PCM output on OPTICAL OUTPUT 42PFL7606K

[tiomiguel]

I have to know if I can adjust digital format in DIGITAL OUT in this TV, because I have an stereo amplifer with digital inputs that only want PCM 2CH sound.

Most TV let choose 2CH output or MULTICHANNEL output for OPTICAL OUTPUT, and I want to know if 42PFL7606K digital output is ALWAYS PCM 2 CH (perfect for me), DOLBY DIGITAL always, original format always or I CAN CHOOSE OUTPUT.

Most brand TV,s LET CHOOSE THIS PARAMETER (PCM, dolby digital). for digital output.... as this model does NOT HAVE analogue audio output (CINCH) if my amplifier DOES NOT ACCEPT mutichannel digital input... ¿how can I connect it???

¿A FIRMWARE UPGRADE CAN LET CHOOSE THIS PARAMETER???

[xMen]

You can use output on Scart and output on headphones.
Regards.

[tiomiguel]

OK but I think It is better using top class DAC,s included in my HARMAN KARDON HK990 than using analogue audio out from the SCART or, perhaps even worse, HEADPHONES OUTPUT.

Almos all TV,s let choose format in digital output... ¿ANY FIRMWARE in this TV allow this?

[hansje]

via configuration menu,you can goto installation.
there you can select language
here you will aslso find preferred audio format.
advanced = digital dolby (if available)
standard = pcm

this is the place where you can select the preferred setting.

kind regards
hans

[tiomiguel]

¿are you sure that this FIXES digital OUTPUT to PCM?????

I need to know it before connecting the TV.

Thank you

[tiomiguel]

I have TV at home and... I am not able:

- select PCM format in SPDIF output (mi amp only wants PCM)

- Extract audio from SCART

- No audio out (cinch) provided

- I have to use headphones jack for extracting audio to my amp... very very bad...

- by the way, the menus are very confused...

I decided contact with PHILIPS, because this SPDIF fault affects to all series, and I think they can loose buyers... I think a firmware upgrade can solve this, for me and for all series... they said they are going to study the situation

I have a new 42PFL7606K/02 connected to a high-end audio system with a HK990 stereo amplifuer with digital inputs, but inputs accepts only PCM.
42PFL7606K/02 outputs dolby digital signal and I hear a horrible noise... the TV does NOT PROVIDE ANALOG sound output (RCA output). I have probed with abalog audio output inthe SCART bur no sound...
Other TV,s I had allowed to select PCM for SPDIF output... please, this is a firmware question. I can not understand why this TV does not allow choose PCM in the output, because thera are many devices incmpatible with multicanal digital outputs...if TV does not have analog outputs, and the output in the SCART is not avaible... I will have to RETURN THE TV.... please, give me a solution... this is a simple firmware question.
thank you.

let see what happens...

[petasis]

I am not sure I understand your problem.

The SPDIF output is a pass-through one (in all TVs). It outputs what it is fed, and supported by TV.

Then, your SPDIF equipment will not break if you give it something it will not understand (like DD). Actually, SPDIF will give you two formats: PCM and DD.
If you don't want DD, just configure the source to not give DD to the TV.

If you want analog, there is the headphones output. What is wrong with that?

[tiomiguel]

The SPDIF output is a pass-through one (in all TVs). It outputs what it is fed, and supported by TV. THIS IS NOT TRUE. All brands let choose output format (like any DVD player . BLU RAY etc.) every system with digital output lets choose digital format

All TV from SAMSUNG, LG etc let choose PCM or DD in digital outputs... if PHILIPS does not, people like me will not buy this, and will go to other brands.

SPDIF can not be pass-through because many amps do not accept DD, and this TV DOES NOT provide analog audio OUTPUT...

Now this world is very competitive. LCD panels are made by few brands... differences are now in implementation software...
if LG makes LCD panel, PHILIPS uses LG panel, and if software implementation is worse than LG... LG LETS choose between PCM and DD

Better software implementation and panel made by them ¿why choose PHILIPS? Perhaps because they are going to solve this problem inmediatly... they have this problem in ALL MODELS...

HEADPHONE output is NOT the way to extract sound from the TV for a high-end audio system.

[tiomiguel]

I have contacted with PHILIPS SERVICE for trying to solve PCM issue, but they said that CHOOSING BETWEEN PCM and DD for SPDIF output WILL NOT BE ENABLED... very good.

[matthias]

I think, there is a misunderstanding between Philips support and you.
Maybe, if you talk to them again, give them a pointer to here ;-)

Philips DOES support PCM output, but it's hidden behind an unclear menu entry:

You set the default audio in the following way:
In "Configuration"
-> "Channel settings
-> "Languages"
-> "Preferred Audioformat" (at the bottom)
-> select "Standard" for PCM or "Extended" for DD/AC3/..

Please understand this has nothing to do with conversion - this just defines which audio stream will be selected by default.

You can also select it while you are watching the program. Select the channel, then say "Options" -> "Audio/Language"
Then you get a list of available sound sources. I bet, it's set to DD. Just select the audio channel above and it should work.

Please try to understand how it works:

• The available sound formats are only determined by the source. Neither Samsung nor PHilips will do any re-coding.
• Analog audio input (e.g. from analog channels) will be encoded and output through SPDIF as PCM
• On your DVD/Blueray player (the "source"), you can only select DD or PCM if it is available on the DVD. If you have DVD with only PCM, the setting "DD" will not create a DD signal and vice versa.
  This is the reason why there are usually two or more audio tracks on your DVD.
• The same applies for the (digital) TV channels.
• ONLY the player will select which one it will play (in case of broadcast, it's the TV), and it can ONLY select from the available formats

Concerning your noise: This sounds like a broken cable or bad connection. Make sure your fibre is not damaged.

PS: I'm using headphones output from the TV, and the sound is fine for me. The levels can be set in the configuration and it will not switch off the internal speakers.

Maybe Philips should just change the label from "Headphones" to "Headphones / Line out" ;-)

[tiomiguel]

thank you, matthias, but other brands like SAMSUNG REENCODE signal to PCM. The setting you indicate, allows choose between stabdard (PCM) or DD (advanced)... if both are avaible from the source, I can choose PCM, but if ONLY DD is avaible, It goes to the output... in other brands, if you specify PCM format for the output, DD is reencoded to PCM and then goes to the SPDIF output... This is right in SAMSUMG, LG etc.

I know that AV systems accept DD and PCM signals, but, for example, my HARMAN KARDON HK990 only accepts PCM signal

Of course, I can extract audio signal from the headphones output, but quality is worse tahn tje SPDIF one (I have proved)

I am a littel sad with this TV: Menus are crazy, and this issue with PCM... this is a cery competitive world, and these thingas put the diffreences between brands... PHILPS is loosing market quote in favour of KOREAN BRANDS... they will know why...

[matthias]

thank you, matthias, but other brands like SAMSUNG REENCODE signal to PCM.

Interesting. I read somewhere that people had similar problems with DTS on one of the (lower or medium end) Samsungs, and it was explained in that way. But maybe Samsung updated this in the meantime.

I guess it's a matter of how much we are willing to pay extra of that seemingly increadibly expensive DTS license... I agree it would be really cool not having to reencode anything, but I wouldn't want to pay 50€ extra just for that on a TV that costs 600€ without, because it's not important for me. But heh - I don't want to claim being the "broad market" ;-)

The menues are another story, but actually, after having the 5405 for almost a year, I got quite accustomed to these type of menues.. Don't know if that's good or bad, but I don't find it annoying any more ;-)

[tiomiguel]

the worst of all is tthat hardware is capable to reencode and output PCM if desired of choosed, but it has to be IMPLEMENTED, and PHILIPS says this question is NOT IMPORTANT... I think everything is important....

[Toengel]

Hi,

maybe the hardware is able to recode the audio stream, however, there are many more algorithms running during watching TV and I think then the power is limited.

But maybe you should use the internal speaker or the headphone out, because you won't have an other options...

Toengel@Alex

[matthias]

for me, a stable system is more important than features, so before having DTS support, I'd like to have FW version where apps don't crash when under heavy use.

Still, you could try to find a standalone DD/DTS decoder box which also has stereo SPDIF output. Or if you're the DIY guy, find an embedded system with two digital in- and output ports and build it yourself ;-)