Sony, Freesat, Virgin & sky question.

[admin_exported]

Having followed the posts regarding the mess up Sony has made over the audio with their latest recievers, i was wondering why Freesat, Virgin et al output audio via an optical cable instead of HDMI on their HD set top boxes, i can only assume it's to keep prices down. Are there any other reasons, or am i just being critical?

 

[Anonymous]

Come on folks, someone must have an idea!!

 

[Gerrardasnails]

al30tsm:Come on folks, someone must have an idea!!

Bandwidth.

 

[Gort1951]

N. American set-top boxes do not have this problem and pass 5.1 audio though hdmi.

After all, hdmi is video and audio at highest quality.

I don't think it's bandwidth, more likely cost cutting by using cheaper components and chipsets.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Gort, can anybody expand on this?

 

[Anonymous]

Gerrardasnails:al30tsm:Come on folks, someone must have an idea!!

Bandwidth.

Bandwidth!!

No I think I heard it was something to do with some types of audio capable of being broadcast and passed by HDMI but not by optical throwing errors with the box.