TV sound to AV amp

[Taff107]

Chaps, I'm trying to output the sound from my Samsung QE 65 tv to my Pioneer SC LX 58 AV amp. it is connected with an optical cable and set the tv sound to output to optical however, I can't seem to get any sound out through the amp.
I've got a V6 Virgin box connected to the tv via HDMI and obviously that sound is fine. I've tried messing with the amp inputs but none seem to 'find' the optical in on the amp marked 'Tv'.
Any ideas on where I'm going wrong.with this stupidly complicated amp?

[FunkyGibbon]

As your amp has HDMI out you could try:

Virgin HDMi -> Amp -> HDMI out -> TV

cutting out the need for optical.

Failing that does the TV have Optical and/or Dolby Digital ONLY as a sound option - removing the TV speakers completely from the equation.

[mathmos]

Does your TV have ARC? Just make sure your HDMI connection to your amp is using the ARC port and it should work

[hornmeister]

Yep use ARC & HDMI ditch the optical.

Using optical means you might need to select the option in the amplifier menu to switch it on and in any such case you'll restrict the compatibility and increase the risk of lip-sync issues.

Virgin box to Amp. Amp output hdmi to TV input HDMI (make sure you use the socket marked ARC)

[Taff107]

Thanks for the replies. The TV doesn’t have a hdmi out (I don’t think)
I currently have a hdmi from the Virgin box to amp which obviously takes care of the sound for Virgin, Netflix, Youtube etc. The problem is the Amazon Prime and a couple of other apps are installed on the smart TV so need to output the sound from the TV into the amp. The TV has a Digital Audio Out (Optical) port so assume it’s a case of plugging in the cable and connecting to the AV amp. The problem seems to be finding out how to tell the amp to use that TV optical cable as the source. I’ve looked through 140 page amp manual but still cannot find out how to do it.

https://www.pioneer-audiovisual.eu/sites/default/f...

[Taff107]

These are the connections available on the back of the TV.....


HDMI - 4
USB - 2
Ethernet - Yes
RF In (Terrestrial/Cable Input)1/1(Common Use for Terrestrial)/0
RF In (Satellite Input)1/1(Common Use for Terrestrial)/0
Digital Audio Out (Optical)1
Audio Return Channel Support (via HDMI port) - Yes


So if I ensured the AMP>TV hdmi is plugged into the ARC hdmi in, the tv can transmit the sound back to the amp?

Edited by Taff107 on Monday 25th March 15:51

Edited by Taff107 on Monday 25th March 15:54

[tonyg58]

I'm pretty certain that your amp isn't capable of using the Audio return channel (it predates that technology).
To get an input working you need to go to the input setup menu (it's on page 50 of the online manual) and allocate the optical input to something.
You may also need to switch the optical output on your TV on.

[budgie smuggler]

Taff107 said:

Thanks for the replies. The TV doesn’t have a hdmi out (I don’t think)
I currently have a hdmi from the Virgin box to amp which obviously takes care of the sound for Virgin, Netflix, Youtube etc. The problem is the Amazon Prime and a couple of other apps are installed on the smart TV so need to output the sound from the TV into the amp. The TV has a Digital Audio Out (Optical) port so assume it’s a case of plugging in the cable and connecting to the AV amp. The problem seems to be finding out how to tell the amp to use that TV optical cable as the source. I’ve looked through 140 page amp manual but still cannot find out how to do it.

https://www.pioneer-audiovisual.eu/sites/default/f...

have you done that bit on page 65

basically it looks like select an input other than your virgin box one (because you want that to stay as your HDMI input) then follow the steps where it says "Press MAIN RECEIVER to switch the remote control to the receiver operation mode" etc and set it to DIGITL

Edited by budgie smuggler on Monday 25th March 17:01

[Taff107]

tonyg58 said:

I'm pretty certain that your amp isn't capable of using the Audio return channel (it predates that technology).
To get an input working you need to go to the input setup menu (it's on page 50 of the online manual) and allocate the optical input to something.
You may also need to switch the optical output on your TV on.

Apparently it does according to page 33

https://www.pioneer-audiovisual.eu/sites/default/f...

budgie smuggler said:

have you done that bit on page 65

basically it looks like select an input other than your virgin box one then follow the bit where it says Press MAIN RECEIVER to switch the remote control to the receiver operation mode etc and set it to DIGITL

No I didn't - I can give it a go when I get home

[FunkyGibbon]

Having looked at the manual page 59 I'd do the following.

Virgin Box HDML -> AMP HDMI Input 2 -> Amp HDMI output to NON ARC HDMI on TV - this should work when amp on SAT/CBL

TV Optical Out -> AMP Op1 - this should then work when amp is set to TV

May need to check that TV audio is set to Optical ONLY so it by passes the TV speakers completely

[Taff107]

FunkyGibbon said:

Having looked at the manual page 59 I'd do the following.

Virgin Box HDML -> AMP HDMI Input 2 -> Amp HDMI output to NON ARC HDMI on TV - this should work when amp on SAT/CBL

TV Optical Out -> AMP Op1 - this should then work when amp is set to TV

May need to check that TV audio is set to Optical ONLY so it by passes the TV speakers completely

That's exactly how I tried it Funky, but no sound when I put it to TV

[Kermit power]

Possibly a silly question, but have you got volume control separately on the TV and the Amp?

I'm only suggesting it as I was getting infuriated with my car not having any sound when playing from my phone via Bluetooth until I realised that I'd got the phone volume turned right down to zero, so it made no difference where I set the car volume until I increased the phone volume.

[FunkyGibbon]

Taff107 said:

That's exactly how I tried it Funky, but no sound when I put it to TV

Maybe you need to do what is on page 65 to force TV to use digital input (optical), it may be trying use HDMI.

Failing that hdmi from TV with ARC to the Amp. still might need to mess with inputs as per page 65.

[FunkyGibbon]

You may also need to set TV output to external speakers...

https://www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS00062...

[henrycrun]

Try the low tech method - TV headphone jack to Amp phono input?

[anonymous-user]

It’s one of the reasons I bought a mini PC. You can use it for all your digital sources and plug it into your amp via HDMI. Your TV effectively becomes a monitor.

Sorry if this doesn’t help with your immediate problem.

[FunkyGibbon]

wormus said:

Sorry if this doesn’t help with your immediate problem.

I think the OP's issue here is when he is using the TV as the source (smart apps etc). Think he is ok with Virgin as a source.

[anonymous-user]

FunkyGibbon said:

I think the OP's issue here is when he is using the TV as the source (smart apps etc). Think he is ok with Virgin as a source.

My point was I could never make it work with my smart TV so I bought a mini pc for all apps etc. You can run whatever you like on it and get a keyboard to type stuff.

[FunkyGibbon]

wormus said:

My point was I could never make it work with my smart TV so I bought a mini pc for all apps etc. You can run whatever you like on it and get a keyboard to type stuff.

Ah OK.

[Taff107]

Gents, thanks for all your assistance- I managed to get it to work via the ARC HDMI connector (I never knew that HDMI could be used to 'transmit' sound as well as receive on the same cable)
It now switches the AV amp automatically between the Virgin box to TV as required