HDTVs and audio

At long last I've decided to take the plunge and buy an HDTV 'Freeview'
set. Almost certainly an LED Panasonic of modest size. I'd welcome some
answers to a few pretty basic questions, mainly wrt the audio side of
operations.

1) Is it standard for such sets to accept audio in via HDMI and then copy
that out via an SPDIF coax/optical outlet for connection to a decent
external DAC?

If the answer to (1) is 'yes':

2) Is it normal to then be able to mute the TV's own speakers so you just
can use a hifi and the external DAC for the audio?

3) Does that normally then bypass any 'volume control' of the TV set? Or is
this user-choosable, or what?

4) Does HDMI ensure audio-video synch? Either from the TV's digital output,
or by telling the HDMI source and allowing a digital spdif output from that
to be delayed to match? Or?

It would be convenient from my POV is the TV acted simply as a 'pass
though' for the audio from external sources - e.g. DVD player. So ensured
lip-synch by otherwise allowed the audio samples to be 'as from the source'
without any sounds from the TVs speakers. But is the norm? Or is there a
problem here?

Also:

Are middle-of-the range panasonics likely to have 3 HDMI sockets?

Allow no 'overscan' so a 1:1 scaling of HD sources?

I'll ask about such things in the shop. But some comments here to clarify
what I should be able to expect would be helpful.

Cheers,

Jim

--
Please use the address on the audiomisc page if you wish to email me.
Electronics http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scot...o/electron.htm
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Audio Misc http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/index.html

Jim Lesurf wrote:
At long last I've decided to take the plunge and buy an HDTV 'Freeview'
set. Almost certainly an LED Panasonic of modest size. I'd welcome some
answers to a few pretty basic questions, mainly wrt the audio side of
operations.

I have a Sony, so my answers are specifically applicable for that, however
FWIW, I would expect Panny to be the same.

1) Is it standard for such sets to accept audio in via HDMI and then copy
that out via an SPDIF coax/optical outlet for connection to a decent
external DAC?

Yes

If the answer to (1) is 'yes':

2) Is it normal to then be able to mute the TV's own speakers so you just
can use a hifi and the external DAC for the audio?

Yes

3) Does that normally then bypass any 'volume control' of the TV set? Or is
this user-choosable, or what?

By-passes the TV's volume control


4) Does HDMI ensure audio-video synch? Either from the TV's digital output,
or by telling the HDMI source and allowing a digital spdif output from that
to be delayed to match? Or?

I've had no lip sync issues, either using the TV's own tuner, or external HDMI
sources

It would be convenient from my POV is the TV acted simply as a 'pass
though' for the audio from external sources - e.g. DVD player. So ensured
lip-synch by otherwise allowed the audio samples to be 'as from the source'
without any sounds from the TVs speakers. But is the norm? Or is there a
problem here?

That's how I do it. Use a AV Amp, fed by optical link from the TV's 'Audio
Out', and only feed the external boxes into the TV via HDMI. The TV is the
'master' source selection device, Volume control is using the Amp, I don't
use any of the amp's HDMI facilities.


Also:

Are middle-of-the range panasonics likely to have 3 HDMI sockets?

IMHO Yes


Allow no 'overscan' so a 1:1 scaling of HD sources?

Sony's yes, LGs no, I don't know about Pannys or Samsungs. Irritatingly on the
Sony you have to set 1:1 mapping (they call it 'Full Pixel') separately for
every input, and also when the set is in progressive *and* interlace mode.
Remember the HD Mux employs dynamic GOP by GOP p/i switching, so with the Sony
you can end up with the overscan cutting in and out every second or so. You
need to set full pixel mode separately when it's forced into each mode. It's a
PITA, but once set, that's it !

I'll ask about such things in the shop. But some comments here to clarify
what I should be able to expect would be helpful.

One must IMHO is the ability to remap and delete EPG LCNs, so you can put the
HD versions of channels on the 'SD' LCNs, instead of having them up at 101+
which is the default condition for Freeview.


--
Mark
Please replace invalid and invalid with gmx and net to reply.

Mine is LG

"Jim Lesurf" wrote in message
...
At long last I've decided to take the plunge and buy an HDTV 'Freeview'
set. Almost certainly an LED Panasonic of modest size. I'd welcome some
answers to a few pretty basic questions, mainly wrt the audio side of
operations.

1) Is it standard for such sets to accept audio in via HDMI and then copy
that out via an SPDIF coax/optical outlet for connection to a decent
external DAC?

If the answer to (1) is 'yes':

Yes - and received digital audio


2) Is it normal to then be able to mute the TV's own speakers so you just
can use a hifi and the external DAC for the audio?

Yes.


3) Does that normally then bypass any 'volume control' of the TV set? Or
is
this user-choosable, or what?

If you are using digital then the signal is sent 'as is'. Not sure what
happens on analog, but I would expect line output (600mV). On my earlier
Philips set this was selectable.


4) Does HDMI ensure audio-video synch? Either from the TV's digital
output,
or by telling the HDMI source and allowing a digital spdif output from
that
to be delayed to match? Or?

Never had any trouble with this. Kindly the BBC outputs a couple of minutes
a day of test card with speaker and synch tests to allow you to check
everything is correct. Any delay will be set specific.


It would be convenient from my POV is the TV acted simply as a 'pass
though' for the audio from external sources - e.g. DVD player. So ensured
lip-synch by otherwise allowed the audio samples to be 'as from the
source'
without any sounds from the TVs speakers. But is the norm? Or is there a
problem here?


I do it the other way around - HDMI sources got to the AV amp first.
Freesat and Freeview are received in the set, so if I want full surround I
use the optical SPDIF link to go the other way.

Some more recent HDMI have a reverse audio channel (so avoiding the need for
the SPDIF link).

Also:

Are middle-of-the range panasonics likely to have 3 HDMI sockets?

Probably - look it up at Richer Sounds.


Allow no 'overscan' so a 1:1 scaling of HD sources?

No idea. Full HD should come out unaltered. For DVD, analog (e.g. VCR) and
SD sources it will have to be upscaled somewhere, although I think it is
best to let the set do it.


I'll ask about such things in the shop. But some comments here to clarify
what I should be able to expect would be helpful.

Buy the boxes from Richer Sounds, buy the cables from CPC. Cheap cables are
just fine for digital.


Cheers,

Jim

R. Mark Clayton wrote:


Allow no 'overscan' so a 1:1 scaling of HD sources?

No idea. Full HD should come out unaltered.

It doesn't on any HD sets, they are all set to 3ish % overscan,
which means that rescaling is going on, even on native 1920 x 1080
broadcasts.

My folks have an LG, I can't find the 1:1 pixel mode setting.

Take a look at this screen shot taken from BBC News HD, note the gap
under the ticker, see if you have the same ?

https://www.dropbox.com/s/5h6i6aymfb...2016.18.43.jpg


--
Mark
Please replace invalid and invalid with gmx and net to reply.

In article ,
Mark Carver wrote:

R. Mark Clayton wrote:

It doesn't on any HD sets, they are all set to 3ish % overscan,
which means that rescaling is going on, even on native 1920 x 1080
broadcasts.

My Sony Bravia is set to a slight overscan by default, but there is a
setting for the HDMI inputs to be 'pixel perfect', i.e. no overscan and
an exact pixel for pixel match to the source. Occasionally you get fine
lines at the edges of the picture as a result.

In article , R. Mark Clayton
wrote:
Mine is LG

"Jim Lesurf" wrote in message
...


4) Does HDMI ensure audio-video synch? Either from the TV's digital
output, or by telling the HDMI source and allowing a digital spdif
output from that to be delayed to match? Or?

Never had any trouble with this. Kindly the BBC outputs a couple of
minutes a day of test card with speaker and synch tests to allow you to
check everything is correct. Any delay will be set specific.

When is the HD testcard broadcast and on what 'station'? I recall getting a
copy from the HDTV a long time ago, but I thought it just popped up
occasionally so you had to guess when it would show.

I'll ask about such things in the shop. But some comments here to
clarify what I should be able to expect would be helpful.

Buy the boxes from Richer Sounds,

I'll probably buy the TV from a local shop if they have what I want.
Otherwise I may look to John Lewis to get one. Either way, I'll need them
to also cart away my old CRT set (analogue). I can't even lift that, let
alone put it out for collection!


buy the cables from CPC. Cheap cables
are just fine for digital.

Erm. yes, I think I'd guessed that. :-)

Jim

--
Please use the address on the audiomisc page if you wish to email me.
Electronics http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scot...o/electron.htm
Armstrong Audio http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/Armstrong/armstrong.html
Audio Misc http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/index.html

IMLE (sample of 2 Sonys) yes, yes, yes, no
--
Robin
reply to address is (meant to be) valid

On 01/01/2014 17:14, Roger Wilmut wrote:
In article ,
Mark Carver wrote:

R. Mark Clayton wrote:

It doesn't on any HD sets, they are all set to 3ish % overscan,
which means that rescaling is going on, even on native 1920 x 1080
broadcasts.

My Sony Bravia is set to a slight overscan by default, but there is a
setting for the HDMI inputs to be 'pixel perfect', i.e. no overscan and
an exact pixel for pixel match to the source. Occasionally you get fine
lines at the edges of the picture as a result.




with an older sky box i found that on certain sd channels (the non full
pal resolution ones), the box was inserting bright blue pillarboxes on
the extreme left and right of the image.
a later replacement sky box wisely made them black instead so back came
my zero overscan setting.

--
Gareth.
That fly.... Is your magic wand.

Jim Lesurf wrote:
At long last I've decided to take the plunge and buy an HDTV 'Freeview'
set.

Steady on Jim!

Almost certainly an LED Panasonic of modest size.

Experience of what customers have said, plus my own experience, tells me
that you should get a slightly bigger screen than you think you want, if
you aren't used to HD.

I'd welcome some
answers to a few pretty basic questions, mainly wrt the audio side of
operations.

FWIW I simply take the audio from the 'headphone' jack on the (Sony) TV.
The telly is set for the internal speaker to be muted. This works
perfectly for analogue and digital reception, reception via scart and
HDMI. Full control of volume and no sync problems. If I compare Swiss
Classic direct or via the telly there's no difference that I can tell.


Are middle-of-the range panasonics likely to have 3 HDMI sockets?

Each model either will or won't. It isn't a probability thing. Google it.

Why Panasonic, particularly?

I'll ask about such things in the shop.

A complete and utter waste of time breath and temper. You'd better
taking a ride over the bridge to Edinburgh and asking the chimps in the
zoo. While you're there have a look at what's on the floor in the
elephant house. That'll give you an idea of what the answer would be
like if you asked the boys in the TV shop about overscan.

But some comments here to clarify
what I should be able to expect would be helpful.
The only question worth asking in the shop is "Can you match the
internet price?"

Bill

Mark Carver wrote:

It doesn't on any HD sets, they are all set to 3ish % overscan,
which means that rescaling is going on, even on native 1920 x 1080
broadcasts.

True, but as with Roger, my Sony will let me set it to exact pixel
mapping.

--
SteveT