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TVs that output surround sound

295 views 4 replies 2 participants last post by  Otto Pylot 
#1 ·
Hi there,


I've been reading up on soundbars on this website for a while and I've come across a concept that I just need clearing up. I've read a few times that you will be unable to experience surround sound via the soundbar if the TV doesn't output surround sound.


I've checked up my model and it doesn't output surround. So I would just like to know if I will not be able to experience surround sound with any soundbar with my TV set? And if so can someone please recommend me any models that do output surround sound, I'm looking for something in the 40" region and I don't require any SMART or 3D functionality. So long as it is full HD and has a high refresh rate.


Also does the stereo output of a TV hamper surround capabilities, when using a genuine 5.1 system? I have a home cinema set in the living room but I doubt the TV can output anything other than stereo.
 
#2 ·
The internal ATSC tuner, and some SmartApps, will output discrete 5.1 via optical but the device that the tv ouputs the audio to has to be able to decode it. In other words, a receiver. Soundbars can output pseudo-5.1 but not true surround sound (5.1) AFAIK. There are fairly expensive soundbars that may have that capability but without separate speakers I don't know how effective that is.


The stereo output of a tv does not affect 5.1. I use the internal ATSC tuner of my tv for OTA television. I keep the tv's speakers turned off all of the time and just output the audio via optical to my receiver. If the program is encoded with discrete 5.1, then that's what we hear. Very clean and clear. TV's themselves don't have the audio codecs necessary to process the audio. They will just pass what ever the source material is encoded in thru optical and let the receiving end (avr) decode it.
 
#5 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by JeffLawrence82  /t/1528204/tvs-that-output-surround-sound/0_20#post_24627761


Hi,


I really appreciate the reply. I fully understand the virtual vs real surround sound argument. I simply wanted to know if I could still experience virtual surround sound via optical, if my TV only outputs stereo.


Thanks

Some soundbars and receivers can take a stereo audio stream and simulate surround so you just have to look around. The only audio formats that optical can't send are HD audio (Dolby TrueHD, etc).
 
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