If you connect a source via HDMI, will this unit pull the video AND audio out of the HDMI or do you need to run an optical cable too?
1651299
No optical cable is necessary. The HDMI carries the high definition audio and video. (HDMI) High Definition Multimedia Interface. In home theaters, the audio is often extracted from HDMI sources and directed to a surround sound processor while the video is sent to the TV set. See HDMI and HDMI switch.
17999
HDMI carries both Video and Sound. The sound bar works like an AV Home Theater Reciever, in a limited way. HDMI makes this very simple. I have three devices, CableTV/DVR box, Apple TV and BlueRay. All of the HDMI for these devices plug into the sound bar IN; 1,2 & 3. Then the HDMI OUT from the Sony Sound Bar plugs into the TV HDMI IN ONE. I leave the TV on the HDMI ONE, the sound bar, and then adjust the input on the sound bar to the source I want and volume on the sound bar. Works like a champ and it is a clean install with just the one cable to the TV. You can use more devices if your TV supports Optical, for best quality, or RCA out. That can be routend to the sound bar and the you can plug more devices into your TV too.
36814
The best way? That is somewhat subjective. Since it appears that you only have 1 source connected to your soundbar (cable box), your way will work although I think that you are using an unnecessary HDMI cable from the TV to the soundbar. Your goal should be to get video to the TV and sound to the soundbar. Ideally, you want to make as direct a connection to the soundbar as possible from the source. If your TV doesn't have ARC, the HDMI cable from the TV to the soundbar is worthless. In your setup, it serves no purpose anyway because HDMI from the cable box to the TV gets you video and the optical cable from the cable box to the soundbar gets you direct audio. I would eliminate the HDMI cable from the TV to the soundbar since, even if your TV has ARC, your TV is probably only outputting 2 channel audio this way. You will also be keeping the HDMI IN and OUT on your soundbar open should you want to connect a BD player. Another way would be to connect your cable box to the soundbar via HDMI IN and then connect the HDMI OUT from the soundbar to the TV. No need to mix up the 2 ways. To connect multiple sources, I would recommend getting something like this: http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=101&cp_id=10110&cs_id=1011002&p_id=8463&seq=1&format=2 . Good luck.
970738
yes, if you come out of the receiver with hdmi into the unit (you must set your receiver to pass the audio to the TV under the hdmi settings) then it will give you an analog stream for your TV ears. If your receiver cannot output the hdmi audio along with the video, then you can insert it between the source you want and the receiver (the downside to this scenario is you only get the option of that one source, as opposed to all the sources connected to your receiver with the first option)
41460
Everything is HDMI and I run my TV through this unit, giving me surround sound. No HDMI switchers, my TV, which is also Samsung automatically plays through it. I don't know about optical, I just use HDMI and it controls everything.
850479
I do not have that issue. My installation uses the optical cable connected directly to the TV.
779501
No I use the HD cable and then set audio to ARC, though the optical cable is an option.
16073
yes and no they give you two ways to set up, one is for AV connection if you don't have an HDMI. There is also an optical/audio connect
480402
I believe it to be true and originally ran HDMI to the TV (DirecTV HD-DVR and PS3) and then optical audio out to my receiver. The sound just didn't "pop" out and then I read the TV manual on a whim and couldn't believe that the output only is in 2-channel. I later read somewhere that it is intentional for copyright reasons. Unfortunately, my Surround Sound Receiver also has an annoying limitation whereby it switches HDMI but does not extract the audio from the HDMI connection. So, the workaround for me was to connect the HDMI (for video only) to the TV, keep the TV volume at zero, and connect the digital audio sources from the components to the receiver (which only has two optical audio inputs.) The sound and audio were offset but most good receivers will let you adjust to get them back in-sync.
158243
that was my experience; somewhere in the literature in fact says that if you use HDMI or Digital Optical cable, that you have to use the audio cable out as well (defeats the purpose of the HDMI or Digital Optical cable IMO), however it works well with that set-up
878861
Yes, I believe that is how it works, but I use the optical out of the tv into the soundbar so I don't use the HDMI
1292047
No. HDMI carries audio but dvi doesn't, so you need a separate cable for that.
1615057
I have the HDMI video out of my receiver going to a projector, and the audio is running out to the speakers via the wires from the receiver. I have not had any issues with this setup.
414140
There is no separate audio out. Standard HDMI signals/cables carry both audio and video.
284929
I don't have an optical source on my television. I was using the coaxile cable and the other cables supplied with the unit.
882544
This is true. I tried setting up my home theatre every way possible, but efter speaking to Sharp, they said you cannot use the audio optical out for HDMI. This is a shame. You must go directlyu from the audio source to the receiver via optical cable when using HDMI to the TV. No big deal, the TV is still awesome!
485800
This is not for connecting analog sources to digital monitors via HDMI. This device inputs the video and audio from an HDMI source, and splits it so the video remains on HDMI, but the audio is "extracted" to either digital optical, or analog RCA signals while preserving (optical) or down-converting (RCA) Dolby 5.1/7.1. This is very handy when you have a digital television with HDMI inputs, but an older surround sound receiver with optical or RCA inputs. In my case, I used it to extract the audio and send it to a sound bar optical input for my bedroom flat panel TV with HDMI inputs. The Hi Def picture quality is maintained, and the sound is extracted from the HDMI signal and routed to the sound bar. This is not for connecting analog sources to digital monitors via HDMI. This device inputs the video and audio from an HDMI source, and splits it so the video remains on HDMI, but the audio is "extracted" to either digital optical, or analog RCA signals while preserving (optical) or down-converting (RCA) Dolby 5.1/7.1. This is very handy when you have a digital television with HDMI inputs, but an older surround sound receiver with optical or RCA inputs. In my case, I used it to extract the audio and send it to a sound bar optical input for my bedroom flat panel TV with HDMI... » Read More This is not for connecting analog sources to digital monitors via HDMI. This device inputs the video and audio from an HDMI source, and splits it so the video remains on HDMI, but the audio is "extracted" to either digital optical, or analog RCA signals while preserving (optical) or down-converting (RCA) Dolby 5.1/7.1. This is very handy when you have a digital television with HDMI inputs, but an older surround sound receiver with optical or RCA inputs. In my case, I used it to extract the audio and send it to a sound bar optical input for my bedroom flat panel TV with HDMI inputs. The Hi Def picture quality is maintained, and the sound is extracted from the HDMI signal and routed to the sound bar. « Show Less