Optical audio vs HDMI

Hi all
I have the Apple TV and recently got a 5.1 Surround system set up. I also needed an optical audio cable to link my TV to the Subwoofer. Then I discovered the Apple TV has optical audio.
Why would the Apple TV need optical audio when you have HDMI?
Does using the optical audio cable activate all surround sound speakers?
(Since when using Apple TV, only my front speakers work and not the rear speakers.)
Thanks !

Thanks for that. I did some searching, but couldn't find the posts on the subject. I didn't know there was a problem with this setup, so I didn't know to look for that. I think my best bet, at least for now, is to try connecting the HDMI to the TV only. I found that I do have an optical out on the TV which I can send to the receiver's optical input. I didn't realize I had this option. I'm just not 100% sure it will work yet. I have everything I need to do it, I just have to take the time to set it up. Thanks for the info.

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thank you!

C Nelson wrote:
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Want to use HDMI video, and Optical audio?

Is there anyway to allow optical audio at the same time as the HDMI does the video - I have ran out of video inputs on my AV amp, but have a spare HDMI input on the tv, and spare optical on the amp?
Otherwise i'll have to run component (yuk) to the TV to get this to work?
-David

Depending on the amp too, some inputs will take precedence over another - for example if for a particular input eg DVD, I have connected both co-axial and optical digital feeds from different sources (eg DVD recorder and separate DVD player), then the co-axial device takes precedence over the optical input - so if I want to hear what's connected on optical I have to turn the co-axial device off.
Also, AppleTV seems to output a PCM digital stereo signal. It does not output DTS or Dolby Digital signals as standard.
AC

Dose the HDMI Cable have Audio Support or do I need to use the Optical Audio Port on the ATV?

I recently noticed that the Apple TV has an "Optical Audio" port on the back, next to the HDMI port. Before I buy one, will I need to buy a Optical Audio cable, or will the HDMI cable suply sound to the TV?

HDMI carries both audio and video. The optical port is for connecting to a receiver/external speakers.

Does HDMI also need Optical Audio

I'm not sure if this is normal or not. I have an Apple TV connected via HDMI to a Sony HTSS360 home theatre system. The receiver for this is model STR-KS360.
The system works just fine but the rear (surround) speakers do not work. I also have an XBOX 360 connected to the Sony STR-KS360 again via HDMI and the surround speakers work fine with the XBOX.
I just connected an optical audio cable from Apple TV to the receiver and now the movies support the surround speakers.
1) Is it normal to have to add the optical audio cable for surround sound even if you are using HDMI?
2) If so, why would the XBOX support surround sound without the optical audio cable?

HDMI does indeed support surround sound. There may be an issue between the tv and your amp but at least you know how to resolve the problem.
It may be a personal thing but I prefer HDMI to go straight to the tv with optical audio only going through the amp. I have heard of many HDMI issues between all sorts of equipment including the tv.
Mmmm I need to type faster.
Message was edited by: Winston Churchill

No audio with HDMI cable connect - need optical cable?

I have just connected my AppleTV 2 with my Pioneer ELITE 910 HD Plasma TV system. I have a hard wire ether net connected. I have a great picture coming out of the HDMI connection from AppleTV plugged into my ELITE 910 HDMI Media Receiver. But I am not hearing audio. I have gone through the 'settings' menu on the AppleTV screen and have every setting correct (I believe) It might appear that I may have to purchase an Optical Digital Audio Cable that would input into my Pioneer ELITE VSX-54TX receiver (that does have an Optical Digital Input that has not been used.)
Am I on the right track? I was hoping the video AND audio would travel through the HDMI connection. I don't want to spend money on the cable if I don't need it.

Re: No audio with HDMI cable connect - need optical cable?
Yes, audio and video should go via HDMI.
Do other peripherals work ok with the pioneer over HDMI.
My LG BlueRay player works fine. My TIVO works fine -- good audio and video
AppleTV is a bit odd with audio at times.
Does the pioneer media box handle doilby digital and linear PCM?
I don't know what "linear PCM" is. All the specs on this 2004 system are here:
http://plasmatvbuyingguide.com/plasmatv/pioneer-pro910hd.html
If you have Dolby Digital set to Auto I'd expect you to get some audio - if set to On and media box can't decode DD then you may get no sound.
Try cycling those settings as well as the one for audoo bit depth.
Have done all this. Still no audio

How to make my computer send all the audio through optical audio cable instead of headphone jack?

Howdy,
To listen to online radios or CD's played from my computer, I used to connect the computer to my home entertainment system from the computer's headphone jack to the AUX port on my home entertainment system.
I now wanted to get better sound and purchased the optical audio cable. However, I don't know how to tell my computer to send the audio signal to the home entertainmeny system through the optical digital cable rather than through the headphone jack. If I just unplug the cable connecting the headphone jack and the AUX port and only have the PC and the system connected with the optical audio cable, I don't hear any sounds. I suspect the computer isn't sending any data through the optical audio port. I'm not able to find how I can adjust the settings on my computer so that from now all sounds are output through the optical audio.
1) I'd like to do that mainly for my HP desktop (configuration below) and any advice on how to do that would be appreciated.
2) I also have a HP laptop (configuration below) and was wondering if that would be doable too (even though it doesn't appear to have a audio out, but it has HDMI out - can one convert it to optical audio?
Thanks in advance!
My desktop is:
ENVY h8xt,
• Windows 8 64
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• 12GB DDR3-1333MHz SDRAM [3 DIMMs]
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And the laptop:
HP ENVY 15t Quad
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This question was solved.
View Solution.

Hello @_goma,
Welcome to the HP Forums, I hope you enjoy your experience!
I have read your post on how you are looking to make your computer send all the audio through an optical audio cable instead of the headphone jack, and I would be happy to assist you in this matter!
To configure your desktop to enable the optical audio cable, I recommend following the steps below:
Step 1. Click the Windows Key Button on your desktop
Step 2. Type "Control Panel"
Step 3. Select "Control Panel" in the top right-hand corner
Step 4. Select Sound
Step 5. Under the Playback tab, right-click the white area below the devices available
Step 6. Select "Show Disabled" and "Show Disconnected Devices"
Step 7. Connect your Optical Audio Cable
Step 8. Select your Optical Audio Cable as the default device and click "Enable"
Since it is not possible to convert the HDMI out to audio out on your notebook computer, it is unfortunate that the notebook is not able to connect with an optical audio cord.
Please re-post with the results of your troubleshooting, and I look forward to your reply!
Regards
MechPilot
I work on behalf of HP
Please click “Accept as Solution ” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution.
Click the “Kudos, Thumbs Up" on the right to say “Thanks” for helping!

Connect apple tv using an optical audio converter

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I have a further question about this. It turns out I do have 2 optical audio ports but I was told I wouldn't need it if it was connected via hdmi. I have 4 ports and they are all in use so the question is whether the best solution is to just get an optical audio cable and connect it directly or get an hdmi splitter so I can add in the Apple TV?

Can I use Optical Audio alongside a speakerless monitor to play audio through speakers?

I have an Apple TV 3 and so far I am relatively pleased. However.. I have no sound, this just about renders my Apple TV useless. Is it possible to use the Optical Audio cable to play sound from films, music etc. while still having the Apple TV connected to the Monitor via HDMI? Do you have any suggestions as to what speakers would be good? (looking at around £50 - £100) I was thinking of getting some of the Bose Companion 2 monitor speakers and then using a DAC to play audio from the Apple TV to the speakers. Would this work? If not, does anybody have any other suggestions?
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appletv play audio out of optical out of hdmi and the old alu one play out the RCA too
the typical the white and red plug ins would be RCA if you have a atv2 (the black one) you cant use
RCA as that is analog and optical and hdmi are digital
you can get converters but some would be pricy and could cause delay between image and pictures for video

Optical Audio Problems

Hi guys,
I'm having a little trouble getting my Mac mini to play audio via optical out through my Sony HT-IS100 home theatre system.
Below is my correspondence with Sony UK so far listing the problem and current connections. Their reply indicates that the problem is the way the sound is output from the mini. Does anybody know what the default output audio type is via optical?
It is worth noting the problem occurs through iTunes, front row, safari, quick time etc.
I also tried using my MacBook Pro and the same problem occurred. Does anyone have any ideas, or are Macs just not compatible with my setup via optical audio?
Thanks in advance,
Jib
Here is the link to the manual referenced by Sony http://www.superfi.co.uk/extras/Sony/sonyhtis100manual.pdf
=================================================
Hi there,
I'm having trouble getting the sound from my MacMini to output through my recently purchased HT-IS100 system.
The MacMini is being connected via a TOS optical cable for the sound and a HDMI cable for the picture to the SAT inputs on the HT-IS100.
The picture is working fine, as mentioned the audio is not. The HT-IS100 is working fine for all other inputs.
The optical cable has been checked and is working when used for other components, as has the optical out port on the MacMini.
When the HT-IS100 is turned on from standby, the OPT and PCM light are on and I get audio for about a second before '2.0 channel' is displayed and the audio disappears.
Have looked through all trouble shooting and online guides and nothing to help me with it. I also tried calling my local sony centre with no luck there either. All components are working so am assuming it is just a setting that needs to be changed.
Can you please advise on how to fix the problem.
Many thanks.
Dear Mr ------
Thank you for your recent e-mail received on 11/03/2010 03.20 PM.
I am pleased to read that you are the owner of a HT-IS100, but sorry to learn of the issue you are experiencing.
Having investigated your enquiry, it appears that your MacMini is outputting a sound signal that is not supported by the HT-IS100. For example, the maximum PCM input for the Home Theatre System is 96khz. The Home Theatre System will automatically select the best decoding mode for the sound that is being received, so it would not be a setting on the Theatre System that needs to be changed. As this is the case, I would suggest that you view the supported sound specifications in the instruction manual and ensure that your MacMini is outputting a supported signal. Please refer to page 76 of the manual for the specifications.
I hope this information is of some assistance. Thank you for your enquiry.
Yours sincerely
Sony Customer Information Centre

Just to update this in case anyone can still help, or if anyone searches a similar topic.
Latest reply from Sony
Dear Mr.....
Thank you for your reply.
If the SAT optical port works when connected to another product, this still indicates that it is an issue somewhere in the Mac settings causing the problem. It is possible that interference in the HDMI cable is causing the Home Theatre System to listen to sound coming from the HDMI port rather than the optical port. I would suggest that you try connecting the Mac just with optical and no HDMI, to see if the issue still occurs. If the problem is resolved, I would recommend that you use another HDMI cable.
If the same issue occurs, this indicates that is a Mac setting somewhere causing the sound output to be incompatible. In this case, I would recommend that you contact Mac for assistance.
I hope this information is of some assistance. Thank you for your enquiry.
Yours sincerely
Customer Information Centre
SONY UNITED KINGDOM LTD
So, with HDMI unplugged the audio works through the optical input to the HT-IS100 amp. With a HDMI (all cables working that I tried) plugged in, the picture comes through but no audio for that channel.
So there must be something outputting through the HDMI from the mac mini to make the amp try to take the audio from there instead of the optical. Tried all TV output settings on the mac and same problem across the board. Does anyone know if there is anything else I can try, or is it time to just accept this combo does not work as it should?
Since the last post, I discovered that the sliders in the midi setup should be grey due to control being shifted to the amp, so all OK there.
Thanks in advance if anyone has any help.

My Apple TV optical audio is not working? Help!

I have and HDMI cord going from the Apple TV to the TV and the optical audio from the apple tv to my yamaha reciever - I cannot get any sound out of my speakers - sound is only coming out of the TV. Any suggestions?

Welcome to the Apple Community.
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Can't get optical audio to work

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I only see an option to set the "input" source (not output), which I have selected as CD as I have no CD player, and it's the default setting anyway. Regardless, I'm sure I've got something set up wrong just can't figure out what it is. Ugh!

Optical audio vs HDMI

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