QuestionThe question the below background info relates to is: Will the Samsung 7000, 8000 and 8500 series 46" LCD/LED TV's accept any audio format (DTS, DD5.1, DD7.1 etc.) and use it to properly output stereo audio on it's internal speakers?
For my home theater, I have a Denon AVR4308CI driving a 9.1 speaker setup in a 7.1 configuration (ready for the future) and a pano AE2000U front projector. I have a 46" Sharp LCD/CCFL in my master BR and a 32" Sharp LCD/CCFL in my master bath. I will add a 46" LCD to my kitchen soon. I want to have the same audio and video playing on all TV's at the same time from either a FIOS HD DVR or Sony Blu-Ray source. To accomplish this, I have tried an Octava 3X8 HDMI distribution amp and I get great video but no audio on the Sharp TV's. Both Audio and video on the Denon is OK. After many experiments, I have concluded when the Denon is connected to the 3X8 and power is cycled, the source reads the EDID of the Denon and determines it can supply the highest quality audio. The Sharps cannot process anything other than Stereo PCM 2/0/.0, so they have zero sound. If I have only the Sharps connected to the 3X8 and power cycle it, the Sharp EDID is read by the source and I have sound. I am ready to sell the Sharps and replace with Samsungs but I need to be sure the audio will work, ie. the Samsungs will accept any audio format and play the audio on their internal speakers.
Thanks.
AnswerThat is something that you'll need to get from Samsung to know for sure, but I don't think that's the real issue...
Typically, when 2 HDMI devices "handshake" with each other, the determination as to what the maximum video and audio resolution is made, and that signal is sent from the source device. If you had a 720P display, the source would know to only output a 720p signal.
For example, if you have a display that refreshes only at 30hz, and you're BluRay player is set at a "force 60hz" setting (which some devices have), you'll get nothing because the display doesn't know what to do with the digital information it's being fed. It can't "read it".
What's happening here is that the Sharps are being fed a 7.1 bitstream when they are expecting a 2.0 stream because these were not the devices that made the initial "handshake", and they can only ever deal with a 2.0 signal.
One question, where is the Octava at in your signal chain - before or after the Denon?
If it's before the Denon (source > Octava> Denon & Sharps), the sources may only be handshaking with the Denon and sending out the 7.1 bit stream. I'm wondering if you fed the sources directly into the Denon and then out to the Octava (source > Denon > Octava > Sharps), the handshake would be between the Denon and Sharps, thus communicating that only a 2.0 signal will be sent from the Denon HDMI output. Meanwhile, you'll still be able to enjoy the 7.1 sound because THAT bit stream was determined in a different handshake process (between the source and the Denon).
I hope this makes sense... It's confusing, and the rush to get HDMI on the market has left it full of "bugs" like this. Feel free to write me back if you have any further questions.
