Audio out on LG tv

[Merlin5]

Hi guys. I just bought a 32" LG 6300PLA because of the bluetooth so I can use my wireless buds. Lip syncing is perfect with the terrestial tv, can't see any lag, but it lags a bit with streaming services such as iplayer, youtube and netflix which is disappointing. So I was thinking I could use my wired buds for streaming services. But there's no audio out phonos on the back of the set, only component in, so how would I do that? HDMI to RCA cable?

On my 12 year old 32" Samsung LCD, which by the way has a better picture imo, I connected red and white phono/RCA from its audio out sockets and into the phonos at the back of my headphone amp, and then plugged my headphones into the front of the headphone amp, which worked perfect.

 

[Merlin5]

What you need is an Optical to Analogue Stereo RCA convertor box. This one is a bit fancy with a volume control for the analogue out, but it was the first example I found with a wall wart power supply rather than taking power from one on the USBs on the TV, and it's only £20 so hardly breaking the bank.

USB power on the TV is all 5V but the current varies depending on the USB standard, so it can't always be relied on as having enough current unless you check in to it properly. LINK


Don't bother with HDMI to RCA cables. They won't work in the vast majority of cases. For a start, HDMI is digital whereas stereo RCA is analogue. They're different "languages", and so changing the shape of the connector is about as much use as trying to hold a phone conversation with someone in a language you don't speak and expecting a different shaped phone to make it work.

Second, the only HDMI socket with a 'sound out' signal is HDMI ARC, but that signal is buried inside a data stream which means it needs to be stripped out using a decoding circuit. A bit of wire with some plugs on the end won't do that.

Thank you lucid, that's excellent. I've never used optical/toslink, but that looks perfect for the job. Doesn't look it comes with a toslink cable, and the LG tv was a shop floor clearance at a cheaper price with no box or cables other than the mains power cable. But I might have one somewhere.

I presume I can turn the tv volume to zero, but still have volume through the headphones with both the converter volume control and the headphone amp volume control?

 

[Merlin5]

By the way, is there any way I'm ever going to be able to get bluetooth as good with iplayer, youtube and netflix as I'm getting straight from live terrestial channels? It's a real pity. I was so excited when I saw how well the sync is with BBC, ITV, etc, absolutely spot on. But then a little delay, not much but noticeable to me, with streaming. The odd youtube video is perfect, but mostly not, and sometimes the sync quality can vary on the same video. The AV sync adjust is greyed out and only useable on internal speakers.

 

[Merlin5]

Your TV wouldn't have come with an optical cable in the box even if bought new. It wouldn't have come with an HDMI cable, or an aerial fly lead, or a full set of RCA cables or any other "aftermarket" type cables either for that matter, so what's the difference? TV + remote + batteries + basic instructions + mains cable (if separate) and maybe any special adaptor leads if Component/AV is on a jack rather than RCA sockets. That's about your lot. The rest of any cables required you buy appropriate to your needs. This is the case with an optical lead. They're not expensive.

Regarding volume, you don't need to buy that particular Pot-to-RCA DAC. It was just shown as an example of the sort of thing. You could get one with a simple stereo out, and then run it exactly as you did with your older Samsung TV. The function is simply to add a viable way to connect; a set of RCA sockets. Your headphone amp should be the master volume control.

Regarding Optical output - It's fixed level. It does not track the volume of the TV. The level stays constant.

Thanks lucid. I'll buy the one you linked.

Reason being, my old Samsung tv only has non HD freeview built in. So I watch HD freeview on it via a Manhattan T1 set top box connected to the Samsung, and it's an excellent picture. When I watched with headphones from the headphone amp, I would turn the tv volume down to zero with the Samsung Remote, but could control the headphone volume with the Manhattan remote and just leave the volume pot on the headphone amp at a set volume which saves me getting out of bed to adjust the headphone volume. If that all makes sense, lol. So it's very convenient. So if I can have that converter box you linked sitting on my bedside table, I can do the same with its volume knob.

 

[Merlin5]

Did you have the Manhatten connect to the old TV via SCART?

HDMI from Manhattan to HDMI on tv. Aerial into Manhattan, and 'loop out' from Manhattan into 'aerial in' on tv.

 

[Merlin5]

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That's kind of surprising. I would expect a HDMI connection to be fixed volume as far as the source goes. With digital audio, changing the signal level volume has the same effect as reducing the signal resolution.

If it was controlled in the signal level from the Manhatten then I wonder if they were doing this in the transcoding stage between AAC and PCM?

Maybe something else was going on (HDMI CEC control of the TV plus the line output to variable perhaps?

Whatever it is, or was, is moot really; you had it working that way and that's that It's still dammed irregular though

Oh I don't know but yeah, it works perfectly.

Can you adjust lip sync setting on the TV? My similar LG can, I think. Also may be worth digging into why the sync is off before wiring yourself to the TV.

Failing that, does your headphone amp have a DAC or optical in?

A headphone DAC/AMP with toslink may be a better option, also for other uses and the sound quality would be way better. They are a bit more money but maybe one second hand.

Unfortunately, the audio sync adjust seems to be for internal speakers only. No idea why they didn't make it useable for bluetooth as well, very annoying. I don't have DAC or optical on my headphone amp just 4 pairs of RCA so I'm going to buy the
optical to RCA converter box that lucid linked me to earlier.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rybozen-Di...9Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

In regards to lip sync issues on the built in apps, try an amazon fire stick. You can can bluetooth directly to the stick. 35 quid or so to try it out.

I use LG with YouTube and Bluetooth, haven't noticed any lag recently, did notice in when I bought it back in 2019. LG C9.

And no lag with content off USB.

Ooh, now that sounds good! I don't know anything about the amazon fire stick. Does it have iplayer, YouTube and Netflix on it and I would bypass the tv's own smart apps? And bluetooth to the stick is likely to be more in sync?

edit: Checked it out so ignore my questions. I see what it does now. I went to buy a stick from Currys, then John Lewis, but no returns once opened, so stuff them, I'll buy it from amazon itself.

 

[Merlin5]

It runs on Android so yes should have all the apps.

It plugs in via HDMI so acts as a totally separate source so yes it bypasses TV apps.

Yes it was in sync last I checked. Easily returnable if it doesn't meet standards.

The 4K version is worth the extra. It's just faster and slicker in general.

Thanks. The 4K is £40 and the Lite version is £30. I don't have 4K but is the Lite version a bit slow then?
Though my wireless buds will be bluetoothing direct to the stick, I'm not too optimistic it'll lip sync any better than streaming from the tv's built in youtube, netflix and iplayer. But definitely worth a go since Amazon always take things back. Well at least, I hope I'm not being over confident when I say that. They usually take things back, and hopefully opening the box on this won't be a problem. I can say it's faulty though, they don't normally question it.

 

[Merlin5]

There is sync adjustment in the settings including a visual display to get it set right.

For my tv model you mean? Not for bluetooth, only for the internal speakers.

 

[Merlin5]

Nope on the Fire Stick.

Oh! That's great then, looking forward to trying it out. Have to say though, yesterday the sync on YouTube, Netflix and iplayer was pretty much perfect, not sure why. Though there were still some things which weren't. Maybe the software updates improved it. Sounds like I might be able to tweak it perfectly with the stick. My sister in law said she has one and I can borrow it to try. I think hers is 4K. Do you know if the Lite version also has the sync adjustment?

I really wish the LG had as good a picture as my old Samsung LCD. The LG is good but whatever I do, I can't get it to look quite as nice. The Samsung just has a cleaner, sharper and more refined picture with nicer skin tone. I thought led was meant to be better.

 

[Merlin5]

A week later anything to report?

Nothing much yet kona as I've not borrowed the firestick yet but intend to pick it up this weekend. I must admit though that quite a lot of youtube, iplayer and Netflix is perfectly in sync directly from the tv or my phone. I tend to stream from my phone more using Chromecast as it's faster typing what I want to watch than using the tv keypad. Interestingly, I connected my Manhattan T1 set top box to the LG and on most programmes it's a slightly sharper picture than the built in freeview. The Manhattan also lets me adjust AV sync for live tv and my wireless buds whenever it's slightly off. If I add 20ms it's perfect. So I find Chromecast and the set top box still beneficial.

Currently I'm figuring out how to put a tv stand together, lol. As the legs on the LG are too far apart for my tv table.

 

[Merlin5]

You didn't mention you had a chromecast lol.

That would do most or the same job as a fire stick so there's your problem solved.

Good luck with the stand.

Stand up and running perfectly. Was quite fun figuring out which screws, bolts and spacers to use because they supplied a ton more pieces in different sizes that I didn't need.

But the Chromecast doesn't have AV sync adjust like the firestick, so the firestick should work better.

 

[Merlin5]

You didn't mention you had a chromecast lol.

That would do most or the same job as a fire stick so there's your problem solved.

Good luck with the stand.

kona, about that firestick suggestion you made. Well... ..


















it was an excellent suggestion! I bought one for £40. It's the 2021 version between the lite and the 4k. My sister in law couldn't find hers.

I'm so impressed with it. Everything is perfectly in sync. Literally everything I watch. And I haven't even needed to use the AV adjust! The picture quality is also better than streaming from the TV's smart apps or via chromecast.

Not only that but a bonus is that since signing into my youtube account, the firestick link is showing up on my phone when I click the little cast box on youtube, which means I don't have to slowly type and move around to each letter with the firestick remote control, and can just send videos from the phone to the firestick.

I haven't signed into my netflix or iplayer account on the firestick yet but imagine those will show up in the cast box too. Also, I discovered I'm able to use my LG remote with all menus and settings on the firestick which is handy, so I don't really need to use the firestick remote.

I have to disconnect my buds from the LG though when I want to use them with the firestick, and vice versa, but that takes all of about 15 seconds to switch from one to the other. Interestingly though, I can't control volume of the buds when connected to the firestick. Neither the firestick volume button or the LG button or the mute buttons affect it. The buds have touch controls so I just put my finger to the right bud to increase volume and left bud to decrease.

I never thought I'd be able to get perfect sync with wireless buds, it's exceeded my expectations. So I don't need to buy that RCA analogue to optical converter box now. Thanks again for the great suggestion.

 

[Merlin5]

@Merlin5

YW. That's great news bud glad it all worked out for you. Its great that anyone can add this functionality to their TV with the fire stick.

I was the same when I got bluetooth headphones working with my TV properly , a massive convenience to say the least.


Which BT buds are you using out of interest?

I bought Mpow M30 in January for £28 on Amazon. They were recommended to me on head-fi when I asked for buds to try and match the sound quality of my wired buds. Bargain imo, they pretty much equal my wired buds which cost three times as much.

https://www.xmpow.com/pages/mpow-m30