Does any current Roku product support digital audio out so I can connect to my avr

As renojim mentions, no current Roku player has an optical output. The last model with one was the Ultra 4640, which is not a 5 year old device. Yes, you can connect an optical cable from your TV to a receiver to get all audio (TV and any device connected to the TV) to the AVR. However, not every TV will passthrough 5.1 audio from a connected device. I know of no definitive list of such TVs. They will provide 5.1 audio from OTA broadcasts and any internal apps (assuming it's a Smart TV), but not from a connected device. If it won't passthrough 5.1, all you will be able to get is stereo sound. Even if the TV does passthrough the audio from the Roku, it won't passthrough Dolby Digital+ with Atmos (if that's important to you). Some TVs won't pass DD+ at all, and again you'd be stuck with 2 channel stereo since most online streaming providers now use DD+ as their default audio codec. The best way to use an external audio amplifier is to use one that has HDMI jacks, so you can connect your Roku (and every other playback device) directly to the AVR for best possible audio. By definition an AVR has audio/visual jacks, but depending on its age it might not have HDMI jacks.Also, if you have a 4K TV and a 4K Roku, you have to make sure your AVR supports 4K and HDR/HLG/Dolby Vision if your TV supports those options. Virtually every new 4K TV supports HDR10, and some also support HLG and DV. LG is one of the best for supporting them all. Samsung does not support DV. I only offer that comment because just because an AVR says it's 4K compatible doesn't mean it supports DV or HLG, and possibly even basic HDR.

You should be able to do that. I thought you were referring to something like one of the older/obsolete devices that had an optical audio output. No current device has anything like that. I'm no AVR expert, but some audio formats can be passed through to the TV/AVR. atc98092 may know more about the capabilities of the current devices when the audio output format is set to "pass through" (I'm not even sure if all devices support pass-through). And of course if your AVR has HDMI inputs then you can connect the Roku device to the AVR and its output to the TV.

Thanks for the comments. I am assisting a friend in the set-up of their new tv service provider. They will be using a fairly old tv (not a smart tv), and using Roku 2 ( I believe) to stream the tv service. They are using Spectrum and will not have a set top box, only using Roku to stream the service by connecting to wi-fi. They want to connect to their avr so they can get surround sound. The avr is also fairly old and does not have HDMI inputs. My thought was to use an optical audio cable to connect from the tv directly to the avr. Hopefully, the tv and the avr have the digital audio ports. Frankly, they would probably be happy with stereo if they could not get 5.1 surround. Thanks for the info and we will try the optical audio cables and hope it will work.

So, I would not be able to have a cable from the digital audio out on the tv to the digital audio in on the avr receiver ?

Roku with digital audio output

9 Replies

Replies have been turned off for this discussion

renojim
Community Streaming Expert
3 years ago
Only via HDMI.
- Gary-kc
  Channel Surfer
  3 years ago
  So, I would not be able to have a cable from the digital audio out on the tv to the digital audio in on the avr receiver ?
  - renojim
    Community Streaming Expert
    3 years ago
    You should be able to do that. I thought you were referring to something like one of the older/obsolete devices that had an optical audio output. No current device has anything like that. I'm no AVR expert, but some audio formats can be passed through to the TV/AVR. atc98092 may know more about the capabilities of the current devices when the audio output format is set to "pass through" (I'm not even sure if all devices support pass-through). And of course if your AVR has HDMI inputs then you can connect the Roku device to the AVR and its output to the TV.

Forum Discussion

Roku with digital audio output

9 Replies

Recent Discussions

Remote not turning on or working

Roku Express factory reset after the update

White lines on my TV screen.

Roku Mobile app not detecting Roku TV

Roku Streaming Stick Stuck on Boot Logo Loop