I'll summarize my setup again as it was before and as it is now:
This is how it was in the past:
- the Onkyo-AVR HDMI-out was connected to the Samsung TV (model: UE50J5150)
- sound for cable TV was connected to the Onkyo-AVR TV-in using a cinch cable on the rear jack/headphone output
- my Android box = Nvidia Shield is connected to one of the HDMI-ins on the Onkyo-AVR with HDMI.
This setup was "annoying" and was not W.A.F compatible, as I always needed 3 remote controls.
1 for classic TV,
1 volume control Onkyo-AVR,
1 to operate Nvidia Shield.
I was then able to set it up using an infrared USB adapter (Flirc2) on the Nvidia Shield so that the Samsung remote control could control the Shield. So far so good, one remote control less.
Although the Shield was connected with HDMI, to the AVR or directly to the TV, CEC never worked. I had to use Trick17 (infrared USB adapter).
The volume on the Onkyo AVR was fixed at 30% and I then controlled the volume via the Shield with the Samsung remote control. It just looks a bit strange because it shows two volume bars because the remote controls both devices at the same time. One for the TV (but it has no effect) and one for the Shield.
Now the Onkyo is broken and we no longer use cable TV, just the Shield with Waipu TV and Netflix.
Setup now:
- the Nvidia Shield is connected to the HDMI on the Samsung TV
- sound goes from the Samsung TV to the Wiim Amp once with a cinch and once with an optical cable. (so that the two can be compared)
I have already tested/found the following on the Wiim:
- the sound over cinch is flatter than over an optical cable
- the EQ at least plays music in a way that suits me, with an optical connection. I still find it a lot tinnier over cinch and therefore not good.
- I don't think either is good for films on Netflix. The TV speakers almost sound better! That can't be right!
- over optical it even sounds as if the speakers are further apart. Over cinch it sounds "closer" again and therefore better.
- if I want to use optical, I have to explicitly set the sound output on the TV to "external speakers". Then the volume is fixed and I can no longer control the volume using the remote control. (In addition, a large message window from Samsung appears telling me to control the external speakers separately)
- I can still control the volume via the RCA using the remote control
- the automatic room correction, i.e. calibration using the iOS app, works. But it's still too shallow for my taste. The parametric EQ can definitely get something out of it, but it's very complicated. The normal EQ has presets and is therefore easier to use.
- the noise comes from the RCA at 100% TV volume. You can also hear a slight "scratching" when the sound is played.
The biggest drawback, however, is that I can't control the volume with the TV remote control when I'm using optical audio. But that's the only way the sound quality is good.
I would basically have to use the poorer RCA to be able to control the volume.
This is how it was in the past:
- the Onkyo-AVR HDMI-out was connected to the Samsung TV (model: UE50J5150)
- sound for cable TV was connected to the Onkyo-AVR TV-in using a cinch cable on the rear jack/headphone output
- my Android box = Nvidia Shield is connected to one of the HDMI-ins on the Onkyo-AVR with HDMI.
This setup was "annoying" and was not W.A.F compatible, as I always needed 3 remote controls.
1 for classic TV,
1 volume control Onkyo-AVR,
1 to operate Nvidia Shield.
I was then able to set it up using an infrared USB adapter (Flirc2) on the Nvidia Shield so that the Samsung remote control could control the Shield. So far so good, one remote control less.
Although the Shield was connected with HDMI, to the AVR or directly to the TV, CEC never worked. I had to use Trick17 (infrared USB adapter).
The volume on the Onkyo AVR was fixed at 30% and I then controlled the volume via the Shield with the Samsung remote control. It just looks a bit strange because it shows two volume bars because the remote controls both devices at the same time. One for the TV (but it has no effect) and one for the Shield.
Now the Onkyo is broken and we no longer use cable TV, just the Shield with Waipu TV and Netflix.
Setup now:
- the Nvidia Shield is connected to the HDMI on the Samsung TV
- sound goes from the Samsung TV to the Wiim Amp once with a cinch and once with an optical cable. (so that the two can be compared)
I have already tested/found the following on the Wiim:
- the sound over cinch is flatter than over an optical cable
- the EQ at least plays music in a way that suits me, with an optical connection. I still find it a lot tinnier over cinch and therefore not good.
- I don't think either is good for films on Netflix. The TV speakers almost sound better! That can't be right!
- over optical it even sounds as if the speakers are further apart. Over cinch it sounds "closer" again and therefore better.
- if I want to use optical, I have to explicitly set the sound output on the TV to "external speakers". Then the volume is fixed and I can no longer control the volume using the remote control. (In addition, a large message window from Samsung appears telling me to control the external speakers separately)
- I can still control the volume via the RCA using the remote control
- the automatic room correction, i.e. calibration using the iOS app, works. But it's still too shallow for my taste. The parametric EQ can definitely get something out of it, but it's very complicated. The normal EQ has presets and is therefore easier to use.
- the noise comes from the RCA at 100% TV volume. You can also hear a slight "scratching" when the sound is played.
The biggest drawback, however, is that I can't control the volume with the TV remote control when I'm using optical audio. But that's the only way the sound quality is good.
I would basically have to use the poorer RCA to be able to control the volume.