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Apps & Streaming

Connect a soundbar, receiver or optical system

Three ways out of the box, and which to pick for surround sound.

1 minute read

01Your three audio routes

HDMI to the receiver
Best quality. Connect the OSM X1 to the receiver or soundbar, then the receiver to the television. Carries surround formats intact.
Optical (SPDIF)
Good for older systems and for keeping video direct to the television. Carries stereo and compressed surround, not the newest object-based formats.
HDMI ARC on the television
Convenient if the television is the hub. Quality depends entirely on what your television passes through.

02Setting the output format

  1. 1Open Settings, then Display & Sound, then Advanced sound settings.
  2. 2Choose Auto if your receiver handles surround formats — the box will pass through whatever the content carries.
  3. 3Choose PCM if you hear dropouts, crackling or silence. It re-encodes to stereo, which every device accepts.
  4. 4Restart the box after changing the format so apps re-read the new capability list.

No sound at all over optical usually means the format is set to pass through something the system cannot decode. Switch to PCM first — it is the fastest way to confirm the cable and the port are fine.

Everything Working?

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