What Device for Surround System

MikeKulls on 06/01/2023 - 20:06

I have a surround system, the only source I can get surround working with is a PC. My preferred device would be Chromecast but that just gives stereo. I have also tried MiBox 3 and PS3 and got the same result. I tried all sorts of settings on the MiBox and PS3 with no luck. Any suggestions on a source device for surround?

Details of setup are Sony Muteki STR-KM7000 receiver. Source device are plugged into the receiver via HDMI and TV is plugged into the receiver via HDMI, so pretty basic setup.

I also tried plugging devices into the tv direct and running optical from the TV back to the amp but the tv only seems to output stereo. I don't think the amp or tv supports ARC.

Thanks for any replies.

Electrical & Electronics Home Theatre System

Comments

  • Hybroid on 06/01/2023 - 20:20
    -1

    Not quite sure what you’re asking here. I run a 14.4 speaker surround setup on a STR-KM7000.

    Receiver plugged into TV via eARC and other devices like PS5 plugged into TV straight. Get surround sound options just fine.

    • MikeKulls on 06/01/2023 - 23:43
      +1

      What I'm essentially asking is which device do people use to stream netflix, Disney etc, excluding smart TVs. And also, did you get surround working with a Chromecast or MiBox.

      • Hybroid on 07/01/2023 - 00:31
        +1

        I don't use Chromecast or MiBox but surround sound works fine with connected Apple TV, PS5 and the Sony TV's own apps.

        • MikeKulls on 07/01/2023 - 00:44

          I found a setting for Chromecast which must be new. Looks like it only supports AC3 which I think the amp doesn't support

        • MikeKulls on 07/01/2023 - 03:52
          +1

          Actually looks like AC3 is a different name for Dolby Digital which the amp does support. So not sure why it doesn't work.

          • Hybroid on 07/01/2023 - 09:51

            @MikeKulls: Have you tried plugging in the Chromecast to TV directly instead of the receiver? Worth a go to see if that works.

            • MikeKulls on 09/01/2023 - 17:37

              @Hybroid: I haven't done that for a while, I will give it another go. It would potentially be a better solution as the tv has 4 HDMI inputs and the amp has 3 but the sat input appears to be broken. From memory the tv wouldn't do surround output to the amp. I think optical only supports 5.1 but that wouldn't be the end of the world. I don't think the amp or tv supports ARC

    • Ryanek on 07/01/2023 - 19:55

      14.4 speaker surround setup

      Holy speakers Batman

      • Hybroid on 08/01/2023 - 00:27
        +1

        Completely overkill but absolutely love it!

        https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/255280/100883/9254e37a…

        • MikeKulls on 10/01/2023 - 13:50

          That is a thing of beauty

        • MikeKulls on 10/01/2023 - 13:50

          Does the amp run all those speakers?

          • Hybroid on 10/01/2023 - 15:15
            +1

            @MikeKulls: Yes it does! If you look at the rear, there’s actually 4 dedicated ports for connecting 4 subwoofers.

            The rest of the speakers are daisy chained in pairs. So technically 7x2 surround speakers.

            Receiver more than powerful enough to run them all. The average 7.2 receiver like Onkyo TX-NR6100 runs 700 watts. Our Muteki one is a whopping 1695 watts!…

  • Morien on 06/01/2023 - 20:26
    +2

    So to get it straight:

    Source device (Chromecast, MiBox 3, PS3) > HDMI > Sony Receiver > HDMI > TV ?

    That chain doesn't need ARC or eARC.

    Looking at the specs for your receiver, it supports:
    Decoding formats:
    LPCM (2Ch, 5.1Ch, 7.2Ch) through HDMI
    Dolby Prologic II
    Dolby Dual mono
    96kHz/24bit PCM
    DTS 96/24
    Dolby Digital
    Dolby TrueHD
    HD Digital Cinema Sound

    If you are only getting stereo from your devices then something is wrong in the output settings.

    Connect your PS3 and set up the output as per https://manuals.playstation.net/document/en/ps3/current/sett…
    You want it set to output HDMI and only enable formats supported by your receiver (though this should really happen automatically).

    Maybe post a picture of the screen. Also take a photo of the receiver lcd while it is meant to be playing sound. I want to see if it shows as 5 speakers or 2.

    Edit for clarity sake: Only use HDMI. You might need to use Optical later on, but for now, just HDMI. Optical doesn't support LPCM, whereas HDMI supports all.

    • MikeKulls on 06/01/2023 - 23:23

      It's fairly easy to tell when surround is working because there's a blue light on the front specifically to indicate surround is working in at least 5.1. When using the PC and Netflix the blue light will come on. When using Chromecast it won't come on. For the MiBox there was clearly some issue as the display on the amp was jumping between formats and never playing sound (unless I forced stereo in the settings). For PS3, I'll just try your settings now.

    • MikeKulls on 06/01/2023 - 23:47

      I just tried the PlayStation and the above fixed it straight off, blue light came on even in the menus. It worked as 5.1 with a DVD so that gives me a good option for the odd DVD. It's been a while since I tried the PS3, possibly the issue was more related to installing Netflix etc.

    • MikeKulls on 07/01/2023 - 00:35
      +1

      I found a blueray and the PS3 works in 7.1. I couldn't get Netflix to start. I think it's probably too old to run Netflix.

  • carimakan on 06/01/2023 - 20:40
    +1

    Quite a few things needs to be right. Perhaps I can’t cover all and explain in detail pros and cons.
    But one of the most basic is go to audio setting in the tv/tv box/playstation/etc. check if it’s still PCM. It should be like Dolby, DTS, etc. Depends version of your device, you may have more option.

    HDMI arc is one of the latest, better, 2-way, or convenient to have. But it’s not a must to have surround.

  • Drakesy on 06/01/2023 - 20:55

    I don't think the amp or tv supports ARC.

    That might be the crux, ARC has been around for a while and the tv may be downmixing the inputs?
    My guess is that it expects any 5.1 to go directly into the amp with the optical out to cover for the stereo TV component.

    With TVs being so cheap these days it might be time to upgrade?

    • MikeKulls on 06/01/2023 - 23:58

      New TV is an option but …. This is for the man cave, if I buy I new TV for the man cave the wife will want to go out and buy a new tv for the house. My spending for the man cave has been pretty low in, $200 for the surround system and got a free tv off Facebook and fixed it.

  • jizmo on 06/01/2023 - 21:25
    +1

    Mi box try SPDIF Out. May only work on the TOSlink same with PS3 and HDMI the video direct to the TV from both devices without going to the amp.

    • MikeKulls on 06/01/2023 - 23:25

      I am planning to give that a try. I need a toslink to mini toslink which I've ordered. I can probably try it for the ps3 as I have toslink to toslink

      • jizmo on 07/01/2023 - 12:05

        https://www.soundandvision.com/content/sony-playstation-3-gl…
        Looking here right of LAN all you need is standard optical.
        Run that to the amp select PCM mode what ever the game or movie is decoded in by the PS3 will play direct out to the amp.
        If the game was only made in stereo then that's all you'll get unless you flick the amp over to Pro Logic 2 if it has it.

        • MikeKulls on 09/01/2023 - 17:41

          I tried the ps3 again and it worked for both 5.1 on DVDs and 7.1 for the single blueray I own. That was through HDMI. The PS3 wouldn't play Netflix though so it's a good solution for discs and games

  • Mumbles on 06/01/2023 - 21:35
    +2

    Most devices don't output surround sound by default. Normally you have to tell your source device to output surround sound and which format of surround sound (eg. Compressed LPCM vs Uncompressed Bitstream, DTS vs Dolby Digital).

    If you have never played with any Sound Settings on a input/source device then I recommend start with the Sony PS3 as it has a test function.

  • ItsMeAgro on 07/01/2023 - 12:26

    I think your chromecast should work once you find the right settings, but if not, I like the FireTV 4k, it's often on special for 40 bucks or so.

    • MikeKulls on 09/01/2023 - 11:47
      +1

      It's odd Chromecast doesn't work. It's meant to support AC3 which is meant to be Dolby Digital, which the amp supports.

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