A Good Tip For Sky HD users!

[admin_exported]

I used to listen to sky HD box through an HDMI cable, the audio was light weight, and tinny. So I used an optical digital audio cable and it was far better! My point being, even if you only have a 2.1 system, use an optical digital audio cable as it gives you higher quality audio, and obviously 5.1.

 

[The_Lhc]

If you have a 2.1 system the presumably you have a sub. I believe Sky HD only passes standard stereo down the HDMI lead (ie, no seperate .1 sub channel), so your 2.1 set up will only be using the main speakers, not the sub. This is why it sounds "light weight, and tinny". The optical connection will pass everything, up to 5.1 channels (assuming it's being broadcast of course), so the sub will be used, hence the extra weight.

If you didn't have a sub it would probably sound exactly the same through either source, you could unplug your sub, and tell your amp that you don't have a sub and then see how the two compare.

 

[Andrew Everard]

But then if it's not receiving a surround soundtrack there won't be any sub channel anyway, and if it's a 5.1-channel but you're only using L/R/sub, there will be hardly any dialogue audible.

 

[Dan Turner]

Andrew Everard: if it's a 5.1-channel but you're only using L/R/sub, there will be hardly any dialogue audible.

...unless the OP is using a HC amp, with 2.1 speakers connected and the other speakers switched off in the set-up menu so 5.1 signals are being mixed into the 2.1 channels? Not sure if the Rotel RSP-1570 and Rotel RMB-1565 are HC components?

Although if that's the case presumably the difference in sound would be observed on 5.1 soundtracks, but not on 2 channel broadcast material? Perhaps the OP could clarify on his set-up and when the difference is observed?

I found that the sound quality on stereo analogue out was quite poor and found HDMI obviously not worth bothering with as I want 5.1 sound where available, so I find opt is the only option.

 

[Pete Shields]

Andrew

my day to day tv watching system comprises a 3 year old Panasonic Viera TH-42PX60B connected via a (WHF competition winning) Chord HDMI lead to my Sky Hdbox. I have no external sound processing - just the TV.

I notice particularly on feature films on Sky, that the sound is really muddled and dialogue is very quiet> it's all soundtrack.

Am I missing a trick here. Is there any way I can get a more balanced sound, other than saving up for a sound bar for under my TV.

thanks

Pete