Trying to set up 5.1 surround sound to TV?

Luke_95

Commendable
Aug 23, 2016
2
0
1,510
I currently have some Logitech Z506 5.1 speakers,I currently have them connected via 3.5mm jack to my TV. As I understand this can only produce stereo through the single 3.5mm jack.
Is there an adaptor I can buy to convert the jack into optical? I have a jack to optical cable but it doesn't seem to work.

Secondly, I have an old (2002ish) Sony DAV-S550 at my parents house. The receiver has a SPDIF port, would connecting the Sony to my TV via optical support 5.1 surround sound for any device connected to the TV? And would that be a better solution rather than the Logitech set?

The main thing I want is to watch films on my Xbox One/Sky Q TV box with a surround sound system connected.

Thank you.
 
Solution
regardless of what you use as the source device, the z506 will get connected via three 3.5mm to rca cables.

now you have your choice of how you want to hook it up.. to the tv.. use an optical or arc capable model. to the sources.. i'd use hdmi models. you're likely to have less possible issues going source->box->tv than source->tv->box though but both solutions work.
the biggest question is if your tv supports 5.1 via optical or not.

boxes like this and similar https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Decoder-Converter-Optical-Surround/dp/B01D4MZ4K6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1471959870&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=optical+to+analog+5.1&psc=1 optical audio extractor 5.1 may work if your tv and the device support the same formats.

if your tv supports hdmi arc then you can use products like https://www.amazon.com/switcher-LinkS-Supports-Extractor-Wireless/dp/B01FHJG61U/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1471959970&sr=8-15&keywords=hdmi+arc+5.1+extractor

in some cases it may be easier to connect up your sources to such a box first before the tv to pull audio out of them and sending video only to the tv. this is often the case where a tv doesnt support 5.1 output.

not sure if the s550 actually supports 5.1 input. it looks to be the style of cheap HTIB system which only supports 2.0 input and only produces 5.1 from the included dvd player. some do support 5.1 from optical but its fairly hit or miss. as for quality, its not really any better

provided you dont need 5.1 out of the tv or to use the tv for actual output of audio to the speaker system.. i'd just suggest xbox+sky->audio extractor->tv. possible if you use hdmi input and output models. should only cost you $30-50 ish
 

Luke_95

Commendable
Aug 23, 2016
2
0
1,510

Thanks. I have a brand new 4K TV although it's a cheaper/new brand here in the UK. It's a Hisense H49M3000 and reading the manual, it says 'Digital Audio Out: Select the digital audio output format that best suits the audio device type. For example, choose RAW (which is uncompressed audio in RAW form) if you have 5.1 Channel Surround Sound Speaker set up'

I can run my Sky TV box through my Xbox One using the Xbox's HDMI in port so could I use a product like the one you listed in the first amazon link, to connect the Logitech subwoofer receiver via 3.5mm jack to the converter and then run optical from the converter to the Xbox One?

 
regardless of what you use as the source device, the z506 will get connected via three 3.5mm to rca cables.

now you have your choice of how you want to hook it up.. to the tv.. use an optical or arc capable model. to the sources.. i'd use hdmi models. you're likely to have less possible issues going source->box->tv than source->tv->box though but both solutions work.
 
Solution