AVS › AVS Forum › Audio › Audio theory, Setup and Chat › TV versus Cable Box - Digital Audio Output
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

TV versus Cable Box - Digital Audio Output

post #1 of 4
4/18/11 at 12:14pm
Thread Starter 
I have a Samsung Series 6 LCD HDTV, Comcast HDTV cable box, PS3 and just purchased a Bose CineMate Series II. My TV and cable box provide an optical digital audio output to attach to the Boise receiver. It's hard to describe (I think it's mainly a difference in tone), but I've noticed a difference in sound to when it's plugged into my cable box versus my TV. Which one is suppose to be "better" for connecting my Bose receiver? I have read some things on 2 channel audio versus 5.1 but don't understand how it translates to my scenario. Thanks in advance.
Reply
Reply

AVS Top Picks

post #2 of 4
4/18/11 at 12:48pm
Usually the 2.0 vs 5.1 issue when it comes to TV's digital outs is that most TVs downrez the output to 2.0 unless the TV itself is doing the tuning (then it will output 5.1 if the channel offers it.) Very few TVs pass along the 5.1 sound untouched.

The digital cable box should output 5.1 sound if offered no matter what. So in theory that should be the better connection to the receiver. Which sounds better to you?
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 4
4/18/11 at 1:37pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks...the digital cable box sounds slightly better but it's hardly noticeable.
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 4
4/18/11 at 3:59pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2001Vol View Post

I have a Samsung Series 6 LCD HDTV, Comcast HDTV cable box, PS3 and just purchased a Bose CineMate Series II. My TV and cable box provide an optical digital audio output to attach to the Boise receiver. It's hard to describe (I think it's mainly a difference in tone), but I've noticed a difference in sound to when it's plugged into my cable box versus my TV. Which one is suppose to be "better" for connecting my Bose receiver?

There is often a timing/lip synch difference between the cable box output and the TV output. The TV sound output is in synch with the picture and matches the video processing delays in the TV. Of course if you are handling this in your AVR then its not an issue.
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Audio theory, Setup and Chat

AVS Top Picks

AVS › AVS Forum › Audio › Audio theory, Setup and Chat › TV versus Cable Box - Digital Audio Output