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Nintendo Switch doesn't support Optical Audio out....
- Thread starter hlhbk
- Start date
Transistor
Banned
By a lot, you mean enthusiast headphones?
Guardian Monkey
Member
Most tvs have optical outs still so
Any half decent pair, yes.
EDIT: Now that I think about it, my surround sound requires it too.
That's a fine solution if you only use your headphones for game audio, but if you use it for party chat as well, you're out of luck.
Though with how Nintendo are handling their party chat for the Switch, that's the least of our worries.
So Nintendo expects us to spend $300 on a "console" that doesn't include a game (and pay extra to use it online), $70 or more on extra controllers, a few hundred for a new AV receiver, and we have to buy a new smartphone just for chatting, friending, and matchmaking?
If I have to get a third job just to pay for all this crap, it doesn't leave any time for playing the Switch. Or sleeping.
Audiophiles don't care about optical out in 2017.
MarkMclovin
Member
The Omega Man
Member
So unless your receivers are HDMI 2.0a or 2.1 compliant and HDCP 2.2 compliant your receivers are about to be outdated too.
I am not going to buy an HDMI receiver at this point in time only be outdated in a year, right now is really not a good time to upgrade for us people with optical setups/non HDMI receivers.
I am not going to buy an HDMI receiver at this point in time only be outdated in a year, right now is really not a good time to upgrade for us people with optical setups/non HDMI receivers.
This might be the most disappointing comment in a most disappointing thread.
Sanctuary
Member
Sure it doesn't.
Some people still prefer to use the best (well, best for the money anyway until you reach the Smyth Realiser levels and price) headphone solution for 5.1 when, or if speakers just aren't an option. Until recently, the HDMI splitters were all hot garbage, and would only output in 2ch stereo too. Maybe a $50 adapter will do the trick now, but that's still an additonal $50 for a feature that's still common with home consoles.
Yes, but then so does hooking up a tablet to a stereo, which I'm not sure is what the OP was after.
Transistor
Banned
But you run this risk with most technology
Everyone in this thread suggesting hdmi splitters/extractors or routing optical out of the TV has no idea what they're talking about.
The real issue is that the switch doesn't support any Dolby Formats, just like the WiiU. LCPM 5.1 only. Which doesn't *fit* through an optical cable. And no downconverters exist. So if you have an optical setup, stereo is all you're going to get.
Before anyone says that optical = outdated hardware, that's not necessarily true. I have a Sonos playbar with sub and rears, it's still being sold, very high quality and $1700 new.
The real issue is that the switch doesn't support any Dolby Formats, just like the WiiU. LCPM 5.1 only. Which doesn't *fit* through an optical cable. And no downconverters exist. So if you have an optical setup, stereo is all you're going to get.
Before anyone says that optical = outdated hardware, that's not necessarily true. I have a Sonos playbar with sub and rears, it's still being sold, very high quality and $1700 new.
Wowfunhappy
Member
To be honest, I'm kind of perpetually amazed that Nintendo's systems support surround sound in the first place. I mean, I'm not complaining, it just seems unlike them.
So isn't that exactly why Nintendo doesn't/can't include an optical port?
The Omega Man
Member
Yes but in this case we know for sure these features are coming very soon so it is not a good time to upgrade right now.
There would be no point in including an optical port without also adding support for Dolby formats, yes.
This thread should be renamed to "Nintendo switch has no 5.1 sound for optical-based sound system"
When blu-rays came we knew that it was a standard. They didn't update the format or the cables every year.
This HDMI 2.1 thing is fucking dumb and should be illegal.
thecouncil
Banned
whoa, whoa, whoa, you're telling me when my Switch and I travel back in time to the 90s, I'm going to have to ALSO take a converter? And the converter doesn't even come pacakaged in? get real, Nintendo.
CouchMaster
Member
I've been wondering the same thing.
I don't think you even know what an audiophile is because they sure as hell don't care about this.
Yes, this will work, BUT
... It will be stereo only. Optical doesn't have the necessary bandwidth to fit LCPM 5.1, which is all that the switch supports. Dolby Digital 5.1 is a compressed format that fits through optical, but Nintendo isn't supporting it, presumably to save money on licensing fees.
billmcdougal
Member
Do they make gaming headsets that do surround sound over hdmi?
My turtle beach headset takes optical. I usually have hdmi to avr and an optical also going out to the turtle beaches.
Maybe there is a better way for me to do that.
My turtle beach headset takes optical. I usually have hdmi to avr and an optical also going out to the turtle beaches.
Maybe there is a better way for me to do that.
I live in a tiny apartment and it's not exactly conducive to having an optimal surround sound set up. That and when I would use it, it's late at night, and would wake up my neighbors. So headphones have been serving me fine.
But for those that say use a DAC, which would you recommend and would it offer simulated surround? I find it useful for directionality purposes in games with a X-Fi Titanium HD on my PC and a DSS2 for consoles. Using a pair of Philips X2s.
But for those that say use a DAC, which would you recommend and would it offer simulated surround? I find it useful for directionality purposes in games with a X-Fi Titanium HD on my PC and a DSS2 for consoles. Using a pair of Philips X2s.
Yea, this I knew. Sucks but as long as I get sound from the Soundbar, I'll manage. I live in a small NYC apartment so I don't need a booming sound experience anyway. Thank you for the response.
AndyMoogle
Member
Nintendo has never had an optical out though.
professor denim
Member
Lol
kidding in that "of course it has USB audio out"
or
kidding in that "why would it have USB audio out"
TheChewyWaffles
Member
Actually this is completely wrong..Not only DID they update cables back then...They updated bluray "profiles" multiple times...which made your entire BD player obsolete...
I love this image.
good for you. If it doesn't have HDMI you are missing out on all the high definition audio formats and 1080p, so that sucks.
Just get a splitter.
no Nintendo console has ever had an optical out. Wii U was the first with HDMI, even.
No. Cables don't matter. It's the output of the system. The whole cable thing is a lie.
Also you could update your Bluray players with new profiles, which I did a lot back then with my Pioneer.
PeterVenkman
Member
So can I tangent this thread to ask: as someone with consoles and pc in the living room (apartment so space is a concern), what's the move? My current speakers are just Logitech z5500, so they don't even support hdmi. Are there small footprint receivers I should look into? Time to ditch the speakers and upgrade? Sound card with hdmi out will be needed for the pc I guess?
I usually go all out on video, so I apologize for knowing nothing about audio.
I usually go all out on video, so I apologize for knowing nothing about audio.
Outrun
Member
Agreed.
I use optical still. People are talking as if it is the Kempston interface....
drotahorror
Member
Why would you have to run a splitter with that setup? On my TV, I can run several components to it (via hdmi) and then run my soundbar via optical to the TV as well no problem. I don't understand why that would require a splitter.
If you can't go the receiver route with 5/7.1 etc, I would look into a soundbar with a hdmi out and multiple hdmi inputs.
An example - http://www.bestbuy.com/site/sony-2-...eless-subwoofer-black/3953235.p?skuId=3953235
Run your TV/monitor to that and then hook your pc and other consoles up with the hdmi inputs.
I don't think this option is very cheap for the quality you'll get. For $400 you could get a 5.1 setup with a receiver and more inputs that would sound superior. You could also look into an hdmi switch which I don't know how reliable those are.
Why does the console even do 5.1 to begin with? The vast majority of people simply use their TV audio so I'd rather Nintendo just stick to stereo and make the console cheaper. There's no point in having something that only a few people can use.
Between the HDR thread and now this, that's what some of you guys sound like.
Wont they switch to usb-c anyway?
Octavianus
Banned
Alright
TheAmazingXemo
Member
https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=5557 cheeeeckkkkkk it. This will get you by until you can afford to upgrade your now aging receiver.
I have done this yes. Especially for over the air tv. The tuner is built into the TV, but I need surround sound, and the TV doesn't out HDMI out. So optical!