Setting Up System -- Onkyo Receiver / Sharp TV / Apple TV -- Confused About Audio Cabling In An HDMI World

[jamesmcnee]

"Helping" my daughter set up her system:

* Onkyo TX-NR5100 AV Receiver

* Sharp Roku TV LC-55LBU711C

* Apple TV (the black box, not the streaming service)

I assume the receiver is the "heart" of the system so ...

If we run HDMI from TV to Receiver and HDMI from Apple TV to Receiver do we need additional audio cabling or is the audio signal carried in the HDMI?

The Apple TV box has HDMI and USB - C ports

The TV has abunch of HDMIs and both Digital Optical Out and Audio Out (mini jack) -- the Receiver has "Digital In -- Optical" as well as "Audio In" (RCA)

And if we have to use an audio cable do I assume the digital optical will be superior over a minijack to RCA?

I can't even spell HDMI so any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Kenny99]

Connecting your AV receiver, TV, and Apple TV using HDMI cables can improve your audio and video experience. Here's how you can do it:

Option 1: Connecting Apple TV via AV Receiver (Recommended for Surround Sound)​

If you want the best audio and video quality, you should connect your Apple TV through the AV receiver.

Steps:​

1. Connect Apple TV to AV Receiver
   • Use an HDMI cable to connect the Apple TV's HDMI output to an HDMI input on your AV receiver(e.g., HDMI 1).
2. Connect AV Receiver to TV
   • Use another HDMI cable to connect the AV receiver's HDMI output (ARC/eARC) to an HDMI input on your TV (preferably the ARC/eARC port for audio return).
3. Set Up Your Devices
   • On your AV receiver, select the HDMI input where your Apple TV is connected.
   • On your TV, switch to the HDMI input where the AV receiver is connected.
4. Enable HDMI-CEC (Optional)
   • If your TV and AV receiver support HDMI-CEC, enable it in settings to allow automatic switching and volume control with one remote

 

[jamesmcnee]

Got it Kenny -- thanks!

So if I do the HDMI Apple TV to Receiver and HDMI Receiver to TV I don't need to worry about Audio cables (optical digital or analogue)

Perfect!

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

If daughter ever takes advantage of FREE over-the-air HDTV signals via antenna, linking TV eARC back to Onkyo ARC (to TV) will allow 5.1 audio from over-the-air television to flow back to the Receiver and play on attached speakers. This works through just the one cable.

In other words, as described, probably little-to-nothing will ever be attached to any of the TV jacks since all things should generally connect to the Onkyo. But there are a few exceptions and an over-the-air connection to the cable jack on the TV is one of them. Use Onkyo to eARC connection so TV can send the audio back to the Receiver in such a situation. Then ANYTHING connected directly to the TV has the capability to flow audio back to Receiver too. Depending on where Onkyo is placed, it may just be more convenient at times to temporarily connect something directly to the TV... like if a friend brings over some device with an HDMI connection.

I looked up each of those products:

• On that ONKYO- the link to TV would be under HDMI OUT marked MAIN.
• On that TV, it looks like HDMI 1 is the eARC port.
• So that Onkyo MAIN should be connected to HDMI 1 on that TV.

It looks like AppleTV could be connected into any of the 4 HDMI IN jacks on that ONKYO. #4 is already set as "Strm Box" (streaming box) so you might use that one, but any of those 4 will be OK.

If there is a router or ethernet connection nearby, go ahead and connect the Onkyo with an ethernet cable. Onkyos can natively play many music services even with TV off like Spotify, TIDAL, Deezer, TuneIn and Pandora. I enjoy the free Pandora on mine frequently. Ethernet or wifi works but if you can connect with ethernet, Onkyo won't take a bite out of the wifi pie at her place.

There are also good apps dedicated to Onkyos for iDevices. She might want to try 1+ of them and pick a favorite. Again, for music with TV off, an app can make it easy to choose a streaming service for some music on what will probably be the best speakers in her place. I like Onkyo Remote 3 more than the company's own Onkyo Controller. And yes, she can always airplay anything from an iDevice or Mac too.

 

[Kenny99]

Got it Kenny -- thanks!

So if I do the HDMI Apple TV to Receiver and HDMI Receiver to TV I don't need to worry about Audio cables (optical digital or analogue)

Perfect!

That is correct. One other thing you might want to be sure that the HDMI cables are Certified for 4K 60Hz.

 

[jamesmcnee]

Thanks and more thanks -- Darryl and Kenny!

 

[leifp]

Pointless two cents: big fan of Onkyo over the years. Very saddened by its recent struggles (replaced my RZ820 with a Marantz last year)

I hope your daughter enjoys her setup!

 

[sparksd]

Pointless two cents: big fan of Onkyo over the years. Very saddened by its recent struggles (replaced my RZ820 with a Marantz last year)

I hope your daughter enjoys her setup!

Agree on Onkyo. When I updated my Onkyo to a more-capable Atmos system, I ended up switching to Denon.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

She already owns the Onkyo and modern business troubles doesn't affect its user functionality. I own one myself and it would continue to function as it does now if Onkyo ceased to exist in any form today. It doesn't have to phone home to function. This Dad doesn't need to worry about Onkyo (the corporation) to get his daughter's sound system set up and fully functional. It should all work just fine.