option would be to connect the Sky optical out to straight to the Playbar, but we also have a PS4 which currently sends sound via HDMI to the TV (same as the Sky box) and then optical to from TV to Soundbar.

As I've been typing this, I have just wondered if there are automatic optical junction boxes/switches?
Then I could connect Sky and PS4 to the switch and that to the Soundbar which would allow DD from both without messing around with HDMI

[wolfracesonic]

Just checked my HD Sky plus set up, HDMI to Pioneer plasma, sound in 'normal' mode fine, switch to Dolby digital, nothing: I get the same result on my Panasonic LCD. Looking on the 'net it seems most TV's can't decode/downmix Dolby digital. It also seems the case that if your TV can handle DD signals over HDMI, if you set the output to DD and the programme isn't broadcast in DD then you won't get any sound. 'This st never ends does it?' to quote one of my favourite Youtube clips..........

[Adrian W]

I have the same issue, spent an hour on the phone to some Indian gentleman who didn't have a clue what I was taking about and told me if I turn it off and on it will fix it, sky cancellations dept sent an engineer (:-):-):-)) two tuned up and didn't have a clue, they concluded it must be my TV and my Onkyo processor. They left their mobile number and said they would call me after they had spoken to their manager, as he knows about this stuff, that was two weeks ago, I'm still waiting.

I have HDMI version 1.4 cables, but double checked, I also called Panasonic who confirmed that my TV forwards DD on HDMI ports.

I had a look about and found that SKY forums have lots of people with exactly the same problem.

Time to cancel I think

Edited by Adrian W on Monday 12th January 20:21

[djdestiny]

I think my tv doesn't support it, but can't find anything to confirm it apart from the silence!
I'm toying with an optical switch with remote control, I can live with that because I have a Harmony Touch remote I can program it into

[gizlaroc]

Not many TVs will take DD in and pass it out to the optical.

What TV is it?

Also, you don't mention if the TV plays the sound? You say it goes silent but what, the TV, the Playbar or both?

You need to see what the optical out is set to as well? On the TV settings.

[djdestiny]

gizlaroc said:

Not many TVs will take DD in and pass it out to the optical.

What TV is it?

Also, you don't mention if the TV plays the sound? You say it goes silent but what, the TV, the Playbar or both?

You need to see what the optical out is set to as well? On the TV settings.

Sorry, yes, I have silence on both. Its a Samsung 52" 3D plasma, I don't have the model to hand at the moment.
I have checked/changed the TV optical output settings too.

It seems that Im one of the unlucky ones who's TV doesn't support it, its not the end of the world because I can try the optical switch

[gizlaroc]

Samsung plasma manual...



"5.1 CH (channel) audio is available when the TV is connected to an external device supporting 5.1 CH.
● When the receiver (home theatre) is set to on, you can hear sound output from the TV’s optical jack. When the TV
is receiving a DTV signal, the TV will send 5.1 CH sound to the home theatre receiver. When the source is a digital component such as a DVD / Bluray player / cable box / STB (Set-Top-Box) satellite receiver and is connected to the TV via HDMI, only 2 CH audio will be heard from the home theatre receiver. If you want to hear 5.1 CH audio, connect the digital audio out jack from your DVD / Blu-ray player / cable box / STB satellite receiver directly to an amplifier or home theatre."

[MissChief]

So basically the TV's don't have a 'DD passthrough' to an external audio device. If you want DD from your Sky Box, either connect via HDMI to the Amp then AMP to TV or use an optical cable from the Sky box to the Amp as I do. Then I don't need the Amp on if the kids are just watching cartoons but if I want DD in movies I turn the volume on the TV down and turn the amp on.