Please help - new technologies, unsure of best set up

b.cummins

b.cummins

b.cummins

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Guildford, Surrey
Hello!

I have just upgraded from my 2008 Panasonic Plasma and Logitech Speakers and I'm struggling to decide on the best set up.

I now have a Samsung UE49KS7000 and a Yamaha YSP 2500. This includes ARC technology, 4k Etc.

I've initially set this up so that all my devices are connected to the Soundbar with a single connection to the TV through ARC. I've tried reading up on this to get an understanding of the pros and cons. For reference, the devices I have are a Sky HD box and a Media PC that's currently running off of an NVIDIA GT 430. I am weighing up the following and want to know if it is correct:

  • If I connect devices to the TV via the Soundbar ARC function, I lose the ability to configure the picture for each uniquely as I am routing multiple devices through a single HDMI channel
  • I also lose the functionality of Samsung to recognise and 'optimise' HDMI devices with the smart remote if I don't connect them directly.
  • If I connect just the soundbar to the TV via ARC and then devices to the TV HDMI ports, I can route sound to the soundbar, but only Dolby Digital 5.1. What about DTS Digital?
  • If I have a device that supports Dolby Digital HD and DTS HD, I should connect it to the soundbar HDMI ports so that the soundbar can decode these formats
  • 4k Output is supported either via TV or Soundbar

Providing these assumptions are correct, do you think my best choices are to Hook the soundbar up via ARC HDMI, connect the Sky box directly to the TV (I don't think Sky HD supports anything higher than Dolby Digital 5.1?) and the PC to the TV?

My current PC graphics card doesn't support 4k and I do not have anything decoded higher than DD 5.1 and DTS. The one thing I am unsure about is will I lose DTS decoding if I don't hook the PC up to the soundbar?

I also heard stories that connecting a soundbar via ARC and feeding devices via the TV only decodes a 2.0 PCM output. Is this true?

I am really confused on this one and would appreciate some grounded facts and advice on the way forward.

Ultimately I will be upgrading my media PC this year with a newer card that supports 4k and HD audio, and getting an Ultra HD blu ray player or PS4 Pro, my assumption would be I should connect these two devices directly to the soundbar for the higher quality audio options, but the 4k picture will pass through either way no problem (Just want to check I don't lose HDR or anything important like that)?
 
The KS7000 passes DTS over ARC

http://uk.rtings.com/tv/reviews/samsung/ks8000

(US KS8000 is UK KS7000)

bear in mind that ARC can't pass multi-channel PCM it will always be stereo.


If down the road you do get a device that requires an HDCP 2.2 connection and you want the HD sound options as well you can get (and they are perfectly legal) a box that will sit between your device and the soundbar, that will convert the HDCP 2.2 from it to HDCP 1.4 out and qualify the device complete the HDCP 2.2 protocol.
 
TheMightyTen said:
The KS7000 passes DTS over ARC

http://uk.rtings.com/tv/reviews/samsung/ks8000

(US KS8000 is UK KS7000)

bear in mind that ARC can't pass multi-channel PCM it will always be stereo.


If down the road you do get a device that requires an HDCP 2.2 connection and you want the HD sound options as well you can get (and they are perfectly legal) a box that will sit between your device and the soundbar, that will convert the HDCP 2.2 from it to HDCP 1.4 out and qualify the device complete the HDCP 2.2 protocol.
Click to expand...

Hey,

Thanks for coming back to me so quickly!

Just so I am completely clear on this, can I confirm the set up would be:

Device connected to TV HDMI
TV connected to soundbar through ARC HDMI
Device can play back DTS Digital and DD 5.1?

I am really confused on the PCM Stereo issue - does this not directly contradict the above?

Is there any benefit to connecting the device via S/PDIF directly to the soundbar instead of routing the sound through the TV ARC connection (this is how I've had it set up previously) - for example, this whole PCM 2.0 thing?

I have done a bit more reading and realise my soundbar does not support HDR on Video Passthrough, or HDCP 2.2 - is your recommendation here a way to get around that? The problem there is I'm going to want to connect the device to the TV to benefit from the HDR - I am guessing this closes off the HD audio option to me?
 
AC3 (DD) and DTS are bitstream so get passed fine by ARC with your TV. ARC doesn't have enough bandwidth to pass Multi-channel PCM hence the stereo output.

No need for S/PDIF as it also suffers the bandwidth issues and just adds another level of complication to your setup whilst also adding another cable to route.

Personally I would use the soundbar as the Hub as I find that easier but with the range of devices you are using and the lack of true CEC on the sky box and no CEC on PC it's much of a muchness.

I can't confirm whether the HDCP 2.2 converters do allow HDR as the only person I know using one has it for a 4K Fire TV box to a Yamaha RX-V477 but testing with an Android TV box I took round it could do 4K 60Hz fine. I believe one review of a box on Amazon says it doesn't work with a PS4 Pro but I don't always trust reviews of niche devices like that on Amazon as good ones are generally "bought" and bad ones are created by the inept.
 
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