[SOLVED] PC to TV to Soundbar

[naturelle]

I am building a new setup and I want to have an extended desktop on my tv because I watch all my movies and tv series via my pc. PC is connected with an HDMI cable from my GPU and now I would like to add a soundbar. Would it be enough to buy a soundbar that has arc HDMI and then it would play Dolby Digital from my PC using VLC player or other media players on win 10?

https://www.displayspecifications.com/en/model/41c9246b

This tv, it has DD MS12 V2.3 it even has dolby atmos.

JBL Bar 2.1 Deep Bass review: Yes, the bass is indeed deep

With most cinemas still closed, this aptly named speaker will rock your couch.

www.cnet.com

This soundbar. Has DD and HDMI arc.

 

[SkyNetRising]

You have multiple options.

1. Connect soundbar to TV via optical cable.

2. Or you can use HDMI pass-through on soundbar. Connect PC to soundbar (HDMI in) and soundbar (HDMI out) to TV.

3. Or you can use HDMI ARC also. Connect PC to TV with HDMI cable. Connect TV to soundbar on ports supporting HDMI ARC.

Note - not all options may allow volume regulation with TV remote. It may be necessary to regulate volume on soundbar directly. This is rather inconvenient option.

 

[naturelle]

You have multiple options.



1. Connect soundbar to TV via optical cable.



2. Or you can use HDMI pass-through on soundbar. Connect PC to soundbar (HDMI in) and soundbar (HDMI out) to TV.



3. Or you can use HDMI ARC also. Connect PC to TV with HDMI cable. Connect TV to soundbar on ports supporting HDMI ARC.



Note - not all options may allow volume regulation with TV remote. It may be necessary to regulate volume on soundbar directly. This is rather inconvenient option.

Thanks.

About option no. 2, will the soundbar pass through the video also? If I watch a 4k movie and connect pc to soundbar and soundbar to tv will it also show the video?

I am moving to a new house so I am preparing all whats needed. I will put by the pc on a wall a hdmi socket and in the wall would be the hdmi cable to the wall hdmi wall socket by the tv. And under the tv the sounbar. Thats the plan, now I just need the DD which is the most used for movies and series to work. Because I was reading a lot about this setup and people had problems that it was only a stereo sound or that they even had no sound etc..

 

[dwd999]

Does your computer have an optical output? Personally I would use an optical connection from the computer to the soundbar so it can be used for just music when the TV is off, and hdmi from the computer to the TV for video. Otherwise, hdmi to the soundbar would allow the soundbar to be used for music when the TV is off, and then hdmi from soundbar to TV for when picture is needed as long as it passes through the resolution you need.

 

[SkyNetRising]

About option no. 2, will the soundbar pass through the video also? If I watch a 4k movie and connect pc to soundbar and soundbar to tv will it also show the video?

HDMI ports on soundbar are HDMI 1.4.
4k is possible, but only at 30Hz.
Options #1 and #3 would not have this limitation.

 

[sizzling]

Does your computer have an optical output? Personally I would use an optical connection from the computer to the soundbar so it can be used for just music when the TV is off, and hdmi from the computer to the TV for video. Otherwise, hdmi to the soundbar would allow the soundbar to be used for music when the TV is off, and then hdmi from soundbar to TV for when picture is needed as long as it passes through the resolution you need.

The advantage of connecting to the TV is usually a TV will have adjustments for lip sync which if like me I find it really annoying when off by a fraction of a second.

 

[naturelle]

Does your computer have an optical output? Personally I would use an optical connection from the computer to the soundbar so it can be used for just music when the TV is off, and hdmi from the computer to the TV for video. Otherwise, hdmi to the soundbar would allow the soundbar to be used for music when the TV is off, and then hdmi from soundbar to TV for when picture is needed as long as it passes through the resolution you need.

No it doesnt and I would have to buy a sound card with that, and also have to put another cable in to the wall for the optical, and another wall socket... Whole lot of "problems"

One general question about the hdmi sound, all gpus send through the DD sound? I just select in windows the output hdmi(tv) and it will play DD movies?

In my old house I have connected my good old z5500 to my pc sound card so there is no problems with that and I have no experience with pc - hdmi sound to tv.

 

[Unolocogringo]

Most sound bars are very .... limited? in music reproduction and surround imaging especially.
I have experience with a couple higher end models( Bose, Polk) and they are MUCH better than TV speakers.
But are still some what lacking when it comes to music, which is a large part of movie soundtracks.
The trade offs for convenience factor.

 

[naturelle]

Well getting a 2.1 sound system seems a waste of money so soundbar is the way to go, imo.

 

[JohnBonhamsGhost]

i would think getting a receiver with surround would be the best option for this style of setup so both the TV and the PC could make use of it separately when needed.

or is this TV the only display you will be using with this PC?
if so, then connecting any audio device directly to the TV may be the easiest option.
most nicer TVs now offer pretty good options for audio output.

 

[naturelle]

The pc will be about 5m away from the tv, and the only speakers that I can have are by the tv, so only a 2.0 or 2.1 system is an option.

 

[Unolocogringo]

Well getting a 2.1 sound system seems a waste of money so soundbar is the way to go, imo.

Depends on your critique .
There are 2.1 systems that blow sound bars away as far as music is concerned and offer a similar experience for movies with good speaker placement.
The decision is all yours we just try to help with your questions and offer pros and cons from experience.
Sound bars work best in small rooms, but placement is critical. it must be centered in the room close to the wall behind it. That way the Surround speakers in it reflect off the walls to the sides evenly. If it is off by much the surround effect is killed because the speakers are out of phase.
They have a very limited area where they produce correct imaging.

 

[JohnBonhamsGhost]

the only speakers that I can have are by the tv

why could they only be "by the TV"?
any surround set should have long enough wires to make it all around the room, however big.
and for others you can always add extensions if their cables were not.

if you did decide to go with a receiver it could be placed anywhere that is accessible by a remote control and used for multiple devices; anything with an optical, A/V, or HDMI out.
and any attached speakers could still be placed wherever you wished.

only a 2.0 or 2.1 system is an option

for 2.1, i recently purchased a Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 THX that sounds great with music, movies/television, games, anything.
has clean sound, handles very loud audio very well, and uses a 3.5mm connection to any output device.

 

[dwd999]

One general question about the hdmi sound, all gpus send through the DD sound? I just select in windows the output hdmi(tv) and it will play DD movies?

As long as you have your video player set for passthrough sound you get DD or whatever. If you look in the VLC audio options you will see in the Tools, Preferences, Audio menu the HDMI/SPDIF Audio Passthrough option which has to be Enabled.

 

[naturelle]

Depends on your critique .
There are 2.1 systems that blow sound bars away as far as music is concerned and offer a similar experience for movies with good speaker placement.
The decision is all yours we just try to help with your questions and offer pros and cons from experience.
Sound bars work best in small rooms, but placement is critical. it must be centered in the room close to the wall behind it. That way the Surround speakers in it reflect off the walls to the sides evenly. If it is off by much the surround effect is killed because the speakers are out of phase.
They have a very limited area where they produce correct imaging.

The tv will be on the wall and the soundbar under it. And the whole setup is 90% movies/series other 10% is tv, music.