LG 37LG3000 - HDMI audio output via scart tap

[slymantra]

I have an LG 37LG3000 to which i have connected Sky via scart, Sony HD recorder via scart, PS3 via HDMI and Xbox 360 via HDMI.
I have a phono tap from the scart that goes to AV2, which goes to my headphones. With this the kids can carry on watching the TV while i go to another room with the headphones on.
This works for any of the inbuilt Freeview, Terrestrial, Sky and Sony HD recorder (both via scart).
However, with the PS3 and Xbox 360 (both via HDMI), i can't get any sound from either of these through the headphones.
Is this normal? Should i be getting the HDMI audio out through the scart tap? - (the LG customer service guy i've spoken to didn't have the faintest idea).

There is no phono audio out on the TV - there is an Optical Digital Audio Out, but that will mean buying more equipment to turn the digital sound into analogue to output to my headphones. Presumably this would disable the TV speakers (as the headphones minijack does) so no-one else will be able to hear.

Can anyone help as i'm pulling out what little i've got left of my hair!!

 

[ptruman]

Can anyone help as i'm pulling out what little i've got left of my hair!!

HDMI content is typically protected - so it's more than likely the TV has been told not to relay the signal. You can normally only get HDMI output to another device which is using HDMI (i.e. the TV) - which won't let it go anywhere else, other than maybe to another HDMI device.

I've got around your problem by outputting audio from the PS3 over optical, and running that into an optical switch box (Google "AV Tool optical switch"). That switch takes the TV optical out, PS3 optical out and (a spare) DVD optical out and routes them all to my surround (which only has one optical input). That works fine - and also allows me to shunt the signal out to phono as well - which might be what you want for your headphones

 

[slymantra]

Thanks ptruman,

That's what i was hoping to be able to avoid, but it looks like at least i'd have HDMI audio with your solution.

On your system as you describe it (with opticals fed into a switch box and then to surround system) if you were to connect headphones to the phono output on the surround can you, at the same time, also hear the same audio coming out of your surround speakers?

Also do you know if the Optical Digital Audio OUT on the back of my TV can be used as an Optical Digital Audio IN (as the LG customer services guy seemed to think)?? Cos that way i could presumably get the audio out of the scart tap???? I'm clutching at straws here!!

 

[ptruman]

On your system as you describe it (with opticals fed into a switch box and then to surround system) if you were to connect headphones to the phono output on the surround can you, at the same time, also hear the same audio coming out of your surround speakers?

I just tried this for you, and unfortunately it seems not. The box has 3 inputs (each having Phono, Optical & SPDIF) to one output (with same options) - and it looks like it routes optical to optical, phono to phono etc - which is fair, as it's a cheap box and not "intelligent" if you stuck multiple sources into one input selection, it won't know what to send where.

The box is at AV Tool - AVT-5231 - and I'm sure they'll be happy to help answer a query for you - as they probably have something which does it!

Also do you know if the Optical Digital Audio OUT on the back of my TV can be used as an Optical Digital Audio IN (as the LG customer services guy seemed to think)?? Cos that way i could presumably get the audio out of the scart tap???? I'm clutching at straws here!!

Nope, it's out only I believe. Anything I have going to the TV (SCART, Component) comes out that output, to the switch box and off to surround.

 

[slymantra]

Thanks ptruman for all your help - looks like i'll end up investing in some sort of switch box/surround sound system!

 

[ptruman]

Thanks ptruman for all your help - looks like i'll end up investing in some sort of switch box/surround sound system!

No problem.

FYI Maplin (and others) do sell "Optical Splitters" so you could take the 3 inputs and actually get 2 outputs from the AVT box (if you were using optical that is).

My alternative to my existing (old, 1 opt. input) surround & these splitters was to trundle to Richer Sounds and by an A/V receiver - but that would mean new speakers too, as my existing surround controls are built into the centre speaker, and all the inputs feed into the sub (the two are connected via proprietary ribbon cable) - and I could do without that expense