Sky+ HD box not transmitting 5.1 via HDMI??

[admin_exported]

Morning all,

I recently upgraded my system to include the Onkyo 606 amp and a Panasonic 42" Plasma, so for the first time I'm using HDMI for everything. I've had my suspicions from day one that the Sky+ HD box isn't sending 5.1 from HD sources but is down-mixing to 2.0 for HDMI - and now I think I can prove it!

I put on BBC HD for the Proms last night; via optical, the amp reported "DDigital" and sound was evident in all speakers. With HDMI, it didn't report DDigital and there was only sound in the front 2 speakers!! The amp was set to "Direct" in each case, i.e. no post-processing, just straight decoding.

If this is true this is a serious short-coming of the HD box!! The whole point of using HDMI is that you get the best picture AND sound, and while I find the picture excellent, if it's down-mixing to 2.0 then that's really disappointing. It's not possible to tell the amp to override the HDMI sound and use optical either.

Any thoughts?

Cheers

Richard

 

[Anonymous]

hi mate-not really sure about this but have you checked the sky box setting? highlight the SOUND setting and scroll down to output-this should be set to BITSTREAM!

 

[Gerrardasnails]

Cavallino74:
Morning all,

I recently upgraded my system to include the Onkyo 606 amp and a Panasonic 42" Plasma, so for the first time I'm using HDMI for everything. I've had my suspicions from day one that the Sky+ HD box isn't sending 5.1 from HD sources but is down-mixing to 2.0 for HDMI - and now I think I can prove it!

I put on BBC HD for the Proms last night; via optical, the amp reported "DDigital" and sound was evident in all speakers. With HDMI, it didn't report DDigital and there was only sound in the front 2 speakers!! The amp was set to "Direct" in each case, i.e. no post-processing, just straight decoding.

If this is true this is a serious short-coming of the HD box!! The whole point of using HDMI is that you get the best picture AND sound, and while I find the picture excellent, if it's down-mixing to 2.0 then that's really disappointing. It's not possible to tell the amp to override the HDMI sound and use optical either.

Any thoughts?

Cheers

Richard

Sky HD cannot give 5.1 through hdmi - only stereo sound. You need an optical lead from your 606 to your HD box. One like this will do and you will get great surround sound.

http://www.audiovisualonline.co.uk/dynamic/eshop_products.set/ref/1434/fisual-digital-optical-cable-pro-install-series/display.html

 

[Andrew Everard]

Cavallino74:It's not possible to tell the amp to override the HDMI sound and use optical either.

It is - see manual pp43-45.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks - there's no bitstream option on my Sky+ HD box - is this a new thing on some of the new boxes? Mine's about a year old and only has stereo or Dolby Digital options.

I'll have a look again in the manual, thanks Andrew! Quite unlike me to need to RTFM as I always read through it when I buy it, so I must have missed that bit. Much appreciated! I shall try it and see...

Cheers

Richard

 

[Andrew Everard]

You need to set the Sky HD box to output Dolby D on the optical, not stereo, using Services-4-2 and selecting it on the Optical output option, Make sure you save changes after selecting this, or it reverts.