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HDMI to an older receiver options.

Carbsandcaps

Carbsandcaps

Super Member
I’m taking a chance on a pioneer vsx-99 for my surround sound setup. I’m currently using a newer marantz so hdmi hookup is not a problem however the pioneer is from 1995 so my options are limited. Not even a toslink connection. I had a Yamaha receiver that the hdmi pass through wasn’t working so I have a hdmi to rca adapter but how does rca do with 5.1 surround sound? Anyone have any opinions on hdmi conversions?
 
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There are HDMI to analog RCA 5.1 adapters, but the problem is that your Pioneer does not have any 5.1 analog inputs, only two channel inputs. It's a Prologic receiver, so this isn't unexpected, and it's why it doesn't have any digital inputs either, since Prologic was an analog format. This would be fine as a two-channel receiver (or even 2.1, since it does have a subwoofer output), but for surround I'd say you're out of luck.
 
swechsler said:
There are HDMI to analog RCA 5.1 adapters, but the problem is that your Pioneer does not have any 5.1 analog inputs, only two channel inputs. It's a Prologic receiver, so this isn't unexpected, and it's why it doesn't have any digital inputs either, since Prologic was an analog format. This would be fine as a two-channel receiver (or even 2.1, since it does have a subwoofer output), but for surround I'd say you're out of luck.
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So pro logic is just like a simulated surround sound right?
 
 
Carbsandcaps said:
Interesting read! Simple and to the point. It does have an ac-3 input I wonder if I can use that for 5.1
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Probably not. Dolby Digital and DTS were the first mass marketed codecs to decode a 5.1 signal. If these to codecs aren't present in the AVR's firmware, then it won't be able to process them.
 
The AC-3 input is an RF input, designed to accept the RF-modulated digital audio output of a laserdisc player. AC-3 was the original name of Dolby Digital surround (5.1), and the manual does make mention (P 14) of being able to process Dolby Surround AC-3, even though it only says ProLogic on the front panel. However, getting the signal into a form acceptable to the receiver may be impossible. There were adapters to convert the AC-3 RF signal into S/PDIF, but I'm not aware of any to go in the opposite direction.

ETA: upon closer inspection, the left hand AC-3 input is labeled "Digital", so it's possible that it may be able to process a co-ax S/PDIF Dolby Digital signal. Optical S/PDIF can be converted to co-ax fairly easily with an inexpensive adapter, or there may be HDMI audio extractors with DD 5.1 on co-ax.
ETA2: here's one
 
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swechsler said:
The AC-3 input is an RF input, designed to accept the RF-modulated digital audio output of a laserdisc player. AC-3 was the original name of Dolby Digital surround (5.1), and the manual does make mention (P 14) of being able to process Dolby Surround AC-3, even though it only says ProLogic on the front panel. However, getting the signal into a form acceptable to the receiver may be impossible. There were adapters to convert the AC-3 RF signal into S/PDIF, but I'm not aware of any to go in the opposite direction.

ETA: upon closer inspection, the left hand AC-3 input is labeled "Digital", so it's possible that it may be able to process a co-ax S/PDIF Dolby Digital signal. Optical S/PDIF can be converted to co-ax fairly easily with an inexpensive adapter, or there may be HDMI audio extractors with DD 5.1 on co-ax.
ETA2: here's one
Click to expand...

Awesome. Thank you very much. I was looking at some converters with coax outputs but I don’t know which one might be the right signal. Especially with big warming not to put an analog signal into the ac3 inputs.
 
Well I got the receiver up and running using an hdmi to 2 channel converter. Even with just dolby it sounds great. But I got what is supposed to be an hdmi to ac3 adapter and I’ve got nothing on either the ld or tv/sat input. I’m using a regular shielded rca cable. I have no audio whatsoever when the ac3 button is pushed. It does output to 2 channel. like to see this work maybe it’s something in the instructions? Any ideas are welcome. IMG_3965.jpegIMG_3966.jpegIMG_3967.jpegIMG_3969.jpeg
 
The audio extractor will not downconvert the digital output, so you may need to change the output format (on whatever device is sending the audio) to a compatible format (try Dolby Digital if it's available). If you are using ARC, you may not be able to change it on the TV. However, if it has a passthrough mode, you can try using that, and then changing the format to Dolby Digital on your other devices. PCM might also work, but will only give you stereo, not surround. Remember that this is a very early implementation of DD, so it's going to be very finicky on what signals it will work with.
 
swechsler said:
The audio extractor will not downconvert the digital output, so you may need to change the output format (on whatever device is sending the audio) to a compatible format (try Dolby Digital if it's available). If you are using ARC, you may not be able to change it on the TV. However, if it has a passthrough mode, you can try using that, and then changing the format to Dolby Digital on your other devices. PCM might also work, but will only give you stereo, not surround. Remember that this is a very early implementation of DD, so it's going to be very finicky on what signals it will work with.
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Ya that’s what I was thinking. All my stuff is old so I don’t use arc. I’m using a cheap rca tuner connected to an antenna but it does play surround on my marantz at-5008 through the hdmi. I’ll see what options are in the tuner
 
I’m assuming the coaxial output should be sending some kind of 5.1 signal out right? I can try a toslink to coaxial adapter next
 
If you're using a TV tuner, that should already send Dolby Digital, since DD is the native audio signal type for broadcast TV in the US. Have you tried 2 channel mode on the adapter (through digital, not the analog connectors)? Again, not sure if that will work properly with the Pioneer, but it's worth a shot. You can also try setting PCM for the audio output on the TV tuner (again, not sure if that will work). Is there any light on the HDMI adapter to indicate what sort of audio signal it's receiving and/or sending out?
 
One other thing you can do is to connect the optical output of the adapter to a digital input on the Marantz. If you get no sound there, the problem is most likely the adapter. If you do get sound, and the Marantz has a coax input as well, your next step should be to try that. If that works then there's something wrong with the Pioneer (and again, I wouldn't rule out simple incompatibility since it's so old).
 
Check the setup on the receiver. I'm not familiar with yours, but my Onkyo and Sony receivers needed their input settings changed to match the signal i was feeding them . . .
 
Ok thanks guys I’ll tray that when I get home I’ve tried most combinations. 2 channel works fine and when I set it to Dolby it works and I can hear 5 channels but that’s just simulated right? Not true 5.1
 
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