The Home Theater thread

mithun · 11th January 2019, 11:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sebring

This soundbar doesn't suit your purpose. Buy one with HDMI input. There are plenty of options out there.

Thanks. Can you please point me to some options?

I don't want to spend too much since my parents don't want an expensive soundbar.

Also is there any other options to connect this soundbar(like buying any converters)?

Quote:

Originally Posted by libranof1987

Neither does the TV, isn't it. The TV neither has a HDMI ARC port nor one for the optical cable.

Also, if your TV is really old, would the soundbar be efficient considering the limitation of the TV itself to process modern sound (Dolby/Surround).

The word 'old' was used because its having archaic outputs.

It was purchased in May 2018 for parents use.

Sebring · 11th January 2019, 12:02

Please google 'Soundbar with HDMI options'. You have Panasonic at Rs. 4,000 to Philips at Rs. 8,000. Moving up, you might have options in JBL/Harman. But, Make sure you audition them before purchase. Most just sound flat. I'm using a Bose Solo which costs 17K in India.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mithun

Thanks. Can you please point me to some options?

mithun · 11th January 2019, 12:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sebring

Please google 'Soundbar with HDMI options'. You have Panasonic at Rs. 4,000 to Philips at Rs. 8,000. Moving up, you might have options in JBL/Harman. But, Make sure you audition them before purchase. Most just sound flat. I'm using a Bose Solo which costs 17K in India.

Thanks for your input.

After seeing this review, I fell in love with the product and from my past experiences, Mi products were always reliable.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTcWbsjuGII

So, is there any another way out(like buying any converters)?
Will you recommend the 3.5mm audio port connection?

Quote:

Originally Posted by paragsachania

I am feeding the Digital Audio output straight from my Set Top Box to my Yamaha AVR via optical cable. If the usage is primarily going to be TV then this works (I still have my media player and XBOX connected to the AVR either via Coaxial or Optical cables).

Can you please explain more?

paragsachania · 11th January 2019, 12:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by mithun

Can you please explain more?

1. From your Set-Top-Box HDMI goes straight to the TV
2. From your Set-Top-Box, either S/PDIF or Optical Cable or Co-axial goes into your sound bar

You can notice in below image that the Set-Top-Box from Airtel has Digital Audio out (S/PDIF):

The Home Theater thread-airtelsetupboxedited611.jpg

This ensures that video is beamed from the source and fed into the TV while Audio needs are taken care by your Sound bar.

In my response, you need to ignore the AV receiver part as you have the required Audio Inputs for the sound bar anyway.

You may only have limited experience while using the sound bar if you end up devices like Chromecast or Amazon Firestick that directly go into the HDMI Port and since your TV doesn't have ARC you cant use the sound bar for the audio here.

But for any other devices you are using with the TV, if they have Digital output (S/PDIF or Co-axial), you can always use these ports and feed lines into the sound bar and leverage better audio (digital) quality.

amrutmhatre90 · 11th January 2019, 13:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by paragsachania

I am feeding the Digital Audio output straight from my Set Top Box to my Yamaha AVR via optical cable. If the usage is primarily going to be TV then this works (I still have my media player and XBOX connected to the AVR either via Coaxial or Optical cables).

This is one option to connect soundbar, as sometimes there is a delay in voice and picture.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mithun

Thanks. Can you please point me to some options?

I don't want to spend too much since my parents don't want an expensive soundbar.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mithun

I'm planning to buy the newly launched Mi Soundbar for my old Sanyo TV which is primarily used by parents.

I use the Blaupunkt SBW-01 Dolby Bluetooth Soundbar, i had got this one for 5.5K from Flipkart. Has a sub and sound quality is pretty good for the money. Have connected this straight to my Xbox one X thru fiber optic. I am using a Mi 4 55'' 4K TV so sound bar also can be connected thru bluetooth. I frequently listen to songs too on this thru phone.

mithun · 11th January 2019, 14:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by amrutmhatre90

I use the Blaupunkt SBW-01 Dolby Bluetooth Soundbar, i had got this one for 5.5K from Flipkart. Has a sub and sound quality is pretty good for the money. Have connected this straight to my Xbox one X thru fiber optic. I am using a Mi 4 55'' 4K TV so sound bar also can be connected thru bluetooth. I frequently listen to songs too on this thru phone.

Thanks for the info.

Blaupunkt SBW-01 is having Optical/HDMI(ARC) so it won't fit my needs since my TV lacks those ports.

Quote:

Originally Posted by paragsachania

You may only have limited experience while using the sound bar if you end up devices like Chromecast or Amazon Firestick that directly go into the HDMI Port and since your TV doesn't have ARC you cant use the sound bar for the audio here.

But for any other devices you are using with the TV, if they have Digital output (S/PDIF or Co-axial), you can always use these ports and feed lines into the sound bar and leverage better audio (digital) quality.

Thanks.

Seems to be like that I have to resort to any hack(jugaad)

Also I'm having some old Creative 2.1 desktop speakers gathering dust...time to test it :-)

amrutmhatre90 · 11th January 2019, 15:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by mithun

Thanks for the info.
Blaupunkt SBW-01 is having Optical/HDMI(ARC) so it won't fit my needs since my TV lacks those ports.

It does have a 3.5mm port, Aux-in.

mithun · 11th January 2019, 15:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by amrutmhatre90

It does have a 3.5mm port, Aux-in.

Yes, but if I connect if via 3.5mm port the sound output will be inferior when compared to other modes, right?

paragsachania · 11th January 2019, 15:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by mithun

Yes, but if I connect if via 3.5mm port the sound output will be inferior when compared to other modes, right?

Please tell me what is the source you will use for the TV? If it's Set Top Box from any of the providers like Tata Sky Or Airtel remember that you can very much get a digital cable and connect that to your Sound bar and get proper digital sound. This is exactly what I am trying to tell here.

mithun · 11th January 2019, 15:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by paragsachania

Please tell me what is the source you will use for the TV? If it's Set Top Box from any of the providers like Tata Sky Or Airtel remember that you can very much get a digital cable and connect that to your Sound bar and get proper digital sound. This is exactly what I am trying to tell here.

Parents usually watch movies from a USB source like a pen drive/external HDD. In that scenario, the set top box won't be of any use, right?

paragsachania · 11th January 2019, 15:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by mithun

Parents usually watch movies from a USB source like a pen drive/external HDD. In that scenario, the set top box won't be of any use, right?

True. In which case your only jugaad which doesn't make great sense today is to pick up a media player that has Digital Audio out.

mithun · 11th January 2019, 16:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by paragsachania

True. In which case your only jugaad which doesn't make great sense today is to pick up a media player that has Digital Audio out.

Did you meant Blu-ray players or Android TV boxes like these: https://www.amazon.in/Cubetek-Portab...=fsclp_pl_dp_1

amrutmhatre90 · 11th January 2019, 16:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by mithun

Yes, but if I connect if via 3.5mm port the sound output will be inferior when compared to other modes, right?

Yes, their will be difference in audio, I don't think it will make much of a difference. Only thing it would do is give you a analog audio, but it will sound a lot different compared to HDMI or Optical when you play movies.

mithun · 13th January 2019, 11:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by amrutmhatre90

Yes, their will be difference in audio, I don't think it will make much of a difference. Only thing it would do is give you a analog audio, but it will sound a lot different compared to HDMI or Optical when you play movies.

Thanks.

In the case of Mi Soundbar, the Line-In port can be digital in some cases, right?

Is that a viable option?

Image Source

amrutmhatre90 · 13th January 2019, 16:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by mithun

Thanks.

In the case of Mi Soundbar, the Line-In port can be digital in some cases, right?

Is that a viable option?

Image Source

With Line-In both your TV speakers and Soundbar speakers will be powered, ie. both speakers will be on and transmitting sound individually, to change volume TV speakers will use TV remote and soundbar will use its own. Its too irritating at times.

Better option is Aux in this case, your tv can control volume and TV speakers are off.