‎TV optical output missing | Samsung Community

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BJG1

First Poster

last edited

16/09/2025 12:20 PM

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?

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TD
Tourbillon De La Vie
Samsung Members Star ★★
last edited

16/09/2025 01:29 PM
Check specs before purchase?
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Fiona26
Samsung Members Star ★★
last edited

16/09/2025 01:35 PM
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.
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UNKNOWNUSERNAME
Maestro
last edited

16/09/2025 01:57 PM
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.
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BJG1
First Poster
last edited

16/09/2025 04:40 PM
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?
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Ginga_p
Big Cheese
last edited

17/09/2025 07:00 PM
What sort of home cinema set up do you have?
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BJG1
First Poster
last edited

18/09/2025 08:33 AM
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.
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Ginga_p
Big Cheese
last edited

18/09/2025 06:39 PM
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.
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Fordychap
First Poster
last edited

1/10/2025 09:19 PM
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.
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BJG1
First Poster
2/10/2025 08:38 AM
Does it provide surround sound?
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Fordychap
First Poster
2/10/2025 09:57 AM
That’s a good question - I am not sure.
I am only using it in our living room for a new Samsung TV we were given (with no SPDIF) that couldn’t communicate with my older Sonos Playbar and Sub.
These are just 2.1 with the sub being driven from the playbar via network cabling.
It is all I needed.
It seems pretty low latency with aptx HD, aptx LL, aptx, AAC, SBC compatibility.
Connecting was straightforward.

This is the unit.

Auris Bluetooth receiver

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BJG1
First Poster
last edited

2/10/2025 08:35 AM
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!
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TV optical output missing

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