Connecting Soundbar with HDMI Splitter (1in-2out)

Lcheach on 06/01/2022 - 15:21
Last edited 06/01/2022 - 15:22

After some technical advice.

Would a HDMI splitter sends audio to the soundbar?

We have a couple of old NEC Monitors with 1 HDMI input (non-ARC). I have recently picked up couple of JBL SB110 soundbars from the Officeworks deal. My thought is to use a HDMI splitter (1 in, 2 out), which I ordered from Amazon Portta HDMI Splitter to connect the NEC monitor and the soundbar.

Input - Shield TV, Laptop, and Apply TV (1st Gen). all connected individually for testing.
Splitter - Portta HDMI Splitter 1in, 2 out. - tested using passive power from HDMI port and externally powered.
Output 1 - JBL SB110 Soundbar.
Output 2 - NEC V421 Screen.

Should the above works?

I can't get any audio with the above setup.

Thanks in advance for your help/comments.

Electrical & Electronics HDMI Splitter

Comments

  • thrift seeker on 06/01/2022 - 15:44

    Following this post.

  • Elegant Giant on 06/01/2022 - 15:52
    +1

    There's no reason why this shouldn't work - the laptop / device is providing the data to be sent, and these others are receiving it. Thoughts are:

    1. Is it faulty?
      Can you plug one of the outputs into a TV and receive audio + video through it? Check both outputs
    2. Is the laptop audio set to send audio through the HDMI connector?
      Try changing your laptop audio to various outputs until you get sound
    3. Is the soundbar on "HDMI audio" or equivalent, if it has multiple inputs?
      Try changing the inputs on the soundbar - HN specs show it has "optical and HDMI inputs" - press the input button (next to the power button) to toggle between the audio inputs on the soundbar.
    4. Is the volume up?
      You never know, I've seen it before.

    AFAIK, the HDMI "ARC" (audio return channel) synchronises and allows audio to flow two-ways on the cable for easy setup / connection - HDMI always supports video and audio through the cable.

    • cheach on 06/01/2022 - 17:06
      1. Soundbar has been tested on another TV with ARC and it works. Splitter is sending video to the screen on out1 and out2.
      2. yes, done that on the Sound Properties of the laptop.

      3. yes, checked that as well. it does have options of BT (blue LED), Optical (Red LED) and HDMI (white LED). double and triple check that it is on HDMI (LED is white). BT works fine.

      4. Yes, can confirm volume is up.

      Thanks for your thoughts.

  • Switchblade88 on 06/01/2022 - 16:03
    +1

    Most HDMI splitters don't work because it's not simply a matter of cloning the source data to a second channel. You have handshake data and HDCP to contend with that precludes 'tapping' in' to the datastream, even for audio only.

    Some devices can do inline audio extraction to 3.5mm or optical output, but with very restricted combinations of devices and resolutions e.g. this one which then depends on the soundbar having a matching input.

    Second, that's a commercial signage display - I don't suppose it fell off the back of a truck?? It apparently has audio output already, why not use that?

    • cheach on 06/01/2022 - 16:50

      Thanks. that explains why the 2nd out LED is not coming on, hence my setup is not working.

      Yes, it is a 2nd hand commercial signage display that I got for $100 each a few years ago.

      Might have to go with my original plan which is to use a HDMI audio extractor with toslink or use the 2 RCA out behind the panel to toslink.

      • Switchblade88 on 06/01/2022 - 17:03
        +1

        Definitely go with the existing RCA then - without a dedicated 5.1 system, there's not much benefit to spending more money on an extractor for toslink when it's only going to a soundbar anyway.

        Does the soundbar have RCA or aux input? Then you wouldn't need anything more than an adapter cable since you wouldn't be converting from digital audio.

        • cheach on 06/01/2022 - 17:08

          Yeah, that is a very sound advice. unfortunately, the Soundbar only has Bluetooth, Toslink, and HDMI.

  • sicaboy on 06/01/2022 - 16:14
    +1

    Do you consider amplifier receivers?

    • cheach on 06/01/2022 - 17:01

      that is a little overkill i'm afraid. just for watching streaming contents in the bedrooms.

  • ode1online on 06/01/2022 - 16:51
    +1

    Without the splitter , does connecting any of your devices to the Soundbar direct give you sound?

    • cheach on 06/01/2022 - 16:55

      The soundbar works on my other TV that has ARC.
      Also works with the old Apple TV unit that has a toslink output.

      Will try connecting directly. but as @switchblade88 indicated. this might not work because of the HDMI protocol.

      • ode1online on 06/01/2022 - 17:33

        Maybe go into your audio output settings and change them.,

  • lint on 06/01/2022 - 16:52
    +1

    I assume your NEC monitor doesn't have any audio capabilities? It's possible the splitting is passing the handshake signal from the monitor to the input device, which would be telling it there are no supported audio formats.

    Maybe try it with just the soundbar connected to one of the splitter's outputs (with nothing in the other output), and then also switch to plugging it into the other of the splitter's outputs. Alternatively, try plugging in a display that has speakers to the splitter to test it.

    All that aside though, don't most soundbars have an HDMI out for the display? If your display is a monitor I'd imagine you'd have no need for ARC to send audio from the monitor to the soundbar, so why aren't you just connecting all your input devices into the soundbar directly and then connecting the HDMI out from the soundbar to the HDMI in of the monitor?

    • cheach on 06/01/2022 - 17:00

      It does have audio RCA out. also speakers connector clips. I will try a RCA to toslink converter.

      I have tried connecting only the soundbar to the splitter out1 then out2 individually, no luck with that as well.

      Nah, this is a cheap soundbar for a reason :) it only has 1 HDMI, 1 Toslink and Bluetooth.

      • lint on 06/01/2022 - 17:03
        +1

        Oh your soundbar only has a single HDMI port with ARC. Yeah, that's very likely the reason it's not working.

        The input device is sending audio as part of the regular HDMI output signal. When that reaches the splitter it's sending it to the soundbar, but this soundbar is designed to receive audio from a TV via ARC. For that to work, it would also be set as the device sending the HDMI output signal (though not sending any video or audio data) and receiving audio via ARC in return.

        So in effect you're trying to send an output signal to a device also trying to send an output signal.

        • cheach on 06/01/2022 - 17:10

          Yeah that make a lot of sense. thanks for clarifying ARC.

  • cheach on 06/01/2022 - 17:14

    For anyone that might be interested. Googled and found this. a little too pricey for my setup. but someone might find this useful.

    https://www.hdfury.com/product/avr-key/

    From their website:

    Extract Full HDMI audio from any signal !
    Plug any AVR in any HDMI setup and Play full HDMI audio sound !
    Support all audio and video formats in existence. Simply connect and forget.
    Pass-thru for 4K UHD/HDR/DV/HLG video up to 18Gbps + 720p or 1080p Full HDMI Audio.

  • tik tok on 06/01/2022 - 19:26

    Connect the soundbar via bluetooth? You wont get atmos - but that's the only trade off.

    • cheach on 06/01/2022 - 22:05

      Yeah tried that and works. Don’t think a cheap Soundbar or Soundbar in general will make a difference with or without atmos. Although I am no expert in audio.

      But my reasoning trying to avoid using BT is that there is slight delays in audio sync.

  • Spending2Much on 07/01/2022 - 08:52

    What was the soundbar deal??

  • OzHunterNSW on 07/01/2022 - 14:13

    Go get yourself a modern TV. Stop waisting money on connectors.
    A modern TV would allow you to simplify the entire process…. that is what it is designed to do.
    Video connects to tv IN, and a single tv OUT, goes to the sound bar. You make all the adjustments within the tv settings.

    In your archaic set up, the splitter will work but what are you trying to achieve… better sound? Say goodbye to surround or Atmos.

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