Home Theater experts Please help 😬

[Jxdawg]

Recently inherited some old (About 10 years old) home theater equipment. I know it is ancient according to the tech industry. But compared to our old set up it is a huge boost.

The only issue is, as the set up is so old, it is no longer supported. Hence why I am here to call on all you home theater experts.

Here is the current set up:

Samsung HT-Z512 5.1 surround sound audio system (Prologic II)

Insignia NSL47Q09 55” LCD.

Here is my problem: no matter what I try, there is an audio delay between the TV and the speakers. Probably about 10-15ms. AV-SYNC was set at 150ms until I set it to 0. And that helped, but still a bit of a delay left.

I have the TV hooked up by an analog connection currently.

I tried resetting both the TV and the sound system. I turned off all extra settings (Tru Surround, PCM verses RAW). I even reset the screen settings to ensure it was anything to do with that.

Any advice from the general form what other avenues I can attempt to troubleshoot?

 

[D.T.]

What is your source? (or sources?)

It looks like it doesn't have HDMI in?

 

[velocityg4]

Try hooking up the TV via HDMI. Then run the optical audio (TOSLINK) from the TV to the stereo.

There is sometimes a delay in processing digital connections vs analog. Using a digital video and audio connection may end that problem for you.

 

[Jxdawg]

Try hooking up the TV via HDMI. Then run the optical audio (TOSLINK) from the TV to the stereo.

There is sometimes a delay in processing digital connections vs analog. Using a digital video and audio connection may end that problem for you.

I was suspicious this may be the cause. Only issue is, when I connect the TV to the sound system via TOSLINK, I get no sound.

What is your source? (or sources?)

It looks like it doesn't have HDMI in?

It does have 4 HDMI ports. I’m using Chromecast and a lighting to HDMI connector for my iphone (to watch Apple TV+ content)

 

[velocityg4]

I was suspicious this may be the cause. Only issue is, when I connect the TV to the sound system via TOSLINK, I get no sound.




It does have 4 HDMI ports. I’m using Chromecast and a lighting to HDMI connector for my iphone (to watch Apple TV+ content)

Probably a setting on the TV for audio output or stereo for input. I know my Sony has options for Optical, Coax and Analog on a few sources and you have to choose the right one. So, play with the settings until you get audio.

 

[jerwin]

Turn SRS (in your TV's audio menu) to off?

 

[D.T.]

It does have 4 HDMI ports. I’m using Chromecast and a lighting to HDMI connector for my iphone (to watch Apple TV+ content)

The TV, right? So you've got your source feed connected to the TV, then the TV "out" into the AV amp/speakers.

[If that's the case], the latency may be between the decoder/HDMI in, and the output, I'm assuming if you use the native TV audio, there's no issues.

I'm a software engineer, so I like to debug backwards

 

[Jxdawg]

The TV, right? So you've got your source feed connected to the TV, then the TV "out" into the AV amp/speakers.

[If that's the case], the latency may be between the decoder/HDMI in, and the output, I'm assuming if you use the native TV audio, there's no issues.

I'm a software engineer, so I like to debug backwards

Haha however you debug, be my guest!

Yes I have the Chromecast (or the HDMI to Lightning) hooked you the the TV’s HDMI port and the TV audio out connected to the speakers. And yes, when using the TV speakers, there are no issues.

 

[D.T.]

Haha however you debug, be my guest!

Yes I have the Chromecast (or the HDMI to Lightning) hooked you the the TV’s HDMI port and the TV audio out connected to the speakers. And yes, when using the TV speakers, there are no issues.

OK, now I get how you're hooked up, so it's latency from the digital audio in (via the Chromecast/HDMI), to the analog output [on the TV] then to the [input] on the Samsung / [out] to speakers.

 

[D.T.]

OK, and this is these are the ports on the Samsung:

So you're using the AUX 2 analog in from the TV, and the only other input is the TOSLINK, and you said, you're not getting digital audio out from the TV. You've checked all the output options in the TV menu? I'd definitely root around in the menus (like someone mentioned above), maybe see if there's an HDMI setting for the audio.

If it's not working, it's like the HDMI port is passing the audio to the DAC in the TV, and losing the digital signal (like it's not "re-converting" it for TOS output).

If you're having that issue, you could maybe use something like this:

J-Tech Digital Premium Quality 1080P HDMI to HDMI + Audio (SPDIF + RCA Stereo) Audio Extractor Converter (JTDAT5CH)

p>This device extracts the digital audio signal from the HDMI input and converts it to 2 channel analog stereo output or 5.1 channel Audio outputs.

www.amazon.com

It's extracts the digital audio out via optical, and passes the HDMI signal through, so it would be like:

Chromecast >> HDMI Box >> TV

and

HDMI Box >> TOSLINK >> Samsung

 

[Jxdawg]

Okay update:

Good news is I got the the TOSLINK connection to work.

Bad news is that even with messing around with the audio settings (playing on stereo, turning on PCM etc) the delay is still there ☹️

I was casting a YouTube AV SYNC test and it it literally just about 5 ms slow. So close that my wife doesn’t notice. But to me, it is very clear.

 

[D.T.]

Sounds like an issue with the TV, I think I'd try one of those boxes like I linked above, here's one for $19.95 and I'm seeing an 8% coupon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BYMJS51/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_a3TwFb7QP8GYG

It has both analog and digital (TOSLINK) out.

 

[Jxdawg]

Sounds like an issue with the TV, I think I'd try one of those boxes like I linked above, here's one for $19.95 and I'm seeing an 8% coupon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BYMJS51/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_a3TwFb7QP8GYG

It has both analog and digital (TOSLINK) out.

Okay so you’re thinking that somewhere along the line the TV’s components (whether audio or visual) are struggling to keep up with the audio production? This makes sense to me as the TV was originally debuted in 2010. I have a 2017 Samsung I may be able to use as a test?

 

[D.T.]

Okay so you’re thinking that somewhere along the line the TV’s components (whether audio or visual) are struggling to keep up with the audio production? This makes sense to me as the TV was originally debuted in 2010. I have a 2017 Samsung I may be able to use as a test?

Oh heck yeah, if you've got other equipment to setup a test, that's great! Same Chromecast, same AV system, test both the analog and digital out of the TV into the Audio gear, confirm latency, or lack of. If there's not, that's pretty indicative of the other TV, if there is, I suggest calling this women ...

 

[Jxdawg]

Oh heck yeah, if you've got other equipment to setup a test, that's great! Same Chromecast, same AV system, test both the analog and digital out of the TV into the Audio gear, confirm latency, or lack of. If there's not, that's pretty indicative of the other TV, if there is, I suggest calling this women ...

View attachment 951900

Tested on the Samsung. No latency! So I guess the HDMI audio extractor is the way to go. I’ll update once it arrives and I install. Thankfully I have prime so it shouldn’t be more than a day or two!

 

[D.T.]

Tested on the Samsung. No latency! So I guess the HDMI audio extractor is the way to go. I’ll update once it arrives and I install. Thankfully I have prime so it shouldn’t be more than a day or two!

Cool, yeah, just review those boxes, I don't think there's an appreciable difference between brands, but I'd get one that a 4.xx/5 with lots of reviews, the original J-Tech is a little more expensive by a few bucks, but 1000s of reviews, and I see there's a 5% coupon at Amazon (you "redeem" it in the product page).

Good Luck!

I mean, something like this you might not have any other use for, I'd just make sure to keep all the packaging, not tear the box, etc., and at worst case send it back.

 

[Jxdawg]

Cool, yeah, just review those boxes, I don't think there's an appreciable difference between brands, but I'd get one that a 4.xx/5 with lots of reviews, the original J-Tech is a little more expensive by a few bucks, but 1000s of reviews, and I see there's a 5% coupon at Amazon (you "redeem" it in the product page).

Good Luck!

I mean, something like this you might not have any other use for, I'd just make sure to keep all the packaging, not tear the box, etc., and at worst case send it back.

I went with the non J-Tech one. Got it hooked up and let me just say, I owe you a favor good sir! The HDMI audio extractor worked like a charm. Got the TV and sound system working PERFECTLY. Woohoo! “Test drove it” on a Mulan battle scene and I am very pleased!

 

[D.T.]

I went with the non J-Tech one. Got it hooked up and let me just say, I owe you a favor good sir! The HDMI audio extractor worked like a charm. Got the TV and sound system working PERFECTLY. Woohoo! “Test drove it” on a Mulan battle scene and I am very pleased!

Awesome! Hahaha, I love debugging things, and once you isolated with that test to the TV, I figured bypass that failure/issue point.