Can I connect a separate Blu-ray player to my all in one system?

philstanbridge · 28 May 2010 at 12:24

I need some advice guys as I'm really confused by this.

I've got a samsung plasma, and a Samsung all-in-one 5.1 THX home cinema setup. I want to get myself a blu-ray player but there's no point if I can't utilise the 5.1 speaker setup I already have. My Samsung home cinema setup only has one scart socket, which links to the plasma. So I can't connect via scart. The Sammy box has a HDMI out which is free. But I don't know if I can connect one to the other. Any ideas?

This is the bluray I'm considering at this stage.

Sony BDP-S370 Blu-ray (or the S360 but that says it only offers stereo sound?)

Sorry if this is an ultra thick question, just having one of those days!

eyetrip · 28 May 2010 at 12:30

What inputs does your current system have?

I imagine the best you will get is connecting a BD player directly to tele, while outputting sound via optical, should the BD player have such an option.

The BDP-S360 does full surround.

eyetrip · 28 May 2010 at 12:32

PS - you can only connect your HDMI out on your system to the tele (or another amp, but that would be silly), you can not connect a BD player to it.

philstanbridge · 28 May 2010 at 12:38

Cheers for the ultra fast reply!

My current 5.1 setup has digital optical input jack as does the plasma that are free. So I guess I could connect the Bluray to the plasma via scart and then get myself a cable for the sound? Would this allow 5.1? But I'm still not sure this would work. Surely the sound would only work if I selected the right aux channel? ie the Bluray would be on a different AUX to the sound?

cokecan · 28 May 2010 at 12:59

the Bluray player will connect to the TV via HDMI, if the player supports it then you can connect the Bluray player's optical output to the optical input of your 5.1. With this setup the player will output the video to the TV and the audio to the 5.1, you'll just need to select the optical input channel on the 5.1 system

Syph · 28 May 2010 at 17:31

philstanbridge said:
The Sammy box has a HDMI out which is free. But I don't know if I can connect one to the other. Any ideas?

This is the HT system right? If so, why haven't you connected this to the TV?

You've got 2 options -

1) Connect an optical cable from optical out on TV to optical in on the HT system. This would give anything you watch on the TV the use of the HT speakers as long as you're set to the digital/optical on the HT system.

2) Connect optical out on a BD player to the HT system. Would be better this way (IMO) as I don't think many TVs correctly pass-thru the sound.

I know it sounds better direct (option 2) on my system, but it's more convenient to have only 1 connection to the HT from the TV and everything connected to the TV can use the HT system then (this would be option 1).

philstanbridge · 28 May 2010 at 18:35

Syph said:
This is the HT system right? If so, why haven't you connected this to the TV?

You've got 2 options -

1) Connect an optical cable from optical out on TV to optical in on the HT system. This would give anything you watch on the TV the use of the HT speakers as long as you're set to the digital/optical on the HT system.

2) Connect optical out on a BD player to the HT system. Would be better this way (IMO) as I don't think many TVs correctly pass-thru the sound.

I know it sounds better direct (option 2) on my system, but it's more convenient to have only 1 connection to the HT from the TV and everything connected to the TV can use the HT system then (this would be option 1).

yes mate, one of the HT THX systems. It's the 800w model and it sounds okay all things considered. I have it connected to the Tv via scart - I've got a Sky+ HD connected to the tv via HDMI. There's a lack of inputs on both the plasma and Sammy box which is why I'm struggling a bit. But I think I'll grab myself an optical cable and try linking tv up to my surround system first of all. What optical cable would you recommend?

Richiev4 · 28 May 2010 at 18:40

One thing you really need to do is connect the Bluray player to the TV via HDMI, using SCART kinda defeats the point in having the Bluray player in the first place.

Rich

philstanbridge · 28 May 2010 at 18:42

Richiev4 said:
One thing you really need to do is connect the Bluray player to the TV via HDMI, using SCART kinda defeats the point in having the Bluray player in the first place.

Rich

Right, but my plasma only has one HDMI input - so I would have to reconnect the Sky+ box via scart which would be better.

Richiev4 · 28 May 2010 at 18:44

You can get a HDMI switch, this would allow you so select Bluray/Sky HD with a button, or if you have the cash get a switch with a remote.

krisboats · 28 May 2010 at 18:50

philstanbridge said:
I could connect the Bluray to the plasma via scart

Buy a dvd player instead. Don't buy a bluray player and then connect it up to your tv through a scart cable. The scart will lower the image quality and it'll look fugly.

Seriously though, you could always look at using a hdmi switch. Sky HD and bluray both need to use a hdmi cable, so your going to either need a way of switching hdmi inputs or a new tv if you want to use them both without pulling cables in and out every time you want to use them.

I'd go with the HDMI switcher route, as it sounds like you'll need one anyway. Then depending on how many inputs you've got for audio you could run the switcher before the HT system so it would go:

Sky HD/Bluray > HDMI switch: input sockets.... then

HDMI Switch: output > HT system: HDMI input..... then

HT system: HDMI output to TV.

What are the specific models of your equipment? Can you read the model numbers for the TV and the HT system and post them on here so we can get a better idea?

philstanbridge · 28 May 2010 at 19:06

krisboats said:
Buy a dvd player instead. Don't buy a bluray player and then connect it up to your tv through a scart cable. The scart will lower the image quality and it'll look fugly.

Seriously though, you could always look at using a hdmi switch. Sky HD and bluray both need to use a hdmi cable, so your going to either need a way of switching hdmi inputs or a new tv if you want to use them both without pulling cables in and out every time you want to use them.

I'd go with the HDMI switcher route, as it sounds like you'll need one anyway. Then depending on how many inputs you've got for audio you could run the switcher before the HT system so it would go:

Sky HD/Bluray > HDMI switch: input sockets.... then

HDMI Switch: output > HT system: HDMI input..... then

HT system: HDMI output to TV.

What are the specific models of your equipment? Can you read the model numbers for the TV and the HT system and post them on here so we can get a better idea?

I have already got a dvd player - but i fancied bluray as well as an upgrade. Not sure it's going to be worth the hassle at this point though

I didn't realise Sky+ HD needs HDMI, I thought it would run with scart too. I realise part of the problem is lack of inputs on the plasma, but I can't afford to upgrade the tv. HDMI switch would be the way to go. Question is I suppose, is it worth the upgrade?

I've just configured the tv to run via digital sound through my HT box, but am I correct in thinking most programmes will only run in 2 channel stereo rather than 5.1 unless specifically programmed to of course.

krisboats · 28 May 2010 at 19:28

If you run a HDMI source through a scart connection it is like 4 times less in terms of image quality. So if you're using the SKY HD channels you aren't actually watching them in HD, you're watching them in SD.

That's why i told you to get a dvd player, if you're gonna connect it through scart there'll be no difference between dvd and bluray when your sat looking at your screen.

HDMI carries the audio as well so if you have a HDMI in on the HT box, you'll want to run the switch before the HT box and then run a cable from the switch to each of the HD devices (sky, blu ray). This way you won't need to worry with optical cables and you'll be more likely to get true HD audio as well (optical doesn't carry HD audio) which should sound better for you too.

Once these are all set up you should (depending on your tv's ability to upscale SD signals) see a big difference in terms of image quality and audio as well.

If you set it up right, blu ray will be WELL WORTH the hassle. Spend 2-3 pounds on HDMI cables, no optical cables and pick up a hdmi switch and you'll be spending no more going that route than if you were to go into a local electronics shop and buy a load of optical cables. I wouldn't be surprised if you actually spent less doing that than getting optical cables from a high street retailer.

At the minute though, sky HD going to the telly via scart is the main concern... get yourself a HDMI cable between them now! You'll be killing your image quality for the HD channels, effectively making it no different to a normal sky box.

philstanbridge · 28 May 2010 at 19:38

Oh doh. I don't know what to do. I can pick up this bluray for just under £100 which is what tempted me. But I'd have to get a switch.

I'm a bit confused by all this sorry. I'm running the Sky+ HD via HDMI into the tv. The tv only has one HDMI input however. The HT box only has one HDMI input too which is not being used at present obviously. So I really need that switch so that I can run both the Sky+ HD and the TV through it is this what you are saying? Taking the BD out of the equation for the time being.

krisboats · 28 May 2010 at 19:49

Your tv won't have an hdmi out so you can't hook it up that way. Besides, if you're watching tv channels through sky then the sound will be coming out through the HT package anyway, so you won't need to run the TV sound to the HT box unless you're watching from the aerial.

If it was me, i'd run the sky and blu ray through a switch and then run the switch into the HT box. Basically like this:

http://www.krunker.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/hdmi-selector-setup-thumb.png

devices>switch>sound>tv

Syph · 28 May 2010 at 20:08

Your system sounds very similar to my old setup Phil. What I would do in your position:

Buy a cheap switch. I got a manual one for less than a tenner. For how often you'd watch a bluray, a simple switch would be sufficient.

Connect bluray player and Sky HD to the switch. The switch to the TV.

You have two (or three) choices for sound:

1) Connect optical from TV to HT. Everything you watch, provided the HT is on, can come through the HT. It won't be proper 5.1, but your system should do some work to make it come out of them all. I do this with my Panny, it's fine.

2) Connect optical from HT to bluray. Best sound this way. Best if you want to make the most of the bluray sound. Best if you're not bothered about surround sound from the TV (or like me, from a PC connected, PS3 or Wii - I have a few devices connected on mine!)

3) Buy an optical splitter, 2 or 3 to one, less than a tenner and connect the TV, Sky HD and Bluray to the HT via the splitter. Best of all worlds, though another splitter. I tried this, but I couldn't be bothered switching all my devices.

I found option 1 best because I just turn on the HT via the TV and anything I watch uses the speakers. It does a good job of it (it's also a respectable Samsung HT system).

In any case, it's possibly another £20-30 by the time you've picked up switches/splitters and extra cables. I bought most of my kit from Asda. Never had any issues either!

krisboats · 28 May 2010 at 20:18

Syph said:
2) Connect optical from HT to bluray. Best sound this way. Best if you want to make the most of the bluray sound. Best if you're not bothered about surround sound from the TV (or like me, from a PC connected, PS3 or Wii - I have a few devices connected on mine!)

I found option 1 best because I just turn on the HT via the TV and anything I watch uses the speakers. It does a good job of it (it's also a respectable Samsung HT system).

In any case, it's possibly another £20-30 by the time you've picked up switches/splitters and extra cables. I bought most of my kit from Asda. Never had any issues either!

No it isn't. Optical doesn't have the neccessary bandwidth to carry the best bluray audio signal. It needs to be done via HDMI to make the most of it. Even if the samsung HT won't take TrueHD or DTS-HD it will most likely be able to do PCM audio via the HDMI, which will be a higher bandwidth than optical.

The easiest way is a hdmi switch and let the HTbox play the audio off the HDMI devices. No need for optical cables so less cable clutter and your already going to be using a HDMI lead for each device if your wanting a hd image anyway.

You can always find a cheaper HDMI switch, i just can't link to any others and this is the only one OCUK do. You'll need a switch anyway as HDMI is the newest standard. It gives you more connectivity in the future as well should you ever get an xbox or a hd camcorder etc.

Syph · 28 May 2010 at 20:28

krisboats said:
No it isn't. Optical doesn't have the neccessary bandwidth to carry the best bluray audio signal. It needs to be done via HDMI to make the most of it. Even if the samsung HT won't take TrueHD or DTS-HD it will most likely be able to do PCM audio via the HDMI, which will be a higher bandwidth than optical.

How exactly is he supposed to get the HDMI sound to the HT from bluray player if it just connects direct to the TV?

My understanding of the system is that he has a HT system; so a DVD player/5.1 in one. I can only speak from my experience, but the only way I've ever gotten sound from an external source to the HT system I own is via the aux or optical. I don't see that his system has an HDMI in aside from the TV.

It's the best way for him, as far as I can see. Please correct me if I'm wrong, as it'd improve what I've available to me too.

philstanbridge · 28 May 2010 at 20:38

Syph said:
How exactly is he supposed to get the HDMI sound to the HT from bluray player if it just connects direct to the TV?

My understanding of the system is that he has a HT system; so a DVD player/5.1 in one. I can only speak from my experience, but the only way I've ever gotten sound from an external source to the HT system I own is via the aux or optical. I don't see that his system has an HDMI in aside from the TV.

It's the best way for him, as far as I can see. Please correct me if I'm wrong, as it'd improve what I've available to me too.

That's correct Syph - apologies if I wasn't clear in my OP. My Samsung setup is a 5.1 DVD player/integral amp all in one system. Bespoke speaker connections etc, all through one box. I got it because it's space saving, and good value for money. But obviously I have the issues now. I've just tried the optical digi cable plugged in TV/HT box and I have to select AUX in order to be able to hear the sound through my external speakers.

Syph · 28 May 2010 at 20:41

philstanbridge said:
That's correct Syph - apologies if I wasn't clear in my OP. My Samsung setup is a 5.1 DVD player/integral amp all in one system. Bespoke speaker connections etc, all through one box. I got it because it's space saving, and good value for money. But obviously I have the issues now. I've just tried the optical digi cable plugged in TV/HT box and I have to select AUX in order to be able to hear the sound through my external speakers.

That'd be it Phil. I know on my TV I can turn on the surround sound via the TV remote (it should be an external speaker option buried in some menu) and my sister's Samsung TV it's similar - though it'll be newer than yours I imagine. In which case, just keep doing what you're doing!