Sky HD to AV2: Doby Sound

Posted by: Neil Bennett on 14 August 2006

I just fitted an Optical cable from the Sky HD to the AV2, which as I understand it should enable the Dolby 5.1 sound to be played by the AV2 through the 5 speakers/Sub, where encoded onto the relevant HD broadcasts. I believe using the info button on Sky in the programme listing shows which broadcasts supposedly are being broadcast in Dolby with a "DD" notation above the synopsis. Yesterday I could find only National Geographic and Discovery which had the DD note, but when selecting both of them the AV2 displayed "Stereo" and sound was comong only from the front speakers. Any advice? Is there something wrong, have I missed a specific setting, or are the broadcasts not really in DD? Or is there another reason?

Thanks,

Neil

Posted on: 14 August 2006 by scottyhammer

hi neil,
sorry i cant help but.........
please keep us updated on outcome as i am going down same route as you with skyhd box very soon.
good luck
scotty

Posted on: 14 August 2006 by Roy Donaldson

Neil,

I don't have a Sky HD box, but what you may find is that the program is in fact in DD 2/0. A better test may be to try a movie, as they're more likely to be in 5.1.

Roy.

Posted on: 14 August 2006 by Neil Bennett

Roy,

Good idea: I don't subscribe to the movie channels but it might be worth buying a one-off one to find out, as soon as there's something half-decent (Big Momma's House 2 anyone?) on Sky Box Office HD!

Neil

Posted on: 14 August 2006 by AV@naim

check that the AV2 is working ok:-

attaching a DVD player to the optical input and playing a 5.1 film should suffice.

Posted on: 14 August 2006 by Neil Bennett

Good idea; DVD into Digital Coaxial input 1 is fine, haven't tried into the optical 1, but will.

Neil

Posted on: 14 August 2006 by scottyhammer

whats the BEST input to use neil ?
coax or optical ?
cheers, scotty

Posted on: 14 August 2006 by Twan

Hi Scotty, i may be wrong but i think if you want 5.1 from a sky hd box you have to use the optical out. It doesnt have a coaxial connection as far as i know.

Posted on: 14 August 2006 by neil w

neil

channel 145 bbc hd previews are all transmitted in 5:1

neil

Posted on: 14 August 2006 by nap-ster

And don't believe the Sky detailing.

Quite often they just say it is stereo when i fact it is in 5.1

Posted on: 14 August 2006 by rhawkins

Make sure you have selected audio out as DD and not "normal" on your sky box.

Richard

Posted on: 15 August 2006 by Neil Bennett

Thanks for all the suggestions: no time to play last night, but should be able to tonight.

Scotty, Twan is right - there is no coaxial digital out on the Sky HD, only Optical, though the AV2 Manual says that, where there's a choice, Coaxial digital is usually better.

Richard, where is this setting in the HD setup screens?

Cheers,

Neil

Posted on: 15 August 2006 by rhawkins

Neil
it's in Services/system setup/sound setup. or somthing very similar. This does change betwen stereo and 3/2/1 on my set up.
regards
Richard

Posted on: 16 August 2006 by Neil Bennett

Richard,

Thanks: even my limited capabilities managed to locate it last night before seeing your last post and it works fine: had the football in surround and, as you say, the AV2 shows 3/2/1 once it detects the channel. In the same menu I even managed to turn off that dreadful music when you're using the EPG! (Why don't they leave it on the soundtrack of the channel you're on while you're looking?). Just goes to show again that it's not what you know but who you know (even if it's via a Forum)!

Neil