Need answer for a simple, quick setup question please!

[Tybo28]

I just purchased a 65" Samsung SUHD tv and a 4k blu-ray player. I also have a soundbar with surround sound, but it only has one hdmi imput and output. My question is, am I able to connect all of my devices via HDMI (of course) to the Tv and then output to the soundbar, or do i need to input all devices to the soundbar and output to the tv? I guess i don't understand what is decoding what for the best possible sound. Thanks so much, friends!

[Groot]

I have all my devices going to the TV and the TV connects to the soundbar using optical. It more than likely would work fine that way on your setup too.

[Tybo28]

Thanks so much.I appreciate the advice. I'm not super schooled on technical aspects. Just to be sure, optical is of lesser quality, correct?

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by Groot

I have all my devices going to the TV and the TV connects to the soundbar using optical. It more than likely would work fine that way on your setup too.

Agreed ~ Let the Blu-ray player decode things & send the signal ~ Blu-ray ~ TV ~ Soundbar

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by Tybo28

Thanks so much.I appreciate the advice. I'm not super schooled on technical aspects. Just to be sure, optical is of lesser quality, correct?

If you can send it HDMI then just do it that way

[Tybo28]

Thanks so much, guys. I know these are amature questions. Appreciate it.

[Groot]

You're welcome. As CB said, use HDMI if you can. I'm not much of an audiophile so I took the simple (cheaper) way out and use optical, but if you want Dolby TrueHD & DTS Master Audio you need to use HDMI.

[Tybo28]

I'm not totally opposed to optical, but now that I've invested thousands the idea of not getting the best possible results makes me feel like a total noob. I was even talked into buying several $80 black platinum monster HDMI cables at Best Buy. I'm sure those were an upsell more than a necessary, too.

[Groot]

Originally Posted by Tybo28

I'm not totally opposed to optical, but now that I've invested thousands the idea of not getting the best possible results makes me feel like a total noob. I was even talked into buying several $80 black platinum monster HDMI cables at Best Buy. I'm sure those were an upsell more than a necessary, too.

If you haven't opened/used those yet take them back. Those are one of the biggest scams in the home theater market. NewEgg, Amazon...your local Walmart, have HDMI cables for pretty cheap that work just as well.

My soundbar/subwoofer system in the basement doesn't have HDMI (this is my second office/gaming area), so I have no choice and I like it since it's all wireless aside from the one cable and I don't want to upgrade right now. In my main theater I have wall built in speakers and it's all done proper, but that's more of a challenge to do for most folks.

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by Tybo28

I'm not totally opposed to optical, but now that I've invested thousands the idea of not getting the best possible results makes me feel like a total noob. I was even talked into buying several $80 black platinum monster HDMI cables at Best Buy. I'm sure those were an upsell more than a necessary, too.

Any HDMI cable will work for they are all the same. You can spend a lot or spend less & get the same results

[slimdude]

Originally Posted by Groot

If you haven't opened/used those yet take them back. Those are one of the biggest scams in the home theater market. NewEgg, Amazon...your local Walmart, have HDMI cables for pretty cheap that work just as well.

If he had opened and used the HDMI cable, Best Buy still would've accepted the return, as long as it's within the return/exchange policy window. All he have say is: he didn't like them, and didn't think the item was worth the price. I've purchased a pair of Bose headphones, took them home and listen to them. I wasn't satisfied with the sound quality, so I returned them and Best Buy refunded my money without any problems.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by Tybo28

I just purchased a 65" Samsung SUHD tv and a 4k blu-ray player. I also have a soundbar with surround sound, but it only has one hdmi imput and output. My question is, am I able to connect all of my devices via HDMI (of course) to the Tv and then output to the soundbar, or do i need to input all devices to the soundbar and output to the tv? I guess i don't understand what is decoding what for the best possible sound. Thanks so much, friends!

Connect the TV to the sound bar with HDMI if the TV and the sound bar have an ARC HDMI connection (I'm sure the TV has), otherwise just use the digital optical connection. I'd only connect the player to the sound bar if it's more than 2.0 or 2.1 as you can make use of the surround (ARC will do that as well).

There won't be any noticeable difference between the digital optical and HDMI sound quality connected to the sound bar, unless the sound bar output HD audio and very few do.

[Tybo28]

Yes, they both have arc. So it's as simple as connecting all devices to the hdmi ports on the tv and then output an hdmi to the arc on the soundbar? (Though the arc is listed on the soundbars output, I dont know if that matters). Thanks for the help!

[Opips3]

[Tybo28]

Originally Posted by Groot

If you haven't opened/used those yet take them back. Those are one of the biggest scams in the home theater market. NewEgg, Amazon...your local Walmart, have HDMI cables for pretty cheap that work just as well.

My soundbar/subwoofer system in the basement doesn't have HDMI (this is my second office/gaming area), so I have no choice and I like it since it's all wireless aside from the one cable and I don't want to upgrade right now. In my main theater I have wall built in speakers and it's all done proper, but that's more of a challenge to do for most folks.

I'm returning them! I knew better at the time, but the guy had the impression I had a lot of money and was trying to upsell me left and right. I fell for the hdmi speech.

[CZAR]

Originally Posted by Groot

I have all my devices going to the TV and the TV connects to the soundbar using optical. It more than likely would work fine that way on your setup too.

Do you also have the rear speaker with your soundbar? Also the way you have it hooked up, do you get that 5.1 sound? I tried mine your way and either everything comes out of all speaker or if I change the modes on the subwoofer then only the front 3 speakers work. How do I get it to do 5.1? Got Em!!