Optical Splitter question

gers1978 · 28-11-2007, 1:02 PM

Can anyone tell me how this optical splitter:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ex-Pro-Optic...6254503&sr=8-6

switches between the 2 sources I'm going to connect? (Sky HD and Xbox 360)?

stevelup · 28-11-2007, 1:17 PM

Hi

It's a splitter not a switch. Unfortunately because the Sky HD box outputs an optical signal continuously even when in standby, it probably won't work for you.

You need something like this.

PhilNUK · 28-11-2007, 1:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevelup

Hi

It's a splitter not a switch. Unfortunately because the Sky HD box outputs an optical signal continuously even when in standby, it probably won't work for you.

You need something like this.

shame that thats not remote control

I am after something similar, but with remote control.

stevelup · 28-11-2007, 1:34 PM

Do you have a spare coaxial input on your amplifier? If so, you can get an optical to coax converter for about 12.00

Steve

gers1978 · 28-11-2007, 1:35 PM

I'm guessing with that device I'd need 3 x optical leads? (one for Sky HD to selector, 1 for 360 to selector, and 1 for selector to amp?)

gers1978 · 28-11-2007, 1:40 PM

I haven't got the amp thingy yet, but I believe it has 1 x optical input and 1 x digital co-ax.

Would getting on of these co-ax to optical converters still allow my 360/Sky HD box to output DTS, DD, surround sound, etc?

stevelup · 28-11-2007, 1:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markmcrobie

I'm guessing with that device I'd need 3 x optical leads? (one for Sky HD to selector, 1 for 360 to selector, and 1 for selector to amp?)

Yep. But don't spend more than a quid each on them... Biggest rip off in the world are expensive optical cables!

Quote:

Would getting on of these co-ax to optical converters still allow my 360/Sky HD box to output DTS, DD, surround sound, etc?

It certainly would. It's the best solution in my opinion as you haven't got an extra switch box to mess around with.

Steve

gers1978 · 28-11-2007, 1:54 PM

Ok, decision made - I'll get an converter from Amazon (£10.99). Am I right in saying I then need:

2 x optical cable (1 from 360 to amp, 1 from Sky HD to converter)
1 x SPDIF coax audio cable (from converter to amp)

Also there are 2 converters on Amazon - trouble is one of them doesn't come with a power adapter, but explicitly says it carry encrypted DTS/DD/etc, the other DOES come with a power adapater but DOESN'T explicitly say it'll carry DTS/DD/etc.

Any ideas?

Can you point me to some links for the cables I need? I'm terrified to buy the wrong thing.

Also any idea why the converter needs a power source?

Cheers

gers1978 · 28-11-2007, 1:59 PM

Also here's a link to the Samsung spec page for the receiver I've ordered:

http://www.samsung.com/uk/products/h...Specifications

and here's a link to the connection guide for the unit:

http://downloadcenter.samsung.com/co...6/EN/main.html

I just want to be double sure I can connect both a 360 and Sky HD box and get proper DTS/DD surround sound.

Thanks again for your help

stevelup · 28-11-2007, 2:03 PM

Hi

The converter definitely needs power - both the Amazon ones must include a power supply, probably one of them just doesn't mention it. The audio formats are irrelevant - the conversion is completely transparent.

Optical to Coax converter 9.05

Optical Cables - from 1.47

Coax Cable 2.23

Steve

gers1978 · 28-11-2007, 2:08 PM

One of the Amazon ones defo doesn't come with power supply, read the user reviews, that's what the guy was complaining about.

I'm a bit worried after reading the user guide for the Samsung receiver/speaker setup I'm getting - it mentions setting analog/digital for DVD/CD mode, it doesn't mention Sky/game consoles.

gers1978 · 28-11-2007, 2:10 PM

Also instead of a converter, doesn't the Sky HD box output audio in co-ax so I can just use a co-ax lead from Sky box straight to receiver?

(I realise the 360 can't do this, it only has optical out).

Cheers

gers1978 · 28-11-2007, 2:17 PM

I notice the co-ax cable link you gave is for a "phono" lead - is this right? There are other coax cables on that site for £6/7 that actually say "digitial audio cable". Do I need one of those instead to carry DTS/DD, etc, or are they just a con?

stevelup · 28-11-2007, 2:17 PM

Hi

No, Sky HD is optical only as far as I know. (I've not got one though so perhaps you should double check in the Sky forum)

Let me know which amp/speaker system you are thinking of going for and I'll check it out for you.

With regard to the missing PSU, that is probably why the user was complaining. The boxes cannot possibly work without a power supply so shipping one without a PSU would make it useless!

Steve

stevelup · 28-11-2007, 2:18 PM

Hi

The coax cable I linked to will be absolutely fine. Save your dosh!

Steve

gers1978 · 28-11-2007, 2:21 PM

Cheers mate, here's a link to the user guide of the system I've ordered:

http://downloadcenter.samsung.com/co..._GB_0511-4.pdf

stevelup · 28-11-2007, 2:22 PM

Hi

That's fine, just use the DVD input for your 360 and the CD input for your Sky (via the converter).

Steve

gers1978 · 28-11-2007, 2:35 PM

Magic. Thanks for all your help. I thought that system looked good because it has little DTS/DD/pro Logic lights on the main unit, so I guess I can tell straight away if I have the wrong cables/wrong set up - if I'm watching a film I KNOW is meant to be DD/DTS and those lights don't come on, I know I've done something wrong?

One last question - my limited knowledge of surround sound/DTS/DD tells me if I'm playing a 360 shooting game, and a bullet is fired behind me to the right, I should hear it in that speaker only? Similarly, if a movie has a plane flying overhead, I should hear it in the rear speakers, then the front?

If so, is there an easy way to test this effect once I've got it all set up?

Also what happens if I watch a movie/TV show that DOESN'T broadcast in DD/DTS? Will I simply hear the same thing through all 5 speakers?

stevelup · 28-11-2007, 2:55 PM

Hi

Best way to test it on the 360 is with something like halo. If you stand in the middle of your room whilst some shooting is going on in front of you and do a 360 degree turn on the spot, you will hear the sound pan all the way around the room.

If you are listening to a stereo broadcast, you will still get proper surround sound on most sources as your speaker system has Dolby Pro-Logic.

Steve

gers1978 · 28-11-2007, 3:00 PM

Oh right - is Pro Logic II different from DTS/DD? Sorry, I'm clueless about these things

stevelup · 28-11-2007, 3:05 PM

Yes, Prologic 2 reconstructs the surround sound from a two channel stereo source.

Most TV programmes these days make use of it.

Steve

gers1978 · 28-11-2007, 3:08 PM

Ok, thanks - I take it DTS/DD is still better than PLII though?

As an aside, what's the difference between DTS and DD?

And when you say do a 360 turn with shooting going on in Halo 3, do you mean physically do a 360 turn in the middle of the living room, or do you mean the character on screen?

Sorry for being a PITA

stevelup · 28-11-2007, 3:16 PM

Hi

On the whole, DTS is better than DD (certainly in my opinion). Usually, if you have a DVD with both options, I would go for the DTS one.

Both formats store discrete (separate) information for each of the six channels - DTS uses less compression than DD so can sound more transparent.

PL2 uses some funky DSP processing to extract surround sound information that has previously been encoded into the stereo signal. It's not as good as DTS or DD but it can still sound pretty impressive.

I mean your character, not yourself! Move to somewhere where a gunfight is going on and turn to face away from it. The sound should now be coming from behind you.

Steve

gers1978 · 28-11-2007, 3:34 PM

Many thanks, can't wait to get this up & running, I reckon it'll improve my games & movies no end!

As far as I know, all 360 must support at least DD, if not DTS. I'm guessing if I just look at the box of a game/DVD/HD-DVD it'll tell me what audio formats it outputs in?

And am I right in saying that Pro Logic II will do what you say for ANY stereo source? Or only for certified PLII sources?

And what's the difference bewteen PL and PLII?

Do you have a surround setup yourself? Is it worth it? I'm dying to try it out!

stevelup · 28-11-2007, 4:21 PM

Hi

The 360 supports DD for games and movies. I don't really understand how the DTS support works but I suspect it will work fine for movies.

All 360 games have a logo on the back if they are 5.1. I've got a feeling they all are as it is part of the rules that MS lay down to the software developers.

PL2 will work with any stereo source although I think music sounds rotten using PL2 (that's a personal choice though). There is a specific PL2 music mode which you can select which behaves better.

PL1 is an old completely analogue system. The surround speakers were in mono and had restricted frequency response. By contrast, PL2 uses digital signal processing of the original analogue signal to delivery full bandwidth stereo surround channels.

Steve