Sound bar question

[Ohemgee]

Considering buying a sound bar for my room and my TV already maxed out the HDMI slots (apple tv, ps3, directv) with one SPDIF spot.

How does SPIDF work? Because its not using an HDMI spot as a switch (plug ps3 in to soundbar, then soundbar in to tv), does SPIDF work on all HDMI channels when its on?

[Isiolia]

SPDIF is just a digital sound connection, so it's an input or an output. Most TVs I've seen have an SPDIF out so that they can pipe digital surround sound from the tuner to a receiver or whatnot. In that case it puts out whatever the TV's speakers are (or would be) playing - note that Blu-ray audio will get downmixed to two-channel due to SPDIF not being in the HDCP loop.

Going the other way around, you wouldn't use SPDIF to connect to the TV. If the sound bar you're looking at has HDMI in, then you'd need to use HDMI-out to carry video to the TV.

[Ohemgee]

So in the case that it has both SPIDF and HDMI, with all three HDMI ports being use. I can't connect SPIDF to the sound bar to play sound from the TV speakers to the sound bar?

[Isiolia]

So in the case that it has both SPIDF and HDMI, with all three HDMI ports being use. I can't connect SPIDF to the sound bar to play sound from the TV speakers to the sound bar?

You would in that case.

For example (which is what I think you're asking): Your TV has three HDMI inputs, and a SPDIF out. You have three devices connected to it via HDMI. The SPDIF connection can be connected to a sound bar with a compatible input to use in lieu of (or in addition to) the internal speakers.

Note that SPDIF has two main types of connectors: coaxial (RCA jack basically), or optical. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S/PDIF You may need to double check to make sure the output on your TV and the input on the bar are the same type.


What I wasn't clear on is if you were asking about a sound bar that had HDMI on it as well. I'm not too familiar with the market for those, since they aren't something I'd buy, but some of them do seem to include DVD players and the like. But, on rereading, I guess you were saying that the soundbar -wasn't- coming between your PS3 and the TV (for example).

[Ohemgee]

Right. Now its just a matter of finding a compatible sound bar. I see most sound bars are 2.1 with a subwoofer. I'll have to go to Best Buy or HHGregg to see what they have on sale.