Lifestyle T20 home entertainment system compatibility with Bell fibe 4K top box
Canada
I completed new 4K pvr from Bell Aliant installation and have sound but no video (tv).
bell Aliant replaced 4K pvr/set top box which I installed again and have same problem.
sound with no tv
Does anyone know if my Bose t20 (purchased in 2011) is compatible with Bell 4K pvr/set top box.
would a Bose console software update solve this connectivity problem?
Your Lifestyle T20 maxes out at 1080p using HDMI 1.4b. It cannot be upgraded to support 4k using HDMI 2.1 as that is a hardware difference. You cannot purchase a new receiver from Bose as their new systems use a wireless bass that is incompatible with the current one you have.
This does not mean you have no solutions though and you can still use your system.
Before I continue, I would probably purchase a harmony remote or something similar that can control the system and everything else connected (just wait for a sale as I did on Black Friday). Though you can use it with the included HDMI switch remote to change sources.
p.s. to others reading: if you have a Lifestyle CD system, a Lifestyle/321 DVD system, or a Lifestyle system with an MC1 receiver please follow those links for instructions on how to connect them to a modern 4K TV.
0. Keep everything at 1080p
Now a simple solution would be to watch everything at 1080p and not 4K. You won't have to change anything.
The advantage is you won't have to we-wire anything or purchase any adapters (like I'll bring up later), you will still get uncompressed audio (if your devices provide it), and you can still use the Bose remote as you always have. You will only sacrifice the ability to watch 4K content on your 4K TV.
Not everyone will be willing to do this, after all, why purchase a 4K TV if you're not going to watch anything in 4K.
I just had to get this option out of the way.
1. Connect everything to the TV:
This is the simplest solution. Sadly, this Lifestyle system does not support ARC or eARC so you would have to use the optical out of your TV to your Lifestyle system. The problem with that is optical cables only send PCM 2.0, Dolby Digital 5.1, or DTS 5.1. They cannot send uncompressed audio formats to the Lifestyle system.
Not only that but a lot of TV's do not output 5.1 for HDMI sources connected to them only PCM 2.0 (be aware that sometimes internal TV sources like apps do output 5.1). So, before you do anything test and see if your TV outputs 5.1 or 2.0 using optic and a source you know outputs 5.1 via HDMI.
I would like to point out what cables can support what formats:
If you don't care about uncompressed audio & your TV outputs 5.1 you might just want to keep it as it is, but there are better solutions.
2. Send Video to the TV and Audio directly to your Lifestyle system:
Some devices support two HDMI outs like this 4K BluRay player. This is a great solution as it will ensure you get full 4k video going to your TV and uncompressed audio going to your Lifestyle system. That is if your source supports them.
Now, most cable & satellite boxes do not support uncompressed audio for their TV channels. So, HDMI might not be required for uncompressed audio so Digital Coax/SPDIF & TOSLink/Optical would work just fine. The image below this might be a great way to connect everything to your TV. I should mention there is a chance that some apps built into your cable/satellite box might output uncompressed audio, yet you could use your Blu-Ray players' apps for that.
If you are like me and your TV does not output 5.1 but only 2.0 then connect your 4k video to the TV and send the SPDIF/Optical cable to your Lifestyle system.
This is why a universal remote like what I mentioned earlier would make using your system with this type of setup a lot easier.
3. Get an HDMI switch with 2 HDMI outs:
I found a few HDMI switches with 2 HDMI outs that support 4k @ 60hz. I have not personally tested any of these.
This HDMI 4x2 switch features 4 HDMI in's and 2 HDMI outs
If this specific switch is currently sold out, I have found a couple of alternatives.
If you want a different HDMI switch please keep a few things in mind.
If you already have a switch you wish to use, you could get an HDMI Splitter that features an HDMI Audio only port. Here are some HDMI splitters that feature an HDMI audio out:
Using this setup will still give you the full 5.1 surround experience you are used to as this is what your Lifestyle system is capable of supporting:
I hope that solves your problem, and please let me know what you end up doing 🙂
Thank you very much for you reply, and I want to follow up on your first suggestion mainly due to my limited knowledge of technology. My tv is a Samsung led series 6 - 6000 6050 purchased in 2011. Your comments brought home the complexity of the technology for a novice like me and prompted me to google my tv manual which reads " if you want to hear 5.1 audio, connect the digital audio out jack from your cable box directly to your home theatre"
I looked at the back of my tv to find the "the digital audio out (optical) and my Bose console has a "optical tv audio in" however this connection would require a special cable.....not hdmi. I am willing to forego watching 4K tv and be satisfied with HIgh definition tv. I would like to have Bose quality sound. Thank you again for taking the time to give your comprehensive reply and for sharing your knowledge? Your thoughts please on me finding a make do solution with my limited technical skills.
Mike
Glad to help. If it solved your question, please mark my answer above as the solution to help others in the future 🙂
I will point out that you might have that cable at home. If not you can call Bose and see if they can send you one or purchase it online. Though I doubt that is needed as your TV does not support 4k 😉
https://www.samsung.com/us/support/owners/product/2011-led-smart-tv-6-series
Before taking action on NeonsNight's first solution using the optical cable connection, I decided to first call in a technician who determined the problem was with my Bell Aliant pvr/set top box. A new one was installed successfully and my issue is resolved. The technician spoke very well of my Bose system. I now have good video and the quality audio I was hoping for. So while I did not need to act on your recommendations.....that would have been my next step. Unfortunatly, I am unable to comment on the specifics of your solutions, however I am impressed with your speedy and comprehensive reply. All is well that ends well. Kudos to you and the Bose community forum. Thanks again NeonsNight!
Regards,
Mike
wrote:Before taking action on NeonsNight's first solution using the optical cable connection, I decided to first call in a technician who determined the problem was with my Bell Aliant pvr/set top box. A new one was installed successfully and my issue is resolved. The technician spoke very well of my Bose system. I now have good video and the quality audio I was hoping for. So while I did not need to act on your recommendations.....that would have been my next step. Unfortunatly, I am unable to comment on the specifics of your solutions, however I am impressed with your speedy and comprehensive reply. All is well that ends well. Kudos to you and the Bose community forum. Thanks again NeonsNight!
Regards,
Mike
When you told me how old your TV was I knew then it would not support 4K. So I am not surprised that everything working now 🙂
At least you have options for the future if you do decide to upgrade to a 4K TV and you also wish to watch everything in 4K.
