NTL/UPC and sorround sound

k123456

Have NTL/UPC ,buying a surround sound system , sytem does not have optical out port, NTL box does. To get surround sound to work with NTL, do I need a sorround sound system with optical out port, or will scart work, thanks Folks

Indeed , do NTL/UPC transmit in surround

coylemj

You're describing the UPC box as the source so what you need is an amp. with optical input, not output.

Most home cinema amps take the signal from a HDMI cable, I just looked at a couple of the current Onkyo and Denon AV receivers (Home Cinema amps) and the only way to deliver sound to the amp. is via HDMI, digital or optical so SCART won't cut it.

I have a non-HD UPC box so the connection to the TV is SCART, I then have a choice as to how I feed the sound to my (very old amp)....

If I connect the UPC direct to my amp via phono (red and white plugs) cables, I find that the picture and sound are out of sync so instead I route the 'audio out' phono (also red and white) sockets on the TV to the amp. and use that as my sound source, the picture and sound are then in sync.

However if I buy a new amp. I will not be able to make this connection & will need to use the digital output socket on the TV as any new systems that I've looked at will not take the audio signal via phono leads.

If you're buying a new surround system you need to get one that has an optical input port to take the signal from the UPC box. Can you tell us which amp. is in the system you're looking at?

k123456

Hi Thanks for coming back to me

Out of interest, do you find with UPC, you get true surround sound ?

coylemj

k123456 wrote: »

Hi Thanks for coming back to me

Out of interest, do you find with UPC, you get true surround sound ?

I haven't wired up the surround speakers, I only have left and right speakers connected at the moment. My amp is a very old Kenwood Pro-Logic model, I used to get surround sound from VHS movies and the odd program like the Simpsons and LA Law (yes, that long ago) but haven't tested the surround sound for ages.

snappieT

I've only experienced surround on the HD and Movie channels.

Leopardi

I recently purchased this receiver: http://www.eu.onkyo.com/en/products/tx-nr616-76093.html. I would like to know the best way to connect my UPC decoder (Cisco 8485DVB) to it in order to get the best sound quality.

I heard that the Sky HD box needs to be connected to a receiver via optical to get 5.1 output. Is that also the case with my decoder or would I be better off connecting decoder and receiver via HDMI? Thanks in advance . . .

coylemj

I helped a friend with his Sky HD box and the statement that you need an optical connection for 5.1 (surround sound) is correct, you only get basic stereo out of the Sky box with the HDMI connection.

I can't answer for the UPC Cisco box but you can't go wrong with an optical cable, they only cost about €13 in Harvey Norman.

Leopardi

coylemj wrote: »

I helped a friend with his Sky HD box and the statement that you need an optical connection for 5.1 (surround sound) is correct, you only get basic stereo out of the Sky box with the HDMI connection.

I can't answer for the UPC Cisco box but you can't go wrong with an optical cable, they only cost about €13 in Harvey Norman.

I assume it will be the same with the UPC box. I'll try it with the optical cable.

Boards.ie: Tony

I have my UPC HD box hooked up to my Denon amp via HDMI.
If the show / channel supports / broadcasts it, i get Dolby Digital, but to be honest, they are few and far between.

Also, AFAIK, you'll only get 5.1 out of the HD box from HD channels. You won't get it from a Scart / Optical set-up on UPC. Just FYI.

Leopardi

Boards.ie: Tony wrote: »

I have my UPC HD box hooked up to my Denon amp via HDMI.
If the show / channel supports / broadcasts it, i get Dolby Digital, but to be honest, they are few and far between.

Also, AFAIK, you'll only get 5.1 out of the HD box from HD channels. You won't get it from a Scart / Optical set-up on UPC. Just FYI.

Thanks for the reply, Tony. I have yet to connect the box and receiver, but I'll start with HDMI.

Boards.ie: Tony

There also doesn't seem to be a listing anywhere from UPC that indicates what broadcasts are in DD5.1 and which are in stereo. From what I remember, a good chunk of the DiscoveryHD Broadcasts are in 5.1 (but kinda pointless, as the shows really don't suit / need it)

Honestly though, with a good AVR (like a Denon / Onkyo), they do a pretty good job upmixing the stereo channel to simulate 5.1. Personally, I've my Denon set on ProLogicII Game Mode all the time as I felt it did the best job at taking Stereo and upmixing it to a nice simulated 5.1 experience (but note: if a channel / source is outputting a 5.1 signal, it will over ride this for that signal, so don't worry about that)

ALSO, only set your HD box to 720p (1080i = bad... lower quality. For more info on this, see here: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/why-you-should-use-720p-resolution-over-1080i-170970 )

Finally, depending on what TV you have you'll need to adjust the Audio Off Set. i have a Philips 46PFL9705 with various setting / picture enhancements enabled, and for me, I had to off set / delay the audio by 152ms for the lip sync to match. Just worth keeping in mind.

Leopardi wrote: »

Thanks for the reply, Tony. I have yet to connect the box and receiver, but I'll start with HDMI.

Leopardi

Boards.ie: Tony wrote: »

There also doesn't seem to be a listing anywhere from UPC that indicates what broadcasts are in DD5.1 and which are in stereo. From what I remember, a good chunk of the DiscoveryHD Broadcasts are in 5.1 (but kinda pointless, as the shows really don't suit / need it)

Honestly though, with a good AVR (like a Denon / Onkyo), they do a pretty good job upmixing the stereo channel to simulate 5.1. Personally, I've my Denon set on ProLogicII Game Mode all the time as I felt it did the best job at taking Stereo and upmixing it to a nice simulated 5.1 experience (but note: if a channel / source is outputting a 5.1 signal, it will over ride this for that signal, so don't worry about that)

ALSO, only set your HD box to 720p (1080i = bad... lower quality. For more info on this, see here: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/why-you-should-use-720p-resolution-over-1080i-170970 )

Finally, depending on what TV you have you'll need to adjust the Audio Off Set. i have a Philips 46PFL9705 with various setting / picture enhancements enabled, and for me, I had to off set / delay the audio by 152ms for the lip sync to match. Just worth keeping in mind.

Thanks again, Tony. I'll bear that advice in mind. With many of these issues I wouldn't know where to start.

coylemj

Boards.ie: Tony wrote: »

I have my UPC HD box hooked up to my Denon amp via HDMI.
If the show / channel supports / broadcasts it, i get Dolby Digital, but to be honest, they are few and far between.

Also, AFAIK, you'll only get 5.1 out of the HD box from HD channels. You won't get it from a Scart / Optical set-up on UPC. Just FYI.

Are you saying that UPC only delivers 5.1 sound from HD receivers?

I live in an area where UPC do not yet offer HD or phone so I have a non-HD receiver which is connected to the TV using SCART. The UPC box also has a digital audio (co-ax) socket, can I get 5.1 sound if I connect that to a new AVR? Am planning to buy the Onkyo 515 soon, it has two optical and two digital co-ax inputs.

Boards.ie: Tony

You'd want to check with UPC, but i'm almost 100% that only HD broadcasts carry 5.1 signals (though I don't have the UPC movie package, so that might be an edge case).

Honestly thought 99% of what I watch on UPC (HD or not) doesn't carry 5.1. I have a Denon and it does a cracking job at upmixing the normal UPC Stereo audio to faux surround sound. I'm actually looking at getting the Onkyo 515 as well.

You should try get UPC to give you the HD Box. Honestly, it's worth it. It's a much faster box (just Operating System wise). I had UPC give me a HD box before I got HD, though you should give HD a go and if you don't like, then down grade (you can keep the box :P )

Having an AVR like the Onkyo 515 and not using it with a HDMI enabled box is MADNESS. The reason I'm getting the 515 is because of it's scaling chip in there is supposed to be amazing and scales SD pictures with some serious algorithms.

Personally, I have moved everything over to HDMI and they are all plugged into the AVR and then one HDMI to the TV. It's nice neat cabling, but the best audio and picture as well.

If you need any more specific, feel free to ask.

coylemj wrote: »

Are you saying that UPC only delivers 5.1 sound from HD receivers?

I live in an area where UPC do not yet offer HD or phone so I have a non-HD receiver which is connected to the TV using SCART. The UPC box also has a digital audio (co-ax) socket, can I get 5.1 sound if I connect that to a new AVR? Am planning to buy the Onkyo 515 soon, it has two optical and two digital co-ax inputs.

coylemj

Boards.ie: Tony wrote: »

Honestly thought 99% of what I watch on UPC (HD or not) doesn't carry 5.1.

I just assumed that most modern movies would come with 5.1 sound, even on a non-HD box?

Boards.ie: Tony wrote: »

You should try get UPC to give you the HD Box. Honestly, it's worth it. It's a much faster box (just Operating System wise). I had UPC give me a HD box before I got HD, though you should give HD a go and if you don't like, then down grade (you can keep the box :P )

HD is not available where I live, will they give me a newer DVR model with a HDMI connector even though I'm not signing up for HD?

Boards.ie: Tony wrote: »

Having an AVR like the Onkyo 515 and not using it with a HDMI enabled box is MADNESS. The reason I'm getting the 515 is because of it's scaling chip in there is supposed to be amazing and scales SD pictures with some serious algorithms.

Agree 100% but see my earlier question, I'm not sure if UPC will give me a box with a HDMI connector given that I can't get HD.

Boards.ie: Tony wrote: »

Personally, I have moved everything over to HDMI and they are all plugged into the AVR and then one HDMI to the TV. It's nice neat cabling, but the best audio and picture as well.

That would be the plan when I get the Onkyo 515 and get a DVR with a HDMI connector.

Boards.ie: Tony

To Answer your points below:

1) Yes, all modern movies do, but 'normal channels' (i.e. RTE/TV3/Channel4/etc...) would never broadcast the 5.1 sounds. Only the dedicated Movie channels would as they require alot more bandwidth. Basically, most movies shown on HD channels will have 5.1 and I assume (as I dont' have the movie channels) that the PREMIUM movie channels (not Film4 for example) would carry the 5.1. For the most part, you won't get 5.1. When i said 99% of what I watch doesn't have it, I meant 99% of what i watch is TV Shows, not Movies (have a Plex Media center for that)

2) Hmm... HD not being available, that's an issue... YOU COULD perhaps make note that you got a TV without a scart socket (new Samsung / LG TV's require a special adaptor for Scart connections) and that to continue with the service you need a box with HDMI. Ask to speak to Customer Retention off the bat (as in, when you phone customer service, ask to be put through to Customer Retention as they are the ones who can actually do something)

3) Where are you looking to get your 515?

Hope that info helps. I convinced UPC to give me a HDMI enabled box before I got HD, just FYI, it can be done! :P

coylemj wrote: »

I just assumed that most modern movies would come with 5.1 sound, even on a non-HD box?



HD is not available where I live, will they give me a newer DVR model with a HDMI connector even though I'm not signing up for HD?



Agree 100% but see my earlier question, I'm not sure if UPC will give me a box with a HDMI connector given that I can't get HD.



That would be the plan when I get the Onkyo 515 and get a DVR with a HDMI connector.

Leopardi

coylemj wrote: »

I helped a friend with his Sky HD box and the statement that you need an optical connection for 5.1 (surround sound) is correct, you only get basic stereo out of the Sky box with the HDMI connection.

I can't answer for the UPC Cisco box but you can't go wrong with an optical cable, they only cost about €13 in Harvey Norman.

I'm in the process of switching to Sky, so I'm eager to ensure I know my settings options. I've just read this on the Sky site (http://www.sky.com/helpcentre/tv/sky-hd/picture-problems/sound-problems/dolby-digital-sound-issues/): "Your SkyHD box is capable of outputting Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound in via either Optical cable (TOSLINK) or HDMI interconnects."

Has there been a recent update that now enables HDMI to carry DD 5.1?

coylemj

I don't have Sky myself but it's my earlier post you quoted so happy to continue my research...

Using this website as the source....

http://www.sky.com/helpcentre/manuals/

There are several manuals mentioned so I picked the one that most closely matches the model you specified viz. 'SkyHD', this manual says that you can use an optical cable or HDMI...

With the digital-audio outputs you can connect your SkyHD box to a compatible home cinema system and listen to programmes broadcast in Dolby Digital audio. For this you need an optical cable (not supplied) or HDMI cable and you need to change the default settings on your SkyHD box:

At the Sky Manuals website (link above), the manual titled 'SkyHD' is the last one listed under the header 'Sky Boxes', the quote above is from P. 43, titled 'Switching on Dolby Digital audio'

Leopardi

coylemj wrote: »

I don't have Sky myself but it's my earlier post you quoted so happy to continue my research...

Using this website as the source....

http://www.sky.com/helpcentre/manuals/

There are several manuals mentioned so I picked the one that most closely matches the model you specified viz. 'SkyHD', this manual says that you can use an optical cable or HDMI...

With the digital-audio outputs you can connect your SkyHD box to a compatible home cinema system and listen to programmes broadcast in Dolby Digital audio. For this you need an optical cable (not supplied) or HDMI cable and you need to change the default settings on your SkyHD box:

At the Sky Manuals website (link above), the manual titled 'SkyHD' is the last one listed under the header 'Sky Boxes', the quote above is from P. 43, titled 'Switching on Dolby Digital audio'

Cheers for the reply. I hope I can use the HDMI cable, but I have a spare Optical cable somewhere anyway.