[tterwilligar]

Hi All,

I couldn't find the answer here using search, but if this question has been answered, please let me know.

I just picked up a 1x4 HDMI splitter:
Amazon.com: ViewHD 4 Port HDMI 1x4 Powered Splitter Ver 1.3 Certified for Full HD 1080P with Deep Color & HD Audio - Max Bandwidth 10.2Gbps Per Output (The Latest & The Best): Electronics

The product itself seems to work fine, but my problem is I didn't anticipate the audio issues I've encountered. So here's the problem. I'm trying to mirror the audio and video from my main entertainment system in my master bedroom via an HDMI splitter. The video works perfectly, but the audio doesn't work on the tv in my bedroom when the signal is anything other than 2 channel. So it looks like the tv doesn't decode dolby digital or any other multichannel audio. The tv is an LG LH30.

My setup: I've got a ps3 playing a blueray disc with either dolby digital or dolby true hd. The sound comes out of the receiver (onyko 906) and sounds wonderful, as expected. I'm taking the output of the receiver and sending it to the input of the HDMI splitter. From the splitter, one line goes to my main entertainment system tv (samsung ln46a650, no audio necessary as sound comes from the speakers connected through my receiver), and another line connected to a 32" LG lh30 hdtv. I've got the audio pass through feature in the receiver set to "on", so in theory, both TVs should be getting audio in addition to video. When the input to the receiver is 2 channel audio, I get audio to the TVs. When it's anything else, there's no audio. I'm only really concerned with getting basic audio to the second tv, but as it stands now, I have to dumb down the audio coming out of the ps3 to 2 channel or the second tv won't get any audio. Ideally, I'd get 5 channel to my receiver to drive the surround sound setup in my main entertainment area, and I'd simultaneously get 2 channel audio to my secondary tv. Is this possible or will I have to dumb down the audio to two channel?

[custard10]

i dont think you can send 2 channel and 5.1 through one hdmi lead at the same time.
yuo could send 5.1 (not hd) via optical to the onkyo and send 2 channel via hdmi. the new firmware on the ps3 allows this.

[James Baker]

are you splitting the signal 'after' an av amplifier - as most 'strip' the digital sound from the output signal...

[tterwilligar]

Originally Posted by Baldybouncer

are you splitting the signal 'after' an av amplifier - as most 'strip' the digital sound from the output signal...

Yes, I am doing it 'after'. There's an audio "thru" setting on the receiver that sends audio with the HDMI.

[Jamie]

While I appreciate not getting the HD sound is dissapointing this may be an option, let me explain.

I've read numerous posts on the forums talking about the CoreDTS soundtrack (full rate 1.5MB DTS track available as part of the DTS-MA soundtrack) being virtually indistinguishable from DTS-MA. Doesn't help with Doldy TruHD but I've found so far all of my (relatively small) collection of discs all have DTS-MA.

If you try it and can't tell the difference (I haven't personally but I did prefer Core DTS via optical over HD sounds via analogue in a brief test I did when I borrowed a Sony 550 for a night) then you could bypass the amp. Set the PS3 to output 5.1 via optical andf turn on multi-output in the PS3 sound settings, this will send stereo down the HDMI giving sound at the other end.

Just an idea that may work.

[Jamie]

Originally Posted by tterwilligar

Yes, I am doing it 'after'. There's an audio "thru" setting on the receiver that sends audio with the HDMI.

Does the manual state what this setting does? If its just passing thru then this isn't going to work. Does the amp have an option to just sent a downmixed stereo signal instead?

[Joe Fernand]

Audio Passthru only works if the source is 2.0LPCM. If you want to distribute an HDMI signal that includes 7.1/5.1 audio you will require a device at each output to convert to 2.0LPCM if you only have TV's on the far end of the signal run.

Joe