Panasonic ST30 5.1 optical out?

Lanz · 12 Apr 2012 at 19:11

Does the ST30 pass through 5.1 from external HDMI sources (xbox/htpc) out of it's optical out, my old TV doesn't and Im just wondering if I should waist time mucking about with this new one when it arrives.

cheers

Meloco · 12 Apr 2012 at 21:14

It has both HDMI and Optical... I.e. you can choose which source you want the sound to come from.

Lanz · 12 Apr 2012 at 21:16

I know, but will it pass through 5.1 from an external device back into an AV receiver?

Meloco · 12 Apr 2012 at 21:18

Lanz said:
I know, but will it pass through 5.1 from an external device back into an AV receiver?

As far as I can tell from my receiver it does.

edit: although this could be software, rather than true 5.1

Lanz · 12 Apr 2012 at 21:27

Doesnt your receiver display DTS or TrueHD etc?

Meloco · 12 Apr 2012 at 21:29

Lanz said:
Doesnt your receiver display DTS or TrueHD etc?

DTS/TrueHD only shows when I use the optical lead

edit: Although a quick google search shows this, so you should be ok:

Does HDMI support Dolby Digital, DTS, and high-resolution audio formats?

Yes. From the start, HDMI was defined to carry 8-channels of 192kHz, 24-bit uncompressed audio, which exceeds all current consumer media formats. In addition, HDMI can carry any currently available flavor of compressed audio format such as Dolby (including Dolby Digital EX 7.1, Dolby Digital Plus 7.1, Dolby TrueHD) or DTS (including DTS-ES 6.1 and DTS-HD Master Audio). Such compressed formats are the only multi-channel or high-resolution audio formats that can be carried across the older S/PDIF or AES/EBU interfaces. HDMI 1.3 adds additional support for new lossless digital surround audio formats Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. Additionally, most existing HDMI sources can output any compressed stream, and the newer sources can output uncompressed 6-channel, 96kHz audio from a DVD-Audio disk. There are A/V receivers on the market that can accept and process the 6- or 8-channel audio over HDMI.

Lanz · 12 Apr 2012 at 21:36

I have a crappy AV setup, I want to go from HTPC to TV and out again into AV. Or I can just use HTPC to AV like Im doing at the moment (so no nice sounds when I just use the TV).

snail1 · 14 Apr 2012 at 18:00

I think that you can only get stereo out from the optical channel if you are trying to pass through HDMI. I have the same tv with a blu-ray attached via HDMI - the optical output only gives stereo to my amp.

http://www.avforums.com/forums/plasma-tvs/1560387-panasonic-st30-owners-thread-part-2-a-32.html

see post 932.

Lanz · 15 Apr 2012 at 14:30

Yeah, 2.0 sound only. Its a shame, as built in speakers are quite crappy