Soundbar needs ARC or Toslink, TV only does 2.0 audio over Toslink

[raymondmichiels]

My new KEF V700 soundbar needs audio either via HDMI ARC or Toslink. My old(-ish) Sony KDL 46W4000 doesn't have ARC and Toslink only seems to work when outputting 2.0 audio. All (cable TV) channels that carry 2.1 audio result in a 100% silent soundbar.

1) Why doesn't my TV output the "2" from the 2.1 audio over the Toslink cable?
2) Can I use a converter (which one?) to convert audio from the stereo RCA connectors to Toslink to get audio to the soundbar?

Any help would be much appreciated!

 

[americanaudiophile]

There are two possible settings on the optical audio out - Dolby Digital or PCM
Try the other one.
Here is a link to the manual
http/pdf.crse.com/manuals/3298243431.pdf
You could use an ADD converter
https/www.amazon.com/SANOXY-Analog-Digital-Converter-Adapter/dp/B005F20756?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0
to convert the analog out of the TV to digital. This does add redundant processing as the soundbar will then convert it to analog again. A soundbar with analog input would do the trick too if you could exchange the KEF.

 

[raymondmichiels]

There are two possible settings on the optical audio out - Dolby Digital or PCM
Try the other one.

Now I'm feeling a bit silly as I had already gone over the manual myself and had not detected this setting. Works like a charm, thanks!

But now that this works (Yay!) the volume controls via HDMI-CEC no longer seem to work. The soundbar is stuck in a loud(-ish) setting and whenever I want to use the TV controls my SONY only says "TV volume is fixed". I would guess that the TV hasn't found/seen the KEF and doesn't know where to send the volume controls to.

SONY's "Bravia Sync" (it's really HDMI-CEC) has an option to scan for HDMI devices but after 10 minutes or so it's still "scanning for devices - none found" (or something of that sort). Earlier when things worked OK I don't recall seeing the KEF appear in the HDMI device list although I may have missed that.

Does it matter which HDMI port I use to connect my KEF? This has worked earlier (a few days ago), but turning both device off for a serious amount of time, turning them on in different order, etc, etc. has not been very successful.

Sorry to bother everybody with this...