Best quality sound from Bose home theater

[manojbhagat]

I have a Tata Sky HD connected via HDMI cable to a Samsung LED tv.
The LED tv is connected to a Bose Lifestyle home theater via a 3.5 mm output from the LED tv to the Red and White inputs in the bose(I hope you guys understand what i mean)
So am i getting the best quality sound possible?
My second question is what is optical output?

 

[haisaikat]

I think you are missing out on multichannel output. TS HD supports 5.1 Dolby audio via the digital coaxial cable from set top box. unless you can plug it to your Bose it will not be possible to reproduce the true 5.1 transmitted in some of the HD channels. Optical is another digital sound output port like coaxial. But no use in your current setup since TS does not output 5.1 over optical.

 

[manojbhagat]

I think you are missing out on multichannel output. TS HD supports 5.1 Dolby audio via the digital coaxial cable from set top box. unless you can plug it to your Bose it will not be possible to reproduce the true 5.1 transmitted in some of the HD channels. Optical is another digital sound output port like coaxial. But no use in your current setup since TS does not output 5.1 over optical.

Will try this today.
Also,when i connect my laptop to the Tv via the HDMI cable,is it possible to get HD quality sound from the speakers.The sound goes to the HT via the tv only in this case also.

 

[haisaikat]

what is the specific Bose Lifestyle model?

 

[manojbhagat]

Its a Lifestyle 18

 

[vaibhavyagnik]

there are only a few methods by which one can transfer HD sound
1. Use SPDIF co-axial (can transmit upto 5.1 channels)
2. Use SPDIF optical (can transmit upto 5.1 channels)
3. Use HDMI (can transmit upto 7.1 channels)
4. Transmit each channel individually like you are transferring right and left channels right now from TV to AVR.

unless the media of transfer is anything except the above mentioned, you are not getting HD sound. I hope this clears things.

 

[haisaikat]

I saw on the specs of lifestyle 18 that it has optical in only and no coax. Please confirm though from your manual. In that case it will be difficult to feed 5.1 audio from STB. Also HD audio means DTS-HD and DD-HD which is not supported over optical. Normal DD / DTS 5.1 is supported.

 

[manojbhagat]

What about getting HD quality song from my laptop to the speakers?
How do i listen to songs in the best possible quality? Can it only be done through the CD player?(Bose)

 

[vaibhavyagnik]

What about getting HD quality song from my laptop to the speakers?
How do i listen to songs in the best possible quality? Can it only be done through the CD player?(Bose)

1. connect the laptop to bose via HDMI
2. connect the laptop to bose via spdif (if no spdif is present, you will have to buy a usb to spdif convertor/ this is a costly option)
3. If both are not there, use analog o/p of laptop (head phone o/p)
4. Use a CD player

 

[manojbhagat]

1. connect the laptop to bose via HDMI
2. connect the laptop to bose via spdif (if no spdif is present, you will have to buy a usb to spdif convertor/ this is a costly option)
3. If both are not there, use analog o/p of laptop (head phone o/p)
4. Use a CD player

1. Bose doesn't have HDMI input
2. spdif? And where will i get that convertor?
3. analog o/p of laptop (head phone o/p)? What is this?
4. CD player gives out the best possible sound?

Sorry i'm a complete newbie

 

[haisaikat]

Check bose website, they sell an HDMI adapter device I think, not sure though.

 

[manojbhagat]

Sadly,there is nothing as such.
I guess the CD player is the best source to play audio.

 

[vaibhavyagnik]

USB to SPDIF optical I hope bose has a optical in. If not, stick to the simplest option, i.e CD player. It may be your only option.

 

[haisaikat]

Bose Lifestyle 18 does have optical input. However since it has analog input I recommend spending slightly more and buying a USB DAC in 4 - 5K range that will convert to analogue out (stereo RCA in for bose)

Bose sells in come countries a separate HDMI upscalar, not sure if it can contribute with the connectivity options present
VS-2 Video Enhancer for Lifestyle Systems - Bose Accessories

Without speding much, the other option to play PC audio is to use a 3.5 to 2 RCA cable to connect laptop to Bose.

 

[koushik7pro]

Better buy a AVR which has hdmi coaxial and optical u can connect all sources to and makes a wonder full setup.

Sent from my MT11i using Tapatalk 2

 

[manojbhagat]

is to use a 3.5 to 2 RCA cable to connect laptop to Bose.

That is what i am doing currently....The 3.5 is connected to my TV which is connected to the laptop via HDMI cable.

 

[haisaikat]

That is what i am doing currently....The 3.5 is connected to my TV which is connected to the laptop via HDMI cable.

This is otherwise fine except the fact that in this setup your TV is doing the digital to analogue conversion (using the built in DAC chip) of the audio signal (taking HDMI ? digital and giving out 3.5 stereo ? analogue). So the quality of your output will be as good (or as bad) as that of your TV to do this conversion.

So to get even better audio you might think of either buying a USB based DAC to directly connect your PC and Bose or a USB to Optical converter to connect your PC to Bose in which case the Bose will be doing the said conversion (as good or as bad, same theory using the built in DAC circuit in Bose). I would prefer the first setup since in this case you get chance to upgrade.

 

[manojbhagat]

This is otherwise fine except the fact that in this setup your TV is doing the digital to analogue conversion (using the built in DAC chip) of the audio signal (taking HDMI ? digital and giving out 3.5 stereo ? analogue). So the quality of your output will be as good (or as bad) as that of your TV to do this conversion.

So to get even better audio you might think of either buying a USB based DAC to directly connect your PC and Bose or a USB to Optical converter to connect your PC to Bose in which case the Bose will be doing the said conversion (as good or as bad, same theory using the built in DAC circuit in Bose). I would prefer the first setup since in this case you get chance to upgrade.

Thanks.
Can you also please provide me with the links from where i can buy those products?

 

[haisaikat]

I think before jumping on to link you should browse this forum for different options and their pros and cons. Accordingly you first fix your budget and then start looking for products in that range, if possible audition at any fellow member's house in your city before buying

 

[manojbhagat]

I visited a Bose store this Sunday,and he suggested to get the optical cable for the Set top box,will ask him reguarding my other issue as well,as they know their products properly