blu ray player to TV to receiver?

[jakeacc]

Let me start off that I know some but not a lot about setting up home theaters. I tend to set things up that sound good, but may not be the right way of setting things up.

I have a blu-ray player (LG BD370) connected to my LG HDTV via HDMI. (HDMI input 1 on the back of my set) I have my HDTV connected via optical cable to my Yamaha receiver. (the optical cables goes into the optical input of my receiver but is connected to my TV via "MONITOR OUT" - probably where I'm making my fatal mistake)

I repeat this process for my cable box and xbox 360. They are all connected directly to my TV. The ONLY cable connected to my receiver is the optical cable coming from the MONITOR OUT output. With this method, no matter what Video input I have selected, the receiver stays on the same audio setting. One of the reasons I have it set up like this is so my family can use the TV relatively easy. (as long as the receiver is on, there will always be sound) Also, my receiver doesn't have any HDMI inputs, just optical, analogue, and multi-channel.

When watching HDTV and Blu-ray it SOUNDS like all the speakers are working in a 5.1 environment. (voices are in the center channel, ambient sound is coming through the surround speakers) But, for some reason, I cannot by receiver to display "dolby digital" when playing blu-rays. Instead, it displays pro logic II. (i can also toggle it to preset environments like hall, concert, arena, 5 speaker stereo, and straight) I have my receiver set to auto detect signal and choose the right one. When I watch TV, it says dolby digital.

so, what am i doing wrong? and is my monitor out solution really stupid?

[langn08]

What is the model on the receiver?

[Bluray_ne1]

I wouldn't say stupid, you're just limited by your receiver, that's all. Have you considered getting a different one with HDMI inputs? There are several models out now that are inexpensive.

[blujacket]

The optical output on tv's are typically used for OTA HD audio. You need to run optical cables from each source(bluray,cable box,& xbox 360) to your receiver. You will have to go into your receivers menu to set each input accordingly.

[HAMP]

Originally Posted by jakeacc

is my monitor out solution really stupid?

No it's not stupid, you were just trying to make it really simple for the rest of the family.

blujacket has your solution, each will have to have it's own audio input into the receiver. Either by optical and/or digital coaxial depending on how many inputs you have.

[aramis109]

When you run your setup like this, you're hitting against the lowest common denominator. In this case, it's your HDTV's audio setup. Everything is being downmixed to a 2.0 channel audio and then being output to your receiver.

You should run optical or digital coaxial from your PS3, cable box, and 360 to your receiver. It will decode at least Dolby Digital, and you'll get true 5.1 sound, instead of matrixed 2.0 sound.

[BIslander]

1. The audio output of the TV will be limited to stereo for most sources. With nearly all sets you only get encoded DD 5.1 from the TV's internal tuner. For discrete 5.1, you need to run audio from each device directly to the AVR, not through the TV.

2. For ease of use, get a Harmony remote. Our setup is quite complex and everyone in the family can run it easily using the one remote. You want to watch a Blu? Click one button and the remote powers things up and switches all of the inputs. It's the same story for every "activity". No matter what you are currently watching, a single button turns everything off and on, switches inputs, and configures the remote buttons (volume, channels, etc) for the devices being used at the time. Harmonys are easy to configure using a simple web interface. No need to learn any codes.

[jakeacc]

Originally Posted by aramis109

When you run your setup like this, you're hitting against the lowest common denominator. In this case, it's your HDTV's audio setup. Everything is being downmixed to a 2.0 channel audio and then being output to your receiver.

REALLY?? When I watch HDTV broadcasts, it says DOLBY DIGITAL on my receiver and my surround channels play pretty clean ambient noise.

i've listened to stereo sources (like mp3s) that are processed with pro logic II to simulate 5.1 and while it does a pretty good job, you can still hear some distortion and some vocals bleed into the surround speakers. This is not the case with my hd broadcasts and blu ray.

[jakeacc]

argh...why aren't my posts showing up? how many more posts do i have to send before we can get around this weird loophole? an hour and a half has passed and they still haven't showed up. meanwhile, people are replying to my thread with questions that i wish i could answer...

[Lucky Luc]

Originally Posted by aramis109

When you run your setup like this, you're hitting against the lowest common denominator. In this case, it's your HDTV's audio setup. Everything is being downmixed to a 2.0 channel audio and then being output to your receiver.

You should run optical or digital coaxial from your PS3, cable box, and 360 to your receiver. It will decode at least Dolby Digital, and you'll get true 5.1 sound, instead of matrixed 2.0 sound.

Yes, have all your components' audio and video sent to your receiver. All you need sent to your tv is the video out.

[jakeacc]

ohhh...it must be because i'm posting an external link to my audio receivers specs. they must think im spam. anyways, my receiver is a harmony htr-6030. do a google search to see its specs. i'm limited to only 2 optical inputs and one coaxial. zero hdmi inputs.

[jakeacc]

Originally Posted by Lucky Luc

Yes, have all your components' audio and video sent to your receiver. All you need sent to your tv is the video out.

i cant send my bluray players video my receiver since my receiver does not have HDMI inputs. or HDMI outputs. I bought this receiver for 200 bucks in February and it sounds like its pretty lame.

[aramis109]

Originally Posted by jakeacc

REALLY?? When I watch HDTV broadcasts, it says DOLBY DIGITAL on my receiver and my surround channels play pretty clean ambient noise.

i've listened to stereo sources (like mp3s) that are processed with pro logic II to simulate 5.1 and while it does a pretty good job, you can still hear some distortion and some vocals bleed into the surround speakers. This is not the case with my hd broadcasts and blu ray.

Usually. How is your HDTV connected to your cable box? Via coaxial cable or HDMI? May make a difference. I will say, now that you mentioned it, I have my cable hooked directly to the HDTV via coaxial cable (no cable box) and the HDTV connected to the receiver via digital coaxial. When watching an HD channel if it's offered I get Dolby Digital. The cable box/normal cable is probably the only exception to my earlier post, however.

[jakeacc]

Originally Posted by aramis109

Usually. How is your HDTV connected to your cable box?

My cable box is connected to my HDTV via HDMI. As is my Blu Ray player. No other cables from these devices to the TV. And the only cable from my HDTV to my receiver is the optical cable that comes out of the MONITOR OUT output on my TV.

If this method really is producing 2.0 channel, than A. 2.0 channel sounds really good if its just simulating surround sound with pro logic II and B. my audio receiver is lying to me when it says that it is receiving DOLBY DIGITAL

[BIslander]

Originally Posted by jakeacc

My cable box is connected to my HDTV via HDMI. As is my Blu Ray player. No other cables from these devices to the TV. And the only cable from my HDTV to my receiver is the optical cable that comes out of the MONITOR OUT output on my TV.

If this method really is producing 2.0 channel, than A. 2.0 channel sounds really good if its just simulating surround sound with pro logic II and B. my audio receiver is lying to me when it says that it is receiving DOLBY DIGITAL

Your AVR will not be lying. Some TVs pass encoded DD 5.1 from external components and it would appears yours is one that does, at least from the HDMI input being used by your cable box. Have you tried swapping inputs to see if you get DD 5.1 from your Blu-ray player when it's plugged into the input now used by your cable box? What model is your TV? Also, do you have your Blu-ray player set to output bitstream instead of PCM?

[vveksuvarna]

i would make all the connections go through the home theatre reciever,

OR

if you dont have as many inputs, use your blu ray hdmi - to connect to the hdtv,

and use optical out for sound to connect to the reciever.

that should solve your problem, and shwo you the dolby digital/dts logo when you play blu rays.

[vveksuvarna]

same goes for other gadgets that need to use your surround system and tv.

[vveksuvarna]

Originally Posted by jakeacc

My cable box is connected to my HDTV via HDMI. As is my Blu Ray player. No other cables from these devices to the TV. And the only cable from my HDTV to my receiver is the optical cable that comes out of the MONITOR OUT output on my TV.

If this method really is producing 2.0 channel, than A. 2.0 channel sounds really good if its just simulating surround sound with pro logic II and B. my audio receiver is lying to me when it says that it is receiving DOLBY DIGITAL

your reciever is not lying, check the programme guide, it really depends on what you are watching, you will never see the dolby digital sign when watching an old looney tunes episode, but if you are watching heroes, or an hd movie on demand...you might get better sound.


and dolby prologic II is nothing but a ellaborate trick to spread 2.0 sound onto 5.1 speakers, neo:6 was the latest effort i remmember, but it has been quite some time i have looked into all of this, since i moved to san francisco in 07...and my beautiful home theatre was left behind in bombay.

[jakeacc]

I don't know the model number of my 47 inch LG LCD off the top of my head. It's fairly new...bought it in October 2008.

While watching an HDTV broadcast and seeing my receiver said "DOLBY DIGITAL", i looked at the receiver closely and all 5 speakers (and sub) were highlighted. I'm definitely getting 5.1 surround, not 2.0.

I looked at the receiver again while playing a Blu-Ray and only the front 2 speakers were highlighted and it said "PRO LOGIC". So despite it sounding really good and surround-sound-like, apparently its converting my Blu-ray audio from 5.1 to 2.0 and then creating a virtual 5.1 signal with pro logic II. I will have to applaud the guys who made pro logic because I've never heard a stereo source sound so good.

Since my receiver doesn't have any HDMI inputs, I guess I can use the optical input for my Blu-ray, and then just component input or coaxial input for my cable box. (my HDTV broadcasts will probably sound not as good, though)

I guess all this confusion could have been avoided if I purchased a receiver with HDMI inputs and plugged all of my components to the receiver via HDMI. (and then receiver to TV again via HDMI) I'm assuming thats what all you guys do.

[jakeacc]

Also, my blu-ray player's Audio Menu has two audio options: PCM and Bitstream. I think I have it on PCM now. I don't know which one to use.