Optical input to BDV

[abcatch]

I have a KDL-46NX703 with a BDV-E870 and SkyHD box

The problem is that I can't automatically switch the audio input to the BDV between the Optical input (Sky) and the TV HMDI input.

By configuraing the BDV-E870 set-up I can switch the HMDI Audio Return channel to "OFF" or "AUTO"

• In "OFF" mode the BDV uses the Optical input from Sky and I get the Dolby Digital (DD) output (5.1 speakers)
  
• In "AUTO"  mode the BDV uses the TV HDMI signal from the TV and I only get a PCM stereo output (2.1 speakers) and I can't then get Dolby Digital.
  

The problem in "OFF" is that I can't override the Optical (DD) input if I want to use the TV features such as Internet content and stream music. The Optical is used and I only get the Sky audio channel.

There should be a way for the BDV to either automatically or manually switch between (i) the Optical input or (ii) the HDMI (TV) channel

Any suggestions??

[specialist-convergence]

Hi this is a common issue when Sky is involved, the main problem is the send audio down both connects all the time, so via HDMI you get PCM and optical you get DD, in an ideal world it would be the reverse and then the TV would work correctly, unfortunate;y there us no fix, until Sky make a box that has all the correct HDMI signals and settings.  it will always confuse what is meant to be a simplified system.

[abcatch]

Thank you for your response however I believe that your diagnosis is incorrect for a number of reasons:

1. If the BDV is set to “OFF” then the BDV won’t use the HDMI Audio Return channel which is as expected. Therefore the TV HDMI Audio Return Channel can only be output by the BDV if it is set to “AUTO” i.e. to use HDMI Audio Return Channel
   
2. You state that the Sky box sends audio on both outputs i.e. HDMI and Optical. What is the “reverse” scenario that you think Sky should do and how would stopping either audio signal help? I need the Optical signal for DD so I can only conclude you mean that Sky should disable the HDMI audio channel.  However, pulling out the SKY HDMI cable doesn’t make the TV or BDV do anything different and it still locked on to the Sky Optical signal.
   
3. The BDV is an “AUTO” selection which implies that the BDV should be selecting the correct audio input e.g. Optical or HDMI Audio Return Channel. Clearly this is not happening and is therefore a Sony problem.
   
4. If the Optical signal is disconnected then the BDV should automatically switch back to the HDMI input but it doesn’t. This implies that there is nothing automatic about the “AUTO” mode and again points to a Sony problem.
   

Possible ways for Sony to resolve this incompatibility are:

1. If Optical signal is switched off then the BDV could automatically switch to HDMI Audio Return Channel
   
2. Allow user to manually select the correct BDV audio/video input e.g. (i) TV & Optical, or (ii) TV & HDMI Audio
   
3. For Sony HDMI control channel to identify that TV is in TV mode and to only use the HDMI Audio Return Channel (possibly using a Sony HDMI control command)
   
4. Allow HDMI Audio Return Channel (on/off) for each TV input (TV, HDMI 1-4, AV etc)
   

This in-compatibility between state-of-the-art Sony devices and a standard Sky box is not acceptable.

I look forward to your response.