Connecting Zenith plasma TV to a soundbar

[bunnerrunner]

We are trying to get a Zenith plasma TV, model Z50PV220, working with a soundbar. First I bought a Vizio soundbar and connected using the digital optical port. The soundbar seemed unable to find the signal, and then all of a sudden it did and sounded great. A few minutes later we changed from Roku to direct TV signal and the soundbar stopped working. We could not get it working again using Roku or not. Today we hooked up a Megacra soundbar via the digital optical connections and we can't get any sound out of the soundbar. However, if we adjust the volume on the soundbar using the remote there is a scratchy clicking noise which becomes louder as we increase the volume. This sound does not occur if we adjust the volunme directly on the soundbar. Don't know if this is a clue. Can anyone help, please?

 

[americanaudiophile]

The TV manual says you have to turn the internal TV speakers off to get the optical out to turn on.
https://www.manualslib.com/manual/520777/Zenith-Z60pv220.html?page=26#manual

 

[bunnerrunner]

The TV manual says you have to turn the internal TV speakers off to get the optical out to turn on.
https://www.manualslib.com/manual/520777/Zenith-Z60pv220.html?page=26#manual

Hi, thanks for your help but we did turn off the TV speakers and the sound bar still did not work. However, we did try plugging the sound bar directly into the Roku and that produced sound. We are pretty sure there is nothing wrong with the the TV's optical drive, as it emits a light. But at least now we can use the sound bar for Roku viewing, and we are thinking we can plug the sound bar into the CD player as well. So that's better than nothing. Or maybe you have another idea?

 

[americanaudiophile]

The optical output type on the TV may be wrong for the soundbars. If you can find a place in the TV menu to change it try that.

 

[bunnerrunner]

The optical output type on the TV may be wrong for the soundbars. If you can find a place in the TV menu to change it try that.

Tried everything on the TV remote. Can't find any setting that makes a difference. Thanks, though!

 

[brettcasper]

I had a very similar problem with this same tv noted here as i was researching this for my parents that had this tv.. If i tried various inputs, the optical audio out only didnt work when using the antenna coaxial tuner input. I am not an expert to know of the optical type to the sound system but estimated the tv wasnt converting the audio coming thru the tuner. As a workaround, went to a thrift shop and got a cheap hdtv tuner box that had rca outputs, hooked antenna to that, and ran that into the tv....wholla, surround sound with over air digital tv with minor inconvenience of a tuner box....cheaper than a new tv and quality similar. Despite what the manual said, the optical output still worked to surround sound with the tv speakers on.