Question Connecting my sound bar to my STR DH810

[t4duzan]

I have an STR DH810 that I can currently hook up 2 JBL speakers and a Polk Audio woofer to. I want to connect my Vizio SB3820 sound bar to it. At the moment I'm not using my receiver for my TV and just have the Vizio SB hooked up directly with an optical cable. I want to connect that same optical cable from my SB to the receiver but am not having any luck getting sound out of it. I'm very much a noob at hooking up receivers and this one has so many options and inputs I'm wondering if someone is familiar with this receiver model and might be able to shed some light for me so I can use all of the above mentioned speakers with it.

Thanks,
T4

 

[boju]

Your AVR doesn't have optical outputs so this won't work. What you could look at is an optical splitter adapter to independently connect both AVR and SB from tv.

Since you already have an AVR, have you thought about just getting more speakers for it instead of trying to combine speakers and a SB?

 

[t4duzan]

Your AVR doesn't have optical outputs so this won't work. What you could look at is an optical splitter adapter to independently connect both AVR and SB from tv.

Since you already have an AVR, have you thought about just getting more speakers for it instead of trying to combine speakers and a SB?

Thanks for the reply and suggestion. I was looking at optical splitters and saw there were different types, like 2 in 1 out, or 2 out 1 in. Could you explain what I'll need and how to hook it up to the receiver? My receiver has a TV optical in, and 2 digital in options, 1 for SAT/CATV and 1 for BD. Which of these can I hook up and play my TV with all speakers?

Thank you for the time and knowledge.

 

[boju]

Sure.

Something like this;

https://www.amazon.com/ZEXMTE-Digital-Optical-Fiber-Splitter/dp/B07BKQVB8N?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_5

So connect the male end to the TV and female with 2x optical cable to your SB optical input and the other to your AVR's TV optical input.

 

[t4duzan]

Sure.

Something like this;

https://www.amazon.com/ZEXMTE-Digital-Optical-Fiber-Splitter/dp/B07BKQVB8N?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_5

So connect the male end to the TV and female with 2x optical cable to your SB optical input and the other to your AVR's TV optical input.

Awesome, thanks! I just ordered it and understood exactly what I need to do with your instructions. I'll update after I receive the splitter.

 

[boju]

You're welcome

 

[t4duzan]

You're welcome

So, I got the splitter hooked up like we discussed but now I can't get my TV to connect through my AVR. Also when I use the tuner (to test my speaker hook up on the AVR), it will pickup my 2 JBLs and my Polk woofer but still won't pickup my SB. The LED in the optical cable that's connected to the AVR is lit up so I'm guessing it's connected right. BTW, the splitter is working correctly because the yellow end (as shown in the picture you showed) is hooked up to the TV and I have one optical hooked to one of the splitter connections and it goes to the SB. The second optical cable goes from the 2nd splitter connection to the AVR, and like I said, it's lit when I connect it to the AVR. My problem is I really don't understand the AVR because of all of the combinations of how to channel out sound.

Question 1: is there a forum that is specific to the STR DH810 so I can learn more about how to use it?

Question 2: do I have my sound bar hooked up correctly through the optical splitter and to the TV, SB, and AVR?

Question 3: how can I connect my TV up to the AVR so it at least works through the AVR? Right now I've tried an HDMI from the TV to the HDMI TV out on the AVR. Another HDMI goes from my DirecTV box to to an HDMI IN (I've tried all 4 HDMI connections) on the AVR. I'm pretty sure I had this hooked up properly before at some time because I remember playing sound from my TV through the 2 speakers and woofer. Now my TV displays that it doesn't support that connection and to hook up component audio video cables. I'm pretty sure I just have something set up working because I have had it hooked up with HDMI and displaying audio and emitting audio through the speakers.

Can anyone be of help to me? I'm getting pretty frustrated because I'm just connecting and reconnecting cables and going through options on my AVR and getting more confused everytime I try and fix this problem.



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[boju]

Optical is one directional, you'll only get sound from TV to SB and AVR. What do you mean by tuner? Any sounds coming from AVR wont be sent to your SB. Please let me know if i understood.

Question 1: Probably not for your AVR specifically but AVSforums specialises in these areas.

Question 2: The splitter starts from TV and splits to your AVR and SB. Only sounds from TV will be played.

Question 3: Any device (ie console, pc, media player) connected to your AVR will only play audio through the speakers connected to it's amp. Your SB cannot be combined this way. Sound Bars are an AVR substitute.

 

[t4duzan]

Optical is one directional, you'll only get sound from TV to SB and AVR. What do you mean by tuner? Any sounds coming from AVR wont be sent to your SB. Please let me know if i understood.

Question 1: Probably not for your AVR specifically but AVSforums specialises in these areas.

Question 2: The splitter starts from TV and splits to your AVR and SB. Only sounds from TV will be played.

Question 3: Any device (ie console, pc, media player) connected to your AVR will only play audio through the speakers connected to it's amp. Your SB cannot be combined this way. Sound Bars are an AVR substitute.

Thanks for the reply. By tuner, I meant my radio that's on the AVR. Now I understand that because the SB is coming straight from the TV that only what audio comes from the TV will be heard through the SB. Thanks for that clarification. It's a shame that the SB can't be combined with the speakers I have to play through my TV. Maybe I'm misunderstanding that though.

I will go to AVSforum and do some research about why my TV can't be displayed with audio or video through the channels on my AVR.

Again, thanks for your help!

 

[boju]

TVs have radio channels. But yeah, kinda restricted with sound bars. If you want to take more advantage of your AVR's surround capabilities get more speakers for it. Your AMP does 7.1.

 

[t4duzan]

Optical is one directional, you'll only get sound from TV to SB and AVR. What do you mean by tuner? Any sounds coming from AVR wont be sent to your SB. Please let me know if i understood.

Question 1: Probably not for your AVR specifically but AVSforums specialises in these areas.

Question 2: The splitter starts from TV and splits to your AVR and SB. Only sounds from TV will be played.

Question 3: Any device (ie console, pc, media player) connected to your AVR will only play audio through the speakers connected to it's amp. Your SB cannot be combined this way. Sound Bars are an AVR substitute.

My problem with Question 3 was my TV not being able to connect at all through the AVR. I finally resolved that by resetting all settings on my DirecTV box and now I can connect through HDMI. All is good, including my 2 speakers and woofer going through the AVR. No SB, but it's a step in the right direction. Thanks again for all of your help.

 

[t4duzan]

Optical is one directional, you'll only get sound from TV to SB and AVR. What do you mean by tuner? Any sounds coming from AVR wont be sent to your SB. Please let me know if i understood.

Question 1: Probably not for your AVR specifically but AVSforums specialises in these areas.

Question 2: The splitter starts from TV and splits to your AVR and SB. Only sounds from TV will be played.

Question 3: Any device (ie console, pc, media player) connected to your AVR will only play audio through the speakers connected to it's amp. Your SB cannot be combined this way. Sound Bars are an AVR substitute.

My problem with Question 3 was my TV not being able to connect at all through the AVR. I finally resolved that by resetting all settings on my DirecTV box and now I can connect through HDMI connecting. All is good, including my 2 speakers and woofer going through the AVR. No SB, but it's a step in the right direction. Thanks again for all of your help.

TVs have radio channels. But yeah, kinda restricted with sound bars. If you want to take more advantage of your AVR's surround capabilities get more speakers for it. Your AMP does 7.1.

Thanks, I'll definitely consider getting more speakers to add to what I have already.