Topic: Switch sound over TV and soundbar

So I'm in the market for a new audio system. Since I know some of the regulars here know quite a lot about it, I though it'd be good to share my ideas here to make sure that what I want will work properly.

I'm looking to buy an active soundbar with a dedicated sub (currently looking at Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400 with an extra MC 20 for the kitchen, for those of you who are really into this).

Current setup:

• Nintendo Switch, STB and PS4 connected with HDMI to my Samsung TV (UE48H6640SL)
• Samsung TV connected with Optical to my Pioneer receiver (VSX-D714)
• Technics turntable connected through a pre-amplifier and RCA cables to my Pioneer receiver
• ChromeCast audio connected with Aux to my Pioneer receiver

New setup:

• Nintendo Switch, STB and PS4 connected with HDMI to my Samsung TV (UE48H6640SL)
• Samsung TV connected with HDMI-ARC to new soundbar
• Technics turntable connected through a pre-amplifier to new soundbar (probably by using aux; the BAR 400 doesn't seem to have RCA in)
• ChromeCast probably no longer needed

I believe my TV supports all required protocols and codecs and so will the new soundbar. Is there anything I need to take into account? Anything that might not work for some reason? I wouldn't mind if I'd be unable to fully enjoy all surround possibilities, as long as the audio works properly for all devices. I've read about some issues here with Switch and audio setups.

Thanks in advance and let me know if I need to further clarify anything.

That sounds quite awesome. I've been tempted to get a set up like that going myself but I don't know nearly enough to do it. There are so many options out there. But I am guessing that in your opinion, the investment would be worth it?

I don't know too much, but I have Vizio's 5.1 soundbar. My setup is a tad different since my TV (stil 1080p, though, lol) is quite old and limited with options. Just know that if you want to use surround sound, you HAVE to use HDMI directly to the speaker system. Everything works for me, though the only game I have that uses surround sound is Monster Hunter.

Yep, this was the only point I was going to make. Though HDMI ARC and optical are functionally the same in this regard so its no difference to your current setup. Neither can do PCM 5.1 which is what the Switch outputs. Both only do DTS or DD compressed 5.1.

One of the reasons why even modern receivers still have a bunch of HDMI inputs.

Wait, what do you mean by HDMI ARC and Optical are the same? The whole ARC thing in general is confusing, but my TV doesn't have it so I'm just using an HDMI splitter and outputting the Switch to both the soundbar and TV at the same time. lol

@Heavyarms55 yeah I've been working with a 2.0 set with reasonable speakers, but the surround experience is practically non-existent. At that time though, 1) soundbars in the mid-tier segment weren't very good for music and 2) I hardly had any money but I did have a decent A/V-receiver now seems to be a good time to invest in that. My TV (although not UHD) is not really up for replacement and I'm not planning on moving or rebuilding my living room anytime soon, so I figured 'why not'?

@Joeynator3000 @skywake yeah that's what I figured too. Hopefully it works with HDMI ARC; digital audio would be my backup. @skywake do you happen to know how I can get the PCM 5.1 signal to my soundbar? Probably nearly impossible in most setups right? I do think that that is the thing I heard about before and the reason why I was worrying, so thanks for pointing it out

Put simply they support largely the same audio formats. Either stereo PCM or compressed surround formats. HDMI ARC was introduced specifically to allow the HDMI cable between your TV and receiver to pass the sound from your TV. Literally as an alternative solution to using an optical cable.

There are only two slightly more complicated things about it vs using an optical cable. Firstly it's an Audio RETURN Channel, as in it's the audio sending in the other direction. So HDMI supports higher bandwidth audio in one direction and not necessarily the other way. Which brings me to the other complication, eARC. New with HDMI 2.1 you can now push higher spec audio back the other way... if your gear supports it which currently it won't.

For a soundbar it's not really needed anyway because a soundbar is at most 3.1 not 5.1. But in general if you want to do higher bitrate formats like non-stereo PCM, Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, DTS HD then you can't use HDMI ARC or Optical. For those formats you need the full bandwidth of the non-return Audio on HDMI. Which is why surround sound recievers have multiple HDMI inputs...

@skywake ok thanks. So to clarify: what would my end result be in terms of quality and output formats in the target setup I proposed in my opening post?

This thread is giving me a headache. xD

@Joeynator3000 Erm... Why's that?

I think it’s because of the technical wumbo and jargon.

@GyroZeppeli hehe I was sitting here assuming I was a noob on this matter.

Yeah I don't know much about HDMI ARC or how all of the stuff really works. xD

@toiletduck
Unless you're adding surrounds youll be fine. Despite the marketing soundbars are still stereo

....my soundbar is surround sound....o.o

@skywake thanks, that won't be a problem. I may add rear speakers in the future, but I'll accept that that won't provide me with surround sound for my switch.

@Joeynator3000 if you don't use any rear speakers it's probably some kind of 'virtual' surround sound, but not actual 5.1 or anything like that.

It's actual surround sound, so...yeah.

They may push the rear channels to different speakers but it's not surround unless there are speakers behind you

@Joeynator3000 @skywake Anyway, let's not debate whether or not Joey has actual surround sound, that's not the objective of this dialogue

I know for a fact that I won't be buying surround sound for now, but it's good to know that the soundbar is able to mix it when I decide to add two rear speakers in the future. It's unfortunate though that I won't be able to get the PCM signal through and that Switch doesn't support any other format.

....They are behind me. -.-
5.1 sound bars exist, just admit it....geez.