HD TV Sound Formats

Posted by: Michael Chare on 01 April 2011

I have optical S/PDIF connections between my TV equipment and Uniti/Qute. This works well enough for SD transmissions and presumably offers a better sound quality than using an analogue connection, as the DAC in the Naim equipment is likely to be better than that in my TV equipment.

 

However, when it comes to HD transmissions all I hear is a series of clicks.  In the case of satellite the sound format appears to be Dolby Digital AC-3 2.0  Is there any chance that Naim would provide firmware updates that would enable the Unit and Qute to decode this format?       

Posted on: 01 April 2011 by Richard Lord

I experienced similar with my Humax HDR sat receiver.  Eventually we sussed it was because the Qute is not compatible with a digital 5.1 input.  My problem was caused because I was using the Sat receivers digital output directly into the Qute. When, instead, I used the TV digital output, all is well.

Some TV's have an audio screen in Settings  which allows you to change the digital output to either 5.1 or 2 Channel.  Mine is set to 2 Channel.

Richard

Posted on: 01 April 2011 by Aleg
Most devices I know of have in their settings the option to set digital output of spdif to PCM. Check your manual for this. If your's doesn't, check your TV and see if that offers this option. You could than use your TV's digital out. - aleg
Posted on: 02 April 2011 by vandergraafuk

I have the same issue with a virgin cisco cable box. No way of changing to PCM and no digi out on the old TV. DOH!

Posted on: 02 April 2011 by Michael Chare
Originally Posted by Aleg:
Most devices I know of have in their settings the option to set digital output of spdif to PCM. Check your manual for this. If your's doesn't, check your TV and see if that offers this option. You could than use your TV's digital out. - aleg


The satellite receiver that I was using (Humax HDR) does not have a setting as you describe. What is particularly annoying is that all the UK FTA HD channels have also have a stereo sound track. You can select this after you switch to a particular channel but there is no way to make this permanent.

 

It would be nice if the Qute/Uniti at least displayed an error message and stayed quiet when it can interpret the input.

 

My present TVs are analogue so don't have digital outputs. I am considering a replacement for one of them, but so far can't find all the features that I would like in one set, but I will add the ability to set the digital output to stereo PCM to my list of requirements.   

 

      

Posted on: 02 April 2011 by Aleg

I also use a Humax albeit a cable receiver. I can select PCM output instead of Dolby Digital.

 

If you are using a Foxsat then you try to turn off Dolby Digital under TV settings. This might have the same effect.

 

If you turn off Dolby Digital it will no longer automatically select Dolby Digital audio but keep to the stereo signal and also put this on SPDIF.

 

-

Aleg

 

Posted on: 02 April 2011 by Michael Chare
Originally Posted by Aleg:
I also use a Humax allbeit a cable receiver. I can select PCM output instead of Dolby. If you are using a Foxsat then you try to turn off Dolby under TV settings. This might have the same effect. If you turn off Dolby it will not automatically select Dolby audio but keep to the stereo signal and also put this on SPDIF. - Aleg

There is a Dolby Digital option in the TV setting.  To quote from the manual "If you select On, the Dolby Digital audio will be selected automatically (when broadcast) and outputted via S/PDIF." What it does not say is that it will automatically select non Dolby Digital Audio if you select Off. Sadly it also does not do this. :-( 

 

 

  

 


 

Posted on: 02 April 2011 by Aleg
I would not expect it to automaticaly select the stereo channel, it doesn't say it does. But I would expect it to leave it on stereo if you manually select stereo channels. And also output the stereo channels to SPDIF. - Aleg