Cannot link my sky sound box to my new Samsung tv

[McLeanN]

My new Samsung tv does not have an optical port therefore cannot connect to my sky soundbox. The soundbox does not support ARC there cannot use HDMI connections. Can anyone suggest a way round this as I reluctant to give my soundbox.

[lettice]

@mike+simmonds 

Your expertise on connecting a Sky soundbox required here?

[nigea99]

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@McLeanN wrote:

My new Samsung tv does not have an optical port therefore cannot connect to my sky soundbox. The soundbox does not support ARC there cannot use HDMI connections. Can anyone suggest a way round this as I reluctant to give my soundbox.

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hi @McLeanN 

As you have posted in SKY Q then for SKY Q sound you can use the optical output from the SKY Q box which obviously means you can;t use it for apps etc. on the TV itself

I do not know if an HDMI to optical converter would work if connected to the ARC port on the TV as it might need an ARC handshake 

[mike+simmonds]

Hi @McLeanN 

 As you have worked out, without an optical port on your TV you are a little limited on what you can do with your Soundbox. 

Do you have Sky Q ? 

If so - you need 2 HDMI cables. The first one goes out of your Sky Q box and IN to your Soundbox using the black port.

The 2nd HDMI cable then goes OUT of your Soundbox (the Pink port) and in to your TV

So in that way you have your Sky audio going in to your Soundbox and Sky video still reaches your TV.  You might need to turn your TV volume down to Zero to avoid echoes. 

Where you have a problem is if you want to use any apps built in to your TV.  Without an optical port you would have to use your TVs own speaker / speakers for internal TV apps*.  

*I would mention, I think Optical / HDMI converters exist and are fairly inexpensive, but I haven't never tried one.  If your TV has a spare HDMI port you could try an HDMI / optical converter in there. So - an optical cable out of that converter and in to your Soundbox.  If you decide to try a converter, make sure it's refundable in case it doesn't work as well as you would like. 

if you have a look at the link in my signature below - I've written a little article on the Soundbar which might be helpful.  

Hope that helps a bit. 

Thanks for highlighting this post @lettice   Best wishes 

[nigea99]

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@mike+simmonds wrote:

Hi @McLeanN 

 As you have worked out, without an optical port on your TV you are a little limited on what you can do with your Soundbox. 

Do you have Sky Q ? 

If so - you need 2 HDMI cables. The first one goes out of your Sky Q box and IN to your Soundbox using the black port.

The 2nd HDMI cable then goes OUT of your Soundbox (the Pink port) and in to your TV

So in that way you have your Sky audio going in to your Soundbox and Sky video still reaches your TV.  You might need to turn your TV volume down to Zero to avoid echoes. 

Where you have a problem is if you want to use any apps built in to your TV.  Without an optical port you would have to use your TVs own speaker / speakers for internal TV apps*.  

*I would mention, I think Optical / HDMI converters exist and are fairly inexpensive, but I haven't never tried one.  If your TV has a spare HDMI input you could try an HDMI / optical converter in there. So - an optical cable out of that converter and in to your Soundbox.  If you decide to try a converter, make sure it's refundable in case it doesn't work as well as you would like. 

if you have a look at the link in my signature below - I've written a little article on the Soundbar which might be helpful.  

Hope that helps a bit. 

Thanks for highlighting this post @lettice   Best wishes 

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@mike+simmonds 

Does the Soundbox support full UHD/HDR pass through - if not the optical route may be better 

[mike+simmonds]

Does the Soundbox support full UHD/HDR pass through - if not the optical route may be better 

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Hi @nigea99 

I think the Soundbox does support UHD/HDR pass through 

[nigea99 · Accepted solution]

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@mike+simmonds wrote:

Does the Soundbox support full UHD/HDR pass through - if not the optical route may be better 

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Hi @nigea99 

I think the Soundbox does support UHD/HDR pass through 

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Thanks @mike+simmonds 

I was fairly confident it supports UHD but just not sure regarding 12bit (edit : 10bit) HDR

It does seem slightly odd that it would support UHD/HDR pass through which is newer than ARC

As it does I would echo the HDMI from SKY Q to sound box & Soundbox to TV route 

[mike+simmonds]

My LG is 10 bit HDR and works fine @nigea99 

Can't comment on 12 bit but I don't recall ever reading any posts where someone said not. 

[nigea99]

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@mike+simmonds wrote:

My LG is 10 bit HDR and works fine @nigea99 

Can't comment on 12 bit but I don't recall ever reading any posts where someone said not. 

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oops sorry I meant 10 bit HDR !

[mike+simmonds]

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@nigea99 

It does seem slightly odd that it would support UHD/HDR pass through which is newer than ARC

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My guess is that as the Soundbox was designed specifically for Sky Q by Devialet they were asked to save a bit of their production costs by leaving out the ARC as it wasn't essential for use with the Sky box only ?

[McLeanN]

That seems to have worked. Many thanks