Audio/TV connections - what are my options?

[mikeyr]

Bit of background, am contemplating getting a budget soundbar/base as sound from our old telly is very poor, especially for dialogue.

Considering something like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/Panasonic-SC-HTE80EB-K-Sp...

Currently have the following:

Panasonic TX37LZD70 TV

• 2 HDMI input ports (neither are ARC)
• Audio out (L&R)

Sky Q box

• HDMI out
• Optical audio out

PS3

• HDMI out
• Optical audio out

At the moment both Sky Q and PS3 go directly to the two HDMI ports on the telly.

In the absence of HDMI ARC or optical cable directly from the telly the only option seems to be using the 'audio out' connectors. What impact would this have on the sound output?

Both devices are VIERA link compatible so could use one remote but think you then need to hook up an HDMI cable between telly and soundbar - with only two HDMi ports which are both used that seems to be ruled out too. I really want to avoid having to use several remotes or fumbling around for switches whenever we swap between devices. But if running audio cables is the only way forward then so be it.

[hoegaardenruls]

With the current TV, your best option sound-wise would probably be optical cables from the Sky Q and PS3 to whatever soundbar you decide on.

Otherwise you are limited to stereo sound if you simply do audio from TV to soundbar.

[mikeyr]

Interesting, thanks - guess that then means having an optical switch for two inputs though.

[benz0]

In terms of minimal faffing about here's what I would do first..

Connect something to the RCA outputs from the TV and see if it outputs audio from all of your digital sources. See if the volume output changes when you either increase the volume on that device or on the TV.

If it does adjust then you don't need extra remote controls and can just use that as the audio out to whichever soundbar you go for.

If not, then use the headphone out socket as the audio feed for your soundbar as this should then adjust as you adjust the TV volume.

SQ using the above approach may not be as good as using the optical feeds but it will save a lot of faffing with remote controls and you probably wouldn't hear much difference on a lower end soundbar in any case

[hoegaardenruls]

mikeyr said:

Interesting, thanks - guess that then means having an optical switch for two inputs though.

Likely, but then it depends on the model of soundbar.

The TV really is the limiting factor, and with all the bit's and pieces you might end up with, I'd also be considering changing that rather than adding to the system. The 32" Samsung I bought for my son last year had speakers that were significantly better than a top end Samsung of 6-7 years ago, and that was about £250ish

[legzr1]

I'd look for a soundbar with a few HDMI inputs - your sky, PS and whatever else plug into the soundbar and a single cable from soundbar to the TV should sort you out.

[varsas]

legzr1 said:

I'd look for a soundbar with a few HDMI inputs - your sky, PS and whatever else plug into the soundbar and a single cable from soundbar to the TV should sort you out.

The only issue is that this won't work when the TV is generating sound, e.g. when watching over terestrial. You probably don't do this though, do you?