I think you forgot about the coaxial output. Anyway, nice detailed comments.

Hehe... oops ! Correct. Forgot about the co-axial output. Forgot probably because was enjoying the FMP HD channel "Rio" movie (great music).

Anyway, it is the same as the HDMI connection for Co-Axial audio output.

Minor correction...

The Byond box output from HDMI/Co-Axial ...
1) When settings to "Stereo (Analogue and Digital)", the HDMI/Co-Axial audio output will be in 2 channel stereo PCM for ALL HD and SD channels.
2) When settings to "Dolby Digital 5.1 (Digital Only)", the HDMI/Co-Axial audio output will be in Dolby Digital 5.1 for HD channels, in PCM stereo 2 channels for the SD channels.

Thanks.

This post has been edited by jamesleetech: Jul 4 2012, 01:03 AM

Thanks for the detailed reply

But unfortunately my BD HT system only has 1 HDMI output/input.

I'm planning to listen watch Astro Beyond HD using my HT system. What do you suggest?

My TV and the Blu Ray player has optical out/in. Does this help?

How many HDMI you need to connect to your BD HT sys ? Is your system HTIB (Home Theater-In-A-Box) ? IS your blu-ray player joined together to amplifier as 1 unit ?

Please let me know how many HDMI devices you want to connect to your BD HT sys. Byond is one HDMI to be connected to it. Any other ? Also let me know the brand and model number of your "BD HT sys". New Samsung HTIB have Cinavia chip which locks the audio when pirated DVD or Blu-ray is played for new movies that are encrypted.

After your reply, I will reply a bit later... have something urgent to do now.

All I want is Astro HD to play on my HT set. You mentioned this is the best way right:

1) Astro Beyond to BD Home Theatre via HDMI

and

2) BD Home Theatre to HDTV via HDMI

My HT system is this: http://www.sony.com.my/product/bdv-e490

It has only 1 HDMI port and also an optical out/in (not sure)

How about Astro HD to HDTV via HDMI and HDTV to HT system via optical?

Forgive me if what I wrote doesn't make any sense

This post has been edited by -kytz-: Jul 4 2012, 01:24 AM

I ran a google search to check for more detailed specifications of your HTIB system, the Sony BDV-E490 so here's some specs...

1 x HDMI Output
1 x USB
1 x Composite Video Output
1 x Optical Audio In
1 x Analog Audio In
1 x Ethernet Connection
1 x Infrared In

Mmm... you DO have a problem to connect Byond HDMI to your system.

From your reply, you can only use... (2) BD Home Theatre to HDTV via HDMI for both audio and video without spending extra $$ to purchase converter. Can also use Byond RCA (red, white) to your Sony BDV-E490 but only PCM stereo 2 channel audio.

The Sony BDV-E490 blu-ray player have the amplifier built-in. This stand-alone blu-ray/amp unit is NOT intended for any HDMI devices to be connected to it so ZERO HDMI Input ! Too bad for you.

It also do NOT have any Co-Axial Input. The coaxial cable used is the same as the satellite cable with 75 ohms. The problem for you is that the Byond box have Co-Axial Output BUT NO Optical Output. Your BDV-E490 have 1 Optical Input BUT do NOT have Co-Axial Input.

First, solve the video connection which is easy. I am sure your HD TV have at least 2 HDMI Inputs. You can use the TV HDMI 1 connect to your Sony BDV-E490, and HDMI 2 connect to Byond. Done for video.

For the audio... bad news because you CANNOT use either the HDMI or the Co-Axial outputs from Byond connect directly to your Sony BDV-E490 to get Dolby Digital 5.1 audio.

If you use the Byond RCA (red, white) connection to your Sony BDV-E490 Analog Audio In, then you will NOT get Dolby 5.1 ! If you use your HD TV speakers from the HDMI 2 connection, then the audio is lower quality at only PCM stereo 2 channels.

If you do NOT want to spend $$ any more, then too bad that you have to accept using either the TV speakers sound or your Sony BDV-E490 stereo 2 channels.



IF you really want Dolby 5.1 to your Sony BDV-E490, then I can suggest to purchase a Co-Axial-To-Optical Converter which supports Dolby Digital 5.1 such as the Gefen Digital Audio Translator which costs about US$ 79. Here is the link... "http://www.gefen.com/kvm/dproduct.jsp?prod_id=9137". This converter accepts audio signal from 2 channels up to 5.1 channels. Mmm... last year I did phone to a local Malaysian agent in Kelana Jaya or Mid Valley but unfortunately I cannot remember much. Mmm... I think its about RM 300 to 400, not sure now. Anyway, you can search the website from the link I gave here to find the Gefen Malaysian dealers.

Of course, you can use other brand Co-Axial-To-Optical converters as long as its reliable, cheap and have quality and make sure it can output to Optical as Dolby 5.1. I hope others here may be able to recommend other brand converters which are better and cheaper, hehe.

I did not suggest using HDMI to HDMI Video+Optical Audio Output converters because these are usually very expensive, maybe between RM 800 to RM 2000 !

Ok... if can get the Co-Axial-To-Optical Converter (support Dolby 5.1 output), then your problem solved...
1) Byond HDMI Out to HDTV HDMI In 1 for 1080i HD Video.
2) Byond Co-Axial Out to Co-Axial-To-Optical Converter and then optical out to your Sony BDV-E490.

I do NOT know whether the Sony BDV-E490 support or not support Dolby 5.1 from its Optical In. IMPORTANT... if Sony BDV-E490 Optical In do not support Dolby 5.1 then forget about the Converter and too bad you have to accept lower audio quality as I have explained earlier.

I can understand that you are worried that "you did not make sense" in your post. Don't worry, no problem. Not everyone is good in everything. I am a person who seldom lose temper, try to always stay cool and got patience... and very little sleep too



EDIT : Oh, I am not a salesman for Gefen products, did not say that its products are suitable, good or bad and did NOT recommend anyone to purchase their products... my suggestion only. You can always choose other brands.

This post has been edited by jamesleetech: Jul 4 2012, 05:35 AM

@ JAMESLEETECH
Your detailed explaination and research shows your a such a cool and a patient guy who sleeps very little ! The bottom line is you really want to help and to you thats contentment ,Keep up the good work James, the forum needs your technical assistance !

This post has been edited by smileguy: Jul 4 2012, 06:20 AM

Just got a call from astro telling me that astro will phasing out the ye olde decoder but we have to pay RM20 HD fee with 1 year contract... What can I say is the B.yond decoder is really priced at RM240.

...which is cheaper than NJOI decoder one.

Alternative is this product that can order thru ebay.com.my for about RM112 including shipment.

That Cable Digital Coaxial RCA to Optical Audio Converter

Wow ! You bikin I rasa sikit malu, hehe. Thanks for your kind compliments. Hehe... I am sure you also noticed that I also make quite some errors and mistakes in many of my previous answers too because I am only human and learn from my mistakes.

bro.. what diff 1080i/1080p????

i dont see why HD is forced,isnt that optional?

I am not saying that the person who called you is not from Astro. BUT you must be very careful on confirming anything from the phone.

Whenever someone who says he/she is from Astro phoned to you, ask for the person's full name and phone number. If that person refused to give full name or gave only a short sirname, then politely say no and hang up the phone. Anyway, we may never know for sure if he/she is a representative from Astro or not.

I believe the people who calls are usually Astro agents or installers who earns commission from Astro.

I subscribed since December 1996 and have 3 decoders (1 Byond and 2 Old Astro DMT) BUT till today, I have not received any call from anyone about phasing out of the old decoder.

Just remember that the "phasing out of old boxes" is Astro own responsibility and you have the legal consumer right not to pay anything when Astro tries to force you to upgrade the decoder box. I know it may be useless but if you look in astro.com.my, there is a complaints phone number shown at the bottom right of web page (1800 18 2222)

AND I don't believe that Astro will force us to upgrade to HD Service... when the caller told you "but we have to pay RM20 HD fee with 1 year contract"

If you don't want "HD Service", I hope you did not confirm with the caller.

Remember that the phasing out of all the old decoder (non Byond) boxes is a major Astro project. Here is what you should do whenever someone calls you and says is from Astro...

1) Ask for the person full name and phone number. If that caller can give mobile number, then not from "Astro", only a salesman/agent. People from Astro Call Centre do not have any other different number to use for return call, only the same general phone number, 1 300 82 3838.

2) Don't confirm with any person who says is from Astro. Just tell the person that you will think it over and then call back to 1 300 82 3838 to confirm. I don't know that person and don't care that he/she did not get "sales" from me. Any upgrade/downgrade and subscription changes (including any promos) can ALWAYS be done by calling Astro Customer Support at 1 300 82 3838. This is important to prevent fraud/cons and especially to protect sensitive important personal information.

The Byond/Byond PVR is now supplied for ALL new subscribers and such boxes ALL can support SD channels also. If not subscribed to "HD Service", then still can watch all the SD channels.

I remember the time many years ago when Astro previously phased out the first generation Philips decoder boxes which cannot be used after a stated date and need to be changed. All the subscribers at that time, including me, received written letters from Astro notifying about replacing the decoder boxes for FREE.

So... as you can see... why worry about the old Astro DMT decoder box that one day in future cannot receive Astro channels when Astro changed the software and hardware system. When the time comes, I am sure Astro will notify me by POST to change my 2 old boxes for FREE !

Do NOT be forced to subscribe to "HD Service" if you don't want it. Threaten anyone calling "from Astro" that you will terminate/cancel subscription and will call complaints 1800 18 2222 if you are forced to subscribe or upgrade anything, because its your legal consumer right. Also... you have the full right to terminate/cancel Astro subscription if you don't like Astro for whatever reasons.

My Advice... do NOT confirm upgrade to HD Service if you don't want it and just wait for the time when Astro must change the old Astro DMT boxes for FREE !

* The Byond boxes are legacy compatible which means it will still work with old TV in SD resolution and ALL SD channels supported.
* Mmm... I believe that Astro may be trying to stop card sharing from old Astro boxes by actively promoting upgrade to Byond box, hehe. Each smartcard is locked to its installed Byond box so the smartcard cannot be used on another Byond box.



ADDITION
When the time comes that the old Asto DMT boxes cannot be used, I am absolutely sure that Astro WILL NOTIFY us by post, by email, in their website, from the Astro TV channels, in subscribers online login, etc... NOT by phone only lah which is also not the professional way.

This post has been edited by jamesleetech: Jul 4 2012, 02:03 PM

Thank you so much for the detailed explanation I'd suggest TS to pin this up or something

Most important now is to get at least 2.1 for Astro Beyond. You mentioned just using the RCA cables which can get PCM 2 channel audio. Is this decent enough? I was using this cable to connect my normal Astro and it didn't seem too bad.

And about the Dolby 5.1 optical in, I've just sent a message to Sony MY and now waiting for an answer

For now 5.1 isn't really that important as my dad didn't even plan to use 5.1 due to messy wires but I will show him a full 5.1, 1080p video later on

Thanks again! Really appreciate your effort to help me out on my question.

You are most welcome.

Sound quality is always subjective which depend on how each person accept as good or bad.

That is why I mentioned that the audio quality from the Byond RCA (red, white) in PCM stereo 2 channels is the lowest when compared to the Byond other audio connections. I did not say its good, bad or decent, only that it has the lowest audio quality when compared to other connections. Mmm.. for you is decent... but its not acceptable for me because I am able to choose a better Dolby 5.1. Unfortunately for you, you cannot choose because of your Sony BDV-E490 system.

Yes, messy cables for the home theatre 6 speakers... BUT for audio/video connections its actually less cables for HDMI connection. Only just 1 HDMI cable is enough because this HDMI cable system supports Dolby 2.0/5.1/7.1, DTS 2.0/5.1/7.1, PCM (48, 192 KHz) 2.0/5.1/7.1, Dolby TrueHD 5.1/7.1, DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1/7.1. Using 6 RCA cables for PCM 5.1 audio is more messy... there are high-end blu-ray players with analogue 5.1/7.1 RCA output.

Well... its ok to use RCA... what is important is that you have accepted the sound quality when you say "didn't seem too bad". Luckily you cannot come to my home to get hooked or addicted to my system 5.1 audio quality from the Byond HD channels, hehe. Better audio quality means spending more $$$ so its not cheap.

Hopefully you will get a reply from Sony MY with proper advice or feedback so best of luck to you.

Is Beyond HD's Sound Quality that good? Let's say how many percent of a blu ray movie...70%?

If lets sat the optical in doesn't support 5.1, can I like buy another blu ray player and connect my speakers to it? Lol

Good but not as good as in bluray (some said) because it use DTS HD Master Audio or Dolby TrueHD which is superior.
Your optical input should support 5.1 but your problem is connecting from Byond coaxial output to it. Nothing to do with bluray player.

This post has been edited by Fubar20: Jul 4 2012, 04:09 PM

You cannot make such comparisons between different AV devices (Byond and BD Player). The Byond box supports a maximum Dolby Digital 5.1 audio and HD 1080i video. The blu-ray player supports a maximum Dolby True-HD 7.1 Audio and DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 which is far far lots better.

What you need to do is to try to use the best connection available for the best audio/video quality from the Byond box IF it is possible with your existing AV system. And its only fair to make comparisons on each different type of connections for audio quality that is already available for your Byond box.

Its only my opinion so I can only give a very rough comparison in percentage for each different connection available for Byond (inside spoilers)...

... hehe... ALL my not accurate personal opinion only. No scientific measurements here. If anyone disagrees with my percentages here, then I will say that anyone is also right to disagree with me.

As I mentioned before, your Sony BDV-E490 system uses 1 unit device which is combined together as (a) blu-ray/dvd player and (b) amplifier for the 6 home theatre speakers. That means Sony designed the combined blu-ray/amp unit as primarily a "blu-ray/DVD player" so there is no HDMI Input. FYI, ALL separate Blu-ray and DVD Players do NOT have audio and video inputs. Only the separate AV Amplifier/Receiver have many different inputs for different connections to different source devices such as to the Byond and a separate Blu-ray Player.

A separate AV Amplifier/Receiver unit is the best choice allowing for much more varieties of connections for the best audio/video quality supported BUT, of course, it can be much more expensive when compared to your "All-In-One" HTIB system. Presently, I have Dune HD D1, Oppo BDP-93, Sony BD-S360 BD Player, Byond, Computer Graphics Card HDMI Out, and AC Ryan POHD connected using HDMI to my AV amplifier.

If you are satisfied with your existing RCA connections to Byond, then don't waste $$ to buy converter box to get Dolby 5.1.

Remember that a lot of factors also changes the audio/video quality such as using high-end 6 home-theatre speakers, amplifiers, etc. So the percentage audio quality improvement will always change BUT one thing that I can say for sure... the Byond Dolby Digital 5.1 audio DO sound much much better than the analogue PCM stereo 2.0 channels, no need describe in percentages ! Just don't compare the Byond Dolby 5.1 to the Blu-ray lossless DTS-HD MA and Dolby True-HD audio !

░░▒────────────────────────────────────────────▒░░

Hehe... spot on, bro ! I could not have said it better !

This post has been edited by jamesleetech: Jul 4 2012, 04:51 PM

Dear all,

I will be moving to a new Condo soon.

This new Condo DO NOT have Astro IPTV yet and currently they only have the OLD astro connection which mean only for SD, so no HD at all. They did not plan to have HD connection at the time they start built the Condo.

Now, the Condo management also cannot allow to fix Astro dish on the unit.

So, the problem is......now I am using Beyond and have been watching HD channel for more than 1 year already.

When I move to this new Condo, and I connect my current Beyond decoder to the condo build-in SD connection, can I still watch all the Channel?

Need any special cable to connect the build-in SD connection port to the Beyond decoder?

Can still watch HD channel even though there is no HD services?

mmmmmmmm........headache now.

Looking forward to your reply.

Thanks.