Enable the digital audio out on Pioneer Elite Pro110FD

[jcoppola]

Maybe somebody can help me with this. I have an older plasma, Elite Pro110FD which works great. It is over the mantel not in the home theater. I wanted to improve the sound in a simple way for the "family" with no extra equipment and extra remotes. Bought the Bose Cinemate Soundbar. It connects with the digital audio out of the TV. Set it up turned it on, no sound. After racking my brain for a couple of days I looked the Pioneer Manual (over 100 Pages) and found buried in there that the digital audio out is disabled when source components are hooked up via HDMI. They must have been concrerned with copy protection when this TV was made. Can't find anywhere in the manual or on the internet where one might be able to get into the service manual and maybe enable this. I have returned the sound bar but still would like to improve the sound. Thought the brightest minds here at SatelliteGuys could help.

Thanks

 

[jayn_j]

I suspect that the physical connection is not present. Not to get too technical, but it would involve decoding the HDMI digital audio and then recoding it into PCM for the optical path. I would bet that the older TV didn't implement this.

The one thing you can do with the Bose soundbar is to connect two source components directly via optical connections. Of course this would involve performing switching on both the TV (for video) and the soundbar (for audio). This can be made painless by adding a Harmony remote to the system that would switch both components depending on the activity you choose (watch the cable, watch a bluRay, etc)

I will also gently suggest that Bose is not the best bang for the buck and you can do better with other soundbars.

 

[jcoppola]

I suspect that the physical connection is not present. Not to get too technical, but it would involve decoding the HDMI digital audio and then recoding it into PCM for the optical path. I would bet that the older TV didn't implement this.

The one thing you can do with the Bose soundbar is to connect two source components directly via optical connections. Of course this would involve performing switching on both the TV (for video) and the soundbar (for audio). This can be made painless by adding a Harmony remote to the system that would switch both components depending on the activity you choose (watch the cable, watch a bluRay, etc)

I will also gently suggest that Bose is not the best bang for the buck and you can do better with other soundbars.

I knew I would get some Bose bashing and to be quite honest I'm a Bose basher myself, it was just that it had the lowest profile of all the sound bars and fit in the space between the TV and mantel where the others would not. I did not want to run another cable from the hopper to the unit because pulling the wire would be very difficult but I know that was an option.

 

[jayn_j]

Sorry if you felt that was bashing. I tried to be gentle. Again, I can't apologize for the Pioneer design as I didn't design it. I do know enough that adding that sort of decode/encode would have been difficult before the more modern integrated decoders came out.

I am sorry that my attempt was not helpful, and I wish you better luck elsewhere.

 

[jcoppola]

Sorry if you felt that was bashing. I tried to be gentle. Again, I can't apologize for the Pioneer design as I didn't design it. I do know enough that adding that sort of decode/encode would have been difficult before the more modern integrated decoders came out.

I am sorry that my attempt was not helpful, and I wish you better luck elsewhere.

No aplogy needed like I said I ussually bash Bose myself it just that it had the shape that fit best.

 

[Massmicro]

I have the same problem as the one stated by jcoppola. The digital audio becomes enabled when you disconnect the HDMI input, but the cable signal entering from my Antenna A is an analog signal and is not desirable. Also, my audio monitor TV outputs are not outputing any audio.

 

[arlo]

Hey hi. I see in the TV manual in section 12, pg 72 actual:
For audio, the system supports the following
• Linear PCM (STEREO 2ch)
• Sampling frequency: 32 kHz, 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz.
I also saw the tricky fine print revealing the optical output being disabled.
I think it's just that:
Please note that signals input from the
HDMI terminals will not be output from the DIGITAL OUT
terminal.
Looks like RCA patch cables are the option. If you have a short run from the TV to the bar and use an "ok" quality cable, probably no issues. In my case my TV and HT receiver are Dolby Digital capable. But you're only stereo capable. That's what I read anyway. So you're not really gaining anything by using optical.
Unless a long RCA cable run to the 'bar is necessary.
A quick browse on eBay showed only optical to RCA converters. That's what I use on one TV to a stereo receiver.
Not really seeing the reverse, analog to optical, SPDIF.
In my case. A 6' patch cable from TV to receiver was buzzy as hell. Going optical to the interface and then a very short RCA patch to the receiver killed all extraneous noise.
Notice I didn't bash Bose? People love their 901's. No matter if it costs them a gazillion bucks to refoam them. Keeps steak on my table and cold beer in the fridge.
Good luck!

 

[HipKat]

I knew I would get some Bose bashing and to be quite honest I'm a Bose basher myself, it was just that it had the lowest profile of all the sound bars and fit in the space between the TV and mantel where the others would not. I did not want to run another cable from the hopper to the unit because pulling the wire would be very difficult but I know that was an option.

I would argue that the Polk Magnifi-Max may have the lowest profile I've seen on a quality soundbar and has 3 HDMI inputs with one HDMI Arc Output (Probably the older TV doesn't have an Arc input) and optical connection

 

[jayn_j]

I would argue that the Polk Magnifi-Max may have the lowest profile I've seen on a quality soundbar and has 3 HDMI inputs with one HDMI Arc Output (Probably the older TV doesn't have an Arc input) and optical connection

Note that the initial exchange was 10 years old. Lots has changed since then.

 

[harshness]

Note that the initial exchange was 10 years old. Lots has changed since then.

Nonetheless, Massmicro is apparently experiencing the same problem just yesterday.

Prior to arlo's careful RTFM, there was no resolution but now the problem has been identified and a solution has finally been offered.