Optical connection

hooky2007 · 17-02-2008, 20:18

My first post so please bear with me, I had a V+ box installed last Saturday, I would like to connect it to my Panasonic Home Theatre System model SC-HT520, after reading various posts about connecting it to the V+ box using an optical cable I went to Maplins yesterday to buy the necessary bits, I have now connected it using an Optical cable, TOS - Coax Converter and a single phono to double phono cable, I've set the HDMI audio overide to On
My problem is that I'm getting no sound out of my speakers, the optical cable seems to be working as it glows red.
The only way I can get sound is by using a twin phone lead between the V+ box and the audio in connection on my Panny home theatre system.
Any suggestions?

Les

stevebutt · 17-02-2008, 20:26

shouldn't the HDMI override feature be switched off or am i being stupid?

Impacted · 18-02-2008, 00:14

Hi Steve,

You are correct the HDMI override should be set to off.

Cheers

IMP

number.cruncher · 18-02-2008, 11:15

Just to add to the confusion, contrary to impacted and stevebutt, I think Audio Override should be On. It overrides the audio capabilities as detected via the HDMI link, which, if you've got a TV connected will just be stereo. The override allows it to send 5.1 when broadcast, i.e. overriding the HDMI link.

So all I can suggest is to check connections, input settings, check mute is off...

march.brown · 18-02-2008, 11:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by number.cruncher

Just to add to the confusion, contrary to impacted and stevebutt, I think Audio Override should be On. It overrides the audio capabilities as detected via the HDMI link, which, if you've got a TV connected will just be stereo. The override allows it to send 5.1 when broadcast, i.e. overriding the HDMI link.

So all I can suggest is to check connections, input settings, check mute is off...

I must have been lucky as I simply plugged in the Toslink optical cable and it worked ... Since hooky appears to have an output from the V+ , do you have to switch to optical I/P on the Amp or is it automatic switching ? ... My Pioneer is manual switching.

higgsfield · 18-02-2008, 11:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by number.cruncher

Just to add to the confusion, contrary to impacted and stevebutt, I think Audio Override should be On. It overrides the audio capabilities as detected via the HDMI link, which, if you've got a TV connected will just be stereo. The override allows it to send 5.1 when broadcast, i.e. overriding the HDMI link.

So all I can suggest is to check connections, input settings, check mute is off...

I believe this is correct too. If you have an HDMI connector to deliver the pictures to a TV (with only stereo speakers), after handshaking, the V+ should only put out stereo signals - including on the optical digital audio output.

If you want this to be multi-channel, then there is the "hdmi audio override" function specifically for this situation.

Please note that the HDMI cable will then also carry the multi-channel audio to your TV. I have no idea what sense your TV will make of this (whether it will do a downmix, use on the front stereo signal, or what). So best to make sure that you listen only from your home cinema amp - mute the TV. (Unless of course you wnat to listen through your TV and you discover that it does downmix correctly.)

Wicked_and_Crazy · 18-02-2008, 12:10

Have you selected the "Digtal" input on your home cinema?

hooky2007 · 19-02-2008, 20:01

Thanks for your replies, tried to set it up again last night with no joy, think I'll have to invest in a surround sound amp, for the time being I've gone back to using phono leads

Les

higgsfield · 19-02-2008, 22:36

Don't give up!

There may be a problem with the V+ box. It seems most likely that the optical output is dead. Why don't you give VirginMedia a call - have them send out an engineer.

Or maybe the TOS-coax converter should be changed...?

ShadowTD · 20-02-2008, 10:33

Hang on a minute.

Quote:

I have now connected it using an Optical cable, TOS - Coax Converter and a single phono to double phono cable,

Are you saying you have a coaxial digital in on your Panasonic? Why the single phono to double phono cable? A coax digital in is a single phono. If there two labelled L&R, then that's boggo analogue audio.

<edit>I can't get the manual up because Panasonic's site is blocked at work, but this review seems to indicate your home theatre kit has no digital in at all and you're trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.

Sorry.

higgsfield · 20-02-2008, 10:50

Yes - it seems a likely explanation. That you are using a 1-2 phono spiltter is very odd!

Does the amp have a coax digital input?

Unfortunately I can't find a manual or detailed spec anywhere on the Panasonic site - nor elsewhere on the web to confirm this though.

Wicked_and_Crazy · 20-02-2008, 12:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by higgsfield

Unfortunately I can't find a manual or detailed spec anywhere on the Panasonic site - nor elsewhere on the web to confirm this though.

http://www.fixya.com/support/p231223...m/manual-19137

ShadowTD · 20-02-2008, 15:55

http://www.fixya.com/support/p231223...-19137/page-32

Nice one Wicked!

That amp has no digital inputs Hooky - I'm sorry.

hooky2007 · 22-02-2008, 19:30

Thanks once again for your replies, I must have misunderstood the earlier posts as I thought the phono leads just went into the audio in sockets, I've now decided to buy a dedicated Surround Sound amp with optical inputs

Les

higgsfield · 22-02-2008, 20:12

As yours is a V+ box - which has HDMI (audio/video) connectors, I'd strongly advise you to get an HDMI equipped receiver. The Onkyo models are worth looking at.