topic Re: Connecting surround sound in Sky Q

Connecting surround sound

Gazza6 — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 15:29:52 GMT

Hi.

New member & first post. I'm wondering if anyone can give me some advice?

I have just upgraded from Sky HD to Sky Q, when I installed the Sky HD box (2007) I connected it to a now aged Pioneer surround sound system using optical cables from the back of the HD Box.

My television is the same age (2007) so only has 1 HDMI port which is connected to the Sky Q box.

My question is, does anyone know of any surround system that is compatable with the Sky Q box with a setup that does not include connecting to an HDMI port on the TV, (ie, connecting the surround system direct to the Sky Q box)?

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Gary

Re: Connecting surround sound

TimmyBGood — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 15:41:45 GMT

@Gazza6

I'd note that Q has optical-audio-out on both main and Mini boxes.

'Better' soundbars tend to have both input and output HDMI ports, and so sit in between the source (Q box) and client (television) devices. It's more budget soundbars which only have one HDMI (used for ARC input from the TV) and would be inappropriate for a single HDMI TV.

Re: Connecting surround sound

nigea99 — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 15:37:13 GMT

@Gazza6 wrote:

Hi.

New member & first post. I'm wondering if anyone can give me some advice?

I have just upgraded from Sky HD to Sky Q, when I installed the Sky HD box (2007) I connected it to a now aged Pioneer surround sound system using optical cables from the back of the HD Box.

My television is the same age (2007) so only has 1 HDMI port which is connected to the Sky Q box.

My question is, does anyone know of any surround system that is compatable with the Sky Q box with a setup that does not include connecting to an HDMI port on the TV, (ie, connecting the surround system direct to the Sky Q box)?

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Gary

hi @Gazza6

I am not too sure I fully understand but you can connect a SKY Q box direct to the Pioneer amp via Optical cable in the same way as your HD box.

If I have mis-understood please advise

Re: Connecting surround sound

nigea99 — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 15:40:02 GMT

@TimmyBGood wrote:

@Gazza6

I'd note that Q has optical-audio-out on both main and Mini boxes.

'Better' soundbars tend to have both input and output HDMI ports, and so sit in between the source (Q box) and client (television) devices. It's budget soundbars which only have one HDMI (used for ARC input from the TV) and would be inappropriate for your setup.

Although I know of of at least one top end sound bar that only has one HDMI connection assuming everything is routed via the modern (e)ARC HDMI output on the TV

Re: Connecting surround sound

TimmyBGood — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 15:47:16 GMT

@Gazza6 wrote:

My television is the same age (2007)

I think I might be tempted to look at the price of a soundbar and then spend that on a modern UHD television set instead ; )

Re: Connecting surround sound

nigea99 — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 15:56:28 GMT

@TimmyBGood wrote:

@Gazza6 wrote:

My television is the same age (2007)

I think I might be tempted to look at the price of a soundbar and then spend that on a modern UHD television set instead ; )

Quite possibly

BTW @Gazza6 I think my answer earlier is slightly incorrect - I do understand your question, I just think you may not need to consider an alternative.

If you do want Sound equipment to connect to the SKY box via HDMI directly there are many such systems that allow the video signal to pass through

As @TimmyBGood mentions (& I mentioned) some soundbars do assume TVs have an HDMI port suitable for connection via ARC or the more recent e(nhanced)ARC & only have one whilst others do have loop through.

Loopthrough with either a single or multiple inputs on Sound Bars I think is decreasing although AV systems are likely to have multiple inputs to allow loop through (as mine does)..

Note, however, some/many older AV Amps (if you consider 2nd hand) may not be capable of passing through the full signal for UHD/HDR although modern ones do . OK for HD but something to bear in mind should you look to upgrade the TV at any time

Re: Connecting surround sound

Gazza6 — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 15:56:37 GMT

Thanks very much for the reply.

The fella (Sky Engineer) who installed the box today said there is no option to fit the optical cables from the Pioneer amp into the Q Box as there aren.t any optical outlets on the back of the Q Box as there is on the back of the HD box.

My thinking, is, is there a way to connect any surround system, not necessarily the Pioneer, directly to the Q box as I only have 1 HDMI connection on the TV, which is now connected to the Q box?

Re: Connecting surround sound

TimmyBGood — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 16:02:52 GMT

@Gazza6 wrote:

there aren.t any optical outlets on the back of the Q Box

Simply not true: all Q television boxes have a TOSLINK port, and have had since first release in 2016.

Sky Stream 'pucks', however, do not.

Re: Connecting surround sound

nigea99 — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 15:58:53 GMT

@Gazza6 wrote:

Thanks very much for the reply.

The fella (Sky Engineer) who installed the box today said there is no option to fit the optical cables from the Pioneer amp into the Q Box as there aren.t any optical outlets on the back of the Q Box as there is on the back of the HD box.

My thinking, is, is there a way to connect any surround system, not necessarily the Pioneer, directly to the Q box as I only have 1 HDMI connection on the TV, which is now connected to the Q box?

The engineer is incorrect - both Main & mini boxes have optical connectors so no alternative is needed

Re: Connecting surround sound

Gazza6 — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 16:02:01 GMT

Thanks very much everyone.

I'll have a look at soundbar's

Thanks again, much appreciated.

Re: Connecting surround sound

nigea99 — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 16:05:23 GMT

@Gazza6 wrote:

Thanks very much everyone.

I'll have a look at soundbar's

Thanks again, much appreciated.

I do have to ask - do you now feel your Pioneer amp is not suitble for any other reason ?

As mentioned you can connect your Pioneer to the SKY Q box - just look for the connector on the back

BTW you may find a Sound bar lacking compared to an AV system with separate Speakers

Re: Connecting surround sound

TimmyBGood — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 16:08:30 GMT

Assuming it's the default ES130 1TB UHD/HDR model:

Re: Connecting surround sound

Gazza6 — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 16:14:23 GMT

Hi.

Yes, that's the same as the box that's been installed.