TV optical output missing

[BJG1]

Having upgraded my Samsung TV to have a larger screen I am astonished to find this newer bigger model lacks an optical audio output. To connect to my cinema sound system I now need an hdmi to optical converter which supports all the various modes. 

Any recommendations?

[Tourbillon De La Vie]

Check specs before purchase?

[Fiona26]

To get sound to your cinema system without a TV optical output, you should use an HDMI audio extractor or HDMI ARC. For an audio extractor, connect the TV's HDMI output to the extractor's input, and then connect the extractor's optical output to your sound system. For HDMI ARC, connect your TV to an ARC-enabled soundbar using an HDMI cable, then activate ARC on the TV's settings.

[UNKNOWNUSERNAME]

Normally in these situations you'd have to read the specs before buying (i learnt the hardway). Unfortunately modern tvs are moving on from that type of audio output port.

[BJG1]

Yes, I should have checked  but just assumed a bigger  more expensive device would not contain fewer features.

Anyway, can someone confirm whether the HDMI/EARC connector, on its audio return path will send our audio for all the TV sources (like the optical output did) ie not just that input's sound?

But then I assume I need not an "extractor" as these seem to only take the audio for that HDMI channel into the TV for sound output?

[Ginga_p]

What sort of home cinema set up do you have?

[BJG1]

It is a custom built system some years ago with just optical input. I might have considered changing it but there is also the issue of cabling which is more difficult to change.

[Ginga_p]

Nice. If you look on the hdmi ports on the tv it normally has a dedicated port for earc or arc that will be marked.

[Fordychap]

I was given a new tv and was also astonished to find no optical (SPDIF) output.

My solution is a Bluetooth low latency receiver that has an SPDIF output. TV can send sound to Bluetooth and I keep all HDMI connections free for inputs. 

It works well.

[BJG1]

Well I now have a little black box which takes the ARC output from hdmi and converts it to optical/spdif and I have managed to set the TV to provide this - though that could have been easier as one setting option only came up sometimes!

However, one further problem now. If I switch the TV off while it is using hdmi input from the satellite receiver then when it is turned back on there is no sound. If then switch to live terrestrial TV I get sound, then switch back to satellite input and the sound continues for that. So only terrestrial TV input seems to trigger the sound to go out via hdmi initially.

Strange!