Nvidia Shield connection tips, please (re: how to properly connect to existing system - semi-noob)

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busta_cap

Limp Gawd
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Aug 15, 2004
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Okay, so I'm a bit behind the times: I've used the same Panasonic Home Theater in a Box system for like 7 years, and have things connected via Optical Audio. But I purchased an Nvidia Shield on Prime Day, and it doesn't have an optical port, so I guess I have to come up with a new connection scheme.

I'll list my components and connections and hopefully someone can help me connect things better/more efficiently.

Components:
Network connections:
I have connectivity through the powerline networking kit going to the Fire TV and the PS4. Everything else is wireless for the moment.

Other connections:
AUDIO: all devices are connected via optical audio, through an optical audio switcher.

I don't know anything about ARC via HDMI. I think this may be the solution I'm looking for, but I don't know how to implement it.

VIDEO: all devices are connected via HDMI, and I have an HDMI switcher that allows me to switch between the Fire TV (my primary "home base" when I sit down to watch something) and the PS4.

I bought this Nvidia Shield w/controller, but there's no optical port, so it kind of doesn't work with my current setup.

So my question is: what is a better/more efficient way to connect things? If the Shield works out, it will replace the Fire TV as my "home base."

Thanks in advance!

Notes: I will likely be upgrading TV and home theater systems before long, but until then, I'd like to use the components I have, so no "ditch that Panasonic and get a real home theater setup!" suggestions, please. ;)


Also, any Nvidia Shield tips for once I get it connected are also welcome! :)
 
I would not spend any more money on switches and stuff like that. Put that towards an upgrade on receiver you won't regret it.

For ARC you run HDMI from the Shield to the TV. Then optical from the TV to the AVR. Your TV has to support it of course.

You could do this for all your devices. I'm not sure if having the HDMI switch will break this. It is likely.
 
lightsout said:
I would not spend any more money on switches and stuff like that. Put that towards an upgrade on receiver you won't regret it.

For ARC you run HDMI from the Shield to the TV. Then optical from the TV to the AVR. Your TV has to support it of course.

You could do this for all your devices. I'm not sure if having the HDMI switch will break this. It is likely.
Click to expand...

Thanks! I don't want to buy much new stuff right now because of upcoming expenses. I will give that a try. I diagrammed the current connections to and from all the components so that I can put it back the way it currently is if something doesn't work out right.

For clarity, when you say "optical from the TV to the AVR" you mean to the Panasonic home-theater-in-a-box system, right?

Here's another question, the TV screen goes into sleep mode after several minutes while I'm playing music through the speakers via the TuneIn Radio app on the FireTV. But when I "wake" the tv up using the FireTV remote, the Panasonic home theater system goes into ARC mode and the sound shuts off. I have to switch it back to DIGITAL IN for the sound to resume. Does this mean that if I connect the TV and the Panasonic via their ARC HDMI ports that the sound and video will both use the same cable and I won't have to set it to DIGITAL IN?

Thanks again.
 
busta_cap said:
Thanks! I don't want to buy much new stuff right now because of upcoming expenses. I will give that a try. I diagrammed the current connections to and from all the components so that I can put it back the way it currently is if something doesn't work out right.

For clarity, when you say "optical from the TV to the AVR" you mean to the Panasonic home-theater-in-a-box system, right?

Here's another question, the TV screen goes into sleep mode after several minutes while I'm playing music through the speakers via the TuneIn Radio app on the FireTV. But when I "wake" the tv up using the FireTV remote, the Panasonic home theater system goes into ARC mode and the sound shuts off. I have to switch it back to DIGITAL IN for the sound to resume. Does this mean that if I connect the TV and the Panasonic via their ARC HDMI ports that the sound and video will both use the same cable and I won't have to set it to DIGITAL IN?

Thanks again.
Click to expand...
Yes to the HTIB, you plug your devices into the HDMI ports on the TV, and have a single optical cable going to the Panasonic HTIB. Your TV would then act as the "HDMI Switch".

I'm not sure about the whole going to sleep thing, you'll have to test it out and find out.
 
My Shield TV setup is connected as follows:

Shield to LG TV via HDMI -- SMSL AD18 (amp/dac) to LG TV via optical -- LG TV Sound Out set to (Optical/HDMI ARC)
 
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