Optimus analog receiver to Xbox one and Samsung Smart TV

[WizardKing]

Okay, I'll put the model numbers/devices before anything else:

Samsung 40" Class 1080p Smart LED LCD TV UN40J520DAFXZA
Xbox One
Optimus AV Surround Receiver STAV-3280/3350


So, basically what I'm trying to accomplish is integrating my analog receiver with my Xbox One and TV. It's just a two-channel setup (forgive me, I'm not the most tech savvy person but I believe that's how you describe a two speaker setup). From what I understand from my preliminary google searches, the converters don't do the 5.1 surround setups, which is fine since I'm not trying to do that. I've had the receiver for years and it's a pretty good one for that time so I'd like to avoid getting a newer one that has the HDMI ports.

From what I've gathered so far, there are some converters out there I can use for this sort of scenario- but I'd like to see if someone can give me a direct, "Get this particular converter for your situation, and get these cables in order to hook everything up" answer, and maybe some reasoning behind it too so I can learn. There don't seem to be many YouTube videos out there that describe my particular situation- there was one that seemed pretty similar, where the guy used a converter that had HMDI output from the TV to the converter, the gaming device also had an HDMI cable going into the converter HDMI input, then the receiver RCA also went into the converter and I guess the concept is that the gaming device is sending the audio through the converter and it goes to the TV but the converter sort of "extracts" the analog audio and sends that to the receiver as well. Let me know if this makes sense.


Thanks everybody!

 

[americanaudiophile]

Specs on your TV show that it has two audio outputs.
http/www.samsung.com/us/televisions-home-theater/tvs/full-hd-tvs/led-j520d-series-smart-tv-40-class-40-diag-un40j520dafxza/#specs
It seems to have an analog audio out (3.5mm stereo min jack). To use it you need a cable with a 3.5mm stereo mini plug at the TV end and 2 RCA plugs at the receiver end. No DAC needed.
https/www.walmart.com/ip/22800206?wmlspartner=wlpa&adid=22222222227017271850&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=40880734352&wl4=pla-78810081032&wl5=9004455&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=22800206&wl13=&veh=sem
Here's how you turn off the TV speakers.
http/www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS00045194/#!detail/sound_quality/selecting_speakers
Check if it requires you to turn the analog audio output on and whether it gives you a choice of variable (TV remote will adjust volume) or fixed (volume control of the receiver controls volume). This should work fine for you. No advantage to the other option.
The toslink digital audio out will require the use of a DAC like this one
http/www.parts-express.com/parts-express-dac-digital-to-analog-converter-(51-compatible)--180-999
plus a toslink cable
http/www.parts-express.com/toslink-digital-optical-audio-cable-6-ft--180-942
and standard RCA stereo audio cable.
http/www.parts-express.com/rca-patch-cable-3-ft-gold-plated--240-025
You may have to turn the optical out on and turn the TV speakers off in the audio menu of the TV. With some DACs you will need to set the TV audio output type too.

 

[WizardKing]

Specs on your TV show that it has two audio outputs.
http/www.samsung.com/us/televisions-home-theater/tvs/full-hd-tvs/led-j520d-series-smart-tv-40-class-40-diag-un40j520dafxza/#specs
It seems to have an analog audio out (3.5mm stereo min jack). To use it you need a cable with a 3.5mm stereo mini plug at the TV end and 2 RCA plugs at the receiver end. No DAC needed.
https/www.walmart.com/ip/22800206?wmlspartner=wlpa&adid=22222222227017271850&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=40880734352&wl4=pla-78810081032&wl5=9004455&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=22800206&wl13=&veh=sem
Here's how you turn off the TV speakers.
http/www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS00045194/#!detail/sound_quality/selecting_speakers
Check if it requires you to turn the analog audio output on and whether it gives you a choice of variable (TV remote will adjust volume) or fixed (volume control of the receiver controls volume). This should work fine for you. No advantage to the other option.
The toslink digital audio out will require the use of a DAC like this one
http/www.parts-express.com/parts-express-dac-digital-to-analog-converter-(51-compatible)--180-999
plus a toslink cable
http/www.parts-express.com/toslink-digital-optical-audio-cable-6-ft--180-942
and standard RCA stereo audio cable.
http/www.parts-express.com/rca-patch-cable-3-ft-gold-plated--240-025
You may have to turn the optical out on and turn the TV speakers off in the audio menu of the TV. With some DACs you will need to set the TV audio output type too.

Excellent, thank you for this detailed response. One more question: is there any particular advantage in terms of sound quality between using the audio out jack or the digital audio out? I would imagine the digital is "better" but I don't know.

 

[americanaudiophile]

If you purchased an expensive DAC then maybe you might hear a small difference but I doubt it. Use the analog connection.

 

[WizardKing]

If you purchased an expensive DAC then maybe you might hear a small difference but I doubt it. Use the analog connection.

Sweet, this is what I needed to hear- thanks again!