I would like to plug the WDTV Live directly into my receiver via HDMI cable and was wondering if I can listen to “digital bistream output” in the WDTV LIve menu by just using the HDMI Cable. or do I have to use the TOSLink output using an optical cable/connection to the receiver as well?
No, you can send digital audio via the HDMI cable.
ok thanks i just wanted to make sure bcuz i couldn’t hear anything when it was directly plugged into my led tv. so as long as the hdmi cable is connected to the receiver i can pass that digital audio? what kind of special hdmi cable do i need to do that? 1.3? 1.4a?
1.3 will suffice and works diretly plugged into an LED TV as long as it supports the audio format you’re playing or is set to stereo.
the tv supports the audio format (dts 5.1 and ac3 5.1). if i set the audio to “Stereo” in the WD Live menu the audio plays with the HDMI directlly plugge din the TV. but if I chnage the audio to “bitstream” which i assume is to pass the 5.1 digital audio, i do not hear anything on the TV. so you’re telling me if i plug 1.3 hdmi cable or higher directly to receiver, the sound will play out to the speakers? I don’t need to use the optical output? why is it there for then?
If your TV supports DTS 5.1 and AC3 5.1 via HDMI, then setting the WDTV to Bitstream should still work.
What brand and model TV do you have?
The optical is there for people who DON’T have compatible HDMI receivers.
Samsung UN46EH6070.
How would I be able to get digital 5.1 from the WDTV Live HD Media Player? connected to A/V receiver via only HDMI or only Optical?
Is it true that on the WDTV Live HD Media Player, only optical can produce digital 5.1 while only HDMI produces either analog and digital 2.1, assuming in all cases where digital sound is being produced that “Bitstream” is enabled/selected in the WDTV Live Audio settings menu?
The UN46EH6070 does NOT support DTS except for files that it is playing itself, as far as I can tell from the manual.
Yes, you will need to connect the WDTV directly to your receiver. Either HDMI or Optical will work for DTS.
Is it true that on the WDTV Live HD Media Player, only optical can produce digital 5.1
while only HDMI produces either analog and digital 2.1
No, that’s not true at all.
