Soundbars and soundbases only have one HDMI connection?

Relentless81

Relentless81

Relentless81

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Hi,

Confused by this can someone help me out please?

I have a non-arc compatible TV, I need a new soundbar/soundbase and they all only seem to have one HDMI connection.

I have a PC in the front room that currently connects to HDMI in on the soundbar and then to the TV via HDMI out (pass through)

No current soundbar/soundbase seem to support this everything assumes you have ARC and only supply one HDMI port.

Normal TV sound connects via Optical.

If I buy a new soundbar/soundbase with one HDMI connection, how do I connect up my PC and TV, if I have to use Optical and ignore HDMI on the sounbar/soundbase will I still get sound from the media PC and if so will I lose any features?

Thanks
 
Depending on budget take a look at the Sony HT-NT5, HT-CT790 or HT-RT5, all three soundbars have 3 Hdmi inputs plus optical and analogue inputs. This will hopefully navigate the issues of connecting multiple devices with pass through to the TV.
 
Thanks ill have a look. Only issue is space and I want to avoid separate subs. Sorry should have mentioned that. I've looking at q acoustics m2 soundbase and m3 sound bar but both only have one HDMI connection

does seem odd that these companies write off customers with tvs older than a few years
 
If something exists, maybe a passive stereo, or L/C/R soundbar? Rather than active soundbar with I/O on the back. That way you have the cut down look of a soundbar, with large amount of connecitivty of a AVR hidden away.
 
Had a look at that Marantz unit, too expensive and cant really have book shelves as they would need to go on the floor and I have a toddler in the house they wont last five minutes.

Really need a soundbar or soundbase with built in or wired sub and HDMI pass through with a focus on clarity, struggling to find anything though
 
Roth Neo 6.2 sound base.

4x HDMI in + HDMI ARC
1x Optical Digital
1x Coax Digital
1x stereo phono
1x 3.5mm
No external subwoofer

Price £249
 
lucid said:
Roth Neo 6.2 sound base.

4x HDMI in + HDMI ARC
1x Optical Digital
1x Coax Digital
1x stereo phono
1x 3.5mm
No external subwoofer

Price £249
Click to expand...

Very interesting, need to measure it up and see if it will fit in the cabinet. Thanks.

That reminds me, is it a good idea to have a soundbase in a cabinet? The Qacoustics M2 has a setting so that if its installed to a cabinet rather than under the TV you can switch that setting on. Its the only soundbase that has this setting which led me to it.
 
Not really. They're designed to work in an open area. Running them in a box means the sound energy bounces around inside the box first, so making the box vibrate ('sing') along with the speaker. The result is you hear the box and its effect on the sound.
 
Yeah makes sense. That's soundbases out too then. This is hard work!

looks like I'll need to find a sound bar with built in sub and pass through that will fit under the TV, clearance is only 60mm though
 
What about Q Acoustics QTV2? It only has one optical input, but it mounts behind the TV. Got one for the parents.

Route HDMI from source to TV, then use single optical cable from TV to soundbar. Mute the TV speakers.
 
hornetstinger said:
What about Q Acoustics QTV2? It only has one optical input, but it mounts behind the TV. Got one for the parents.

Route HDMI from source to TV, then use single optical cable from TV to soundbar. Mute the TV speakers.
Click to expand...

Never new they existed, interesting option although they do kind of look a bit weird what are they like in person and do they sound decent assuming you've heard/seen them? I think my TV is 46" so not sure if they'll fit and they look heavy not sure if the cabinet will take it as I was pushing it with the recommended TV size.

Will sound go from Media PC to TV via HDMI then through Optical? Never tried it as only ever had pass through.

Its an interesting option though thanks, makes me wonder what else I've missed?

Edit, never mind, discontinued anyway :(
 
Relentless81 said:
Hi,

Confused by this can someone help me out please?

I have a non-arc compatible TV, I need a new soundbar/soundbase and they all only seem to have one HDMI connection.

I have a PC in the front room that currently connects to HDMI in on the soundbar and then to the TV via HDMI out (pass through)

No current soundbar/soundbase seem to support this everything assumes you have ARC and only supply one HDMI port.

Normal TV sound connects via Optical.

If I buy a new soundbar/soundbase with one HDMI connection, how do I connect up my PC and TV, if I have to use Optical and ignore HDMI on the sounbar/soundbase will I still get sound from the media PC and if so will I lose any features?

Thanks
Click to expand...

My TV doesn't support hdmi ARC but does have optical out. Running the optical from my TV to the soundbar, all inputs through the TV are outputted to the soundbar essentially doing the same thing as hdmi arc. Neither arc or optical support HD audio so I see no advantage of one over the other.
 
Jamesyboyjim said:
My TV doesn't support hdmi ARC but does have optical out. Running the optical from my TV to the soundbar, all inputs through the TV are outputted to the soundbar essentially doing the same thing as hdmi arc. Neither arc or optical support HD audio so I see no advantage of one over the other.
Click to expand...

I know its weird isnt it, I really dont get it at all. For people with older TVs it makes finding a setup much more difficult as most devices only have HDMI ARC connections. I think I'm just going to go for something with Optical in and save some cash, cant remember the last time I set it to anything other than Stereo anyway
 
no problem at all I have a non ARC TV

All audio sources to AV processor
All video sources non local to HDMI switcher.
All video sources close to TV straight into TV.

Single HDMI cable from HDMI switch to TV
 
Relentless81 said:
I know its weird isnt it, I really dont get it at all. For people with older TVs it makes finding a setup much more difficult as most devices only have HDMI ARC connections. I think I'm just going to go for something with Optical in and save some cash, cant remember the last time I set it to anything other than Stereo anyway
Click to expand...
The soundbar I got is here :

https://www.samsung.com/us/televisi...450-soundbar-w-wireless-subwoofer-hw-k450-za/

It has hdmi in/out and optical in.
It wasn't expensive (149) but does sound really good. as you're in the same boat as I was, its worth a look unless your budget is higher than mine was :)

you can actually get some rear speakers for it too and achieve 4.1 as it has built in dolby / dts decoders.
 
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