No sound from amp

[ma...@garymshaw.co.uk]

Hi,

My B2 arrived by courier this morning (very excited). I've set it up. All good.

I then connected it to my Pioneer SX-324 amp. I used a HDMI cable. Played a track from the B2. Silence.

I then switched off the amp, restarted the B2 and pushed play again. Silence.

Any ideas why this is happening? Would I be better off with some other kind of connection than HDMI?

I do intend to get the BlueTooth dongle and stream music to an Amazon Echo in my kitchen, but wanted to play it in the lounge first. So a wired connection is my only option for the moment.

Thanks,

Gary

[lesliebr...@gmail.com]

Hi Gary, you may have to check 'Audio on HDMI' from the UI Settings menu. If you are using the Web UI you can do it there by clicking the small gear wheel in the top left hand side window. An options window should appear and you'll the the box that needs checked for HDMI audio. Hope this sorts you out.

[ma...@garymshaw.co.uk]

Thanks Leslie.

I've ticked that and also the 'Enable TV UI' box too. Restarted the B2, still nothing.

Are there any other form of cable that could work?

Gary

[JFBUK]

Hi Gary,

if your amp has an optical connection then I would try that, It works fine from the B2 to my Yamaha amp.

This is the cable if you need one

https://www.amazon.co.uk/XO-Digital-Mini-Toslink-Optical-Premium/dp/B00CIEYRE6?th=1

[ma...@garymshaw.co.uk]

That's excellent. I'll get one of those as soon as the shops open up again on Jan 2nd.

Thanks very much.

Gary

[Keith Conrad]

Gary,

Not that familiar with this Pioneer receiver, but.  Is it possible that in the receiver menu, that you have to enable the hdmi port to get audio/video from it?  I have been using

HDMI since Martin enabled it, and have never had any problem.  Also, on the B2, where the cog icon is, you have to enable audio on HDMI.

Hope this helps,

Keith Conrad

USA

[Daniel Taylor]

I agree with Keith.  Most modern receivers have a setting for which type of input you want for a particular source.  If you don't have HDMI selected, it will be looking for a differenty kind of hardware input.

[PMB]

Hi Gary,

You may have to set the HDMI input on the Pioneer to PCM.

Paul

Brennan Support.

[ma...@garymshaw.co.uk]

Thanks with all your responses to this. I'm still not getting any sound from the amp.

The Pioneer is a home cinema amp. To input an HDMI lead, there are four sockets: DVD, BluRay, Game or Cable/Satellite. I then have to select which on the console or remote.

I've looked in the amp menu and it has 'PCM' or 'Auto' in the sound input options. It was set to PCM anyway.

There is an optical input socket, I don't know whether it's Toslink. The amp is only about five years old.

I've ticked the 'Audio on HDMI (TV)' option in the Settings and Status menu.

So I'm still a bit lost as to why there's no sound.

I still intend to get the Bluetooth dongle to stream to my Echo, but it's more important that it plays through the amp in the lounge.

Gary

[Nick Hickson]

I have an Arcam Mini Blink Bluetooth DAC attached to my Amp/receiver analogue I put. Anything with BT output will link with it. Not cheap though.
I could play my Brennan this way but bought a 4 Metre optical cable instead.

[ma...@garymshaw.co.uk]

Thanks Nick. That's one option.

I've just read a review of them and see they're available from Richer Sounds for £79, which isn't too bad. 

I think the optical cable might be a good (and cheaper) idea too. 

Gary

[ma...@garymshaw.co.uk]

I'm out in London this afternoon, so will try a Richer Sounds shop, as that's where I bought the amp and see what they think.

[Keith Conrad]

Gary,

One more thing, if it is not too much trouble, is it possible to hook your B2 into a tv with hdmi input, just to test the cable and the sound out from the B2 ?

Not trying to dissuade you from the optical cable, just another trouble shooter item.  Good Luck !

Best Regards

Keith Conrad

[ma...@garymshaw.co.uk]

That’s a great idea, I hadn’t thought of that, so will give it a go.

Gary

[ma...@garymshaw.co.uk]

I've tried putting the HDMI lead into the TV, as suggested by Keith, but still no sound.

I can't see why nothing works. 

I've tried both the HDMI sockets on the TV. The screen actually displays all the track information, just has no sound. The volume is up on both the TV and the B2 display.

To be honest, after spending the money on the B2, I'm a bit reluctant to splash out any more for the moment. But I'm starting to get a bit fed up with something that looks so straight forward and simple, yet just doesn't work.

[lesliebr...@gmail.com]

Is there anything else you can check the HDMI lead on? Say like a DVD player to the TV. If audio works there your lead is fine and then it is definitely something at either the Receiver or B2 end. 

[lmik...@gmail.com]

I have a Yamaha  recv that when I connect to hdmi input of recv turn on the B2 the light on recv to let me know that hdmi input is there,sound is not on, then I reboot  the B2 and and works. I've since use the optical  inputs on recv, no problems at all.

[ma...@garymshaw.co.uk]

The HDMI lead is actually the lead I use to connect the BluRay player to the Amp. In fact, I then tried the other HDMI lead, which connects the Amp to the TV. Both times I get the same result, the screen shows the track info, but no sound comes out.

Both the Amp and TV work normally otherwise, so it's either something glaringly obvious that I've missed or am unaware of, OR there's something wrong with the B2.

[Keith Conrad]

Gary,

Keith again.......Do you get any audio from Internet Radio stations ?  This is a real head scratcher, especially if you can see the track info on the tv while the B2 is playing.

The only other info I can offer is:

1 Turn everything off.

2 Turn on your receiver with the corrrect input for the B2.

3 Turn on the B2, maybe the 'handshake' isnt handing off the way it should.  

In the menu, I have 'Jack Sense' turned off, but I dont know if this would help you out, Paul at support might answer that better than I.

Trying to get you goin,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Best Regards

Keith Conrad

[Nick Hickson]

Have you actually tested the integrity of that particular HDMI lead elsewhere? I had one once in a box of connection leads that was faulty. A new lead solved all my problems.

[ma...@garymshaw.co.uk]

Thanks Keith, I've just restarted everything, still nothing.

I'm starting to get disheartened with the whole thing and seriously considering sending it back.

[ma...@garymshaw.co.uk]

Thanks Nick, but it's not the lead. I've tried two now, both are ones that normally are in use either connecting the amp to the TV or the BluRay player to the amp.

[lesliebr...@gmail.com]

Did you try the optical route. You can get a cable for under £10. Even better if you know someone who has one you could borrow to test it out. Hate to see anyone give up on the Brennan as if you can get it working with your system it is a great way to access your music. Love mine, but can understand your frustration. 

[ma...@garymshaw.co.uk]

I'll give that a go. If that fails, I'm sending the B2 back.

I'd be sorry to do that, as it looked like the solution I've been looking for. But it shouldn't be this hard to play music.

[Nick Hickson]

Sorry to sound thick but hasn't your amp got any other suitable inputs free? I have a Denon M40 mini 'HiFi' system having given away all my higher end HiFi, including Arcam amps, MA speakers etc. The Heart Foundation had it all!

[lesliebr...@gmail.com]

 Gary, check this link out  https://youtu.be/nxgnToGnV0M  Shows B2 setup including optical toslink, and mini jack to phono connections to an amp.

[Daniel Taylor]

Gary,

It's beginning to sound like your B2 is really broken.  Send an e-mail to Brennan support here:  thebre...@gmail.com - ( the  brennan  b2  (at)  gmail  .  com )

They will either help you get things sorted out or tell you where/how to send in your unit for repair or exchange.

[Rick H]

I too had great frustration with attempting to get the B2 to work with my older Samsung A/V receiver. I tried HDMI from the B2 into an open HDMI port on the Samsung. Nothing. To make a long story short; I finally realized that all of the audio input (optical "TOSS" cable) on the Samsung was being used by the Cable Box  for the surround sound audio output from the Samsung A/V receiver.So, I gave up on that method altogether. Then I tried a Bose Soundtouch 10 Bluetooth speaker in conjunction with a pair of Creative Labs desktop speakers. I had the bluetooth dongle attached to the B2. This method seemed to work ok. But, as has been noted the B2 is not really meant to be a Bluetooth transmitter. The dongle, apparently is for Bluetooth input. You can buy an Avantree Bluetooth receiver/transmitter and plug that in to get steady, reliable bluetooth service. I found that using the B2 to transmit to the Bose speaker was causing resets and other spurious issues with the B2. So, I have now resorted to just using the Creative Labs, stereo speakers (15 watts I believe with pretty good bass response for desktop speakers one would probably usually employ on a PC). plugged into the old school audio output jack on the B2. The B2 seems to have no issues with this arrangement. I use the Bluetooth speaker with my PC that I use to access the B2 with. It works out well, because I can jump back and forth between Itunes music (which in my opinion has a better internet radio experience than the B2's "Vtuner and presets, which seem to have issues as well. But that is another story addressed elsewhere on this forum. The B2 is great for ripping one's CD collection to. And the sound quality is better than most other audio devices. But, I have found it to be "finicky" and prone to spurious faults and problems from time to time. But, this is the nature of the Raspberry/Pi Linux based distribution O/S at the heart of the device. Try a pair of decent desktop speakers before you return the B2. They should work fine.

[ma...@garymshaw.co.uk]

Hi Rick, thanks for taking the time to tell me of your experience and issues with the B2. Much appreciated.

Possibly that could well be the solution, however, I really don't want another set of speakers in my lounge. I have six speakers already from the surround sound setup and that's plenty enough. I don't think my wife will be too impressed with that either.

My other plan was to stream music from it via the Bluetooth dongle (not purchased yet, so I can't test it) to an Amazon Echo Dot in my kitchen. If the Bluetooth dongle is more for input than output, then that's another plan foiled. 

I think I have to accept that if the B2 can't fit into the system that I have already, then it's just not the solution that I've been looking for.

Shame really.

[Rick H]

I  hear you. I too have limited space in and on my entertainment center furniture. Which is why I can't use the speakers that Brennan also sells. They are just a bit too large. So, I understand that fully. And, the B2 is not the solution for all. Good Luck.

[PMB]

Hi Gary,

Have you had a chance to try the optical connection yet - does your Pioneer have an optical input?

I'm away from the office until the 14th but will check out the HDMI output settings when I get back - Martin has tested his unit and says it works OK.

Paul
Brennan Support.

[Perplexed Paul]

Sorry if this sounds stupid, but have you set the volume control on your B2 to 60 before connection to our amp?

I thought I had the same problem as you, but this sorted it for me.

[ma...@garymshaw.co.uk]

Hi Paul,

The amp does have an optical input, but I'm now reluctant to spend more money on further equipment. I don't want another lead, when it's not outputting any sound to either the amp or the TV via HDMI.

To be honest, I'm getting fed up with messing about with it. I thought this would be the solution to what I've been looking for and this has been a hassle from day one. I don't find it particular straight forward to use, it seems to have a mind of its own most of the time. I want something that my wife and I can play music through, if it takes a degree in electronics to make that happen, then this is clearly not what I need.

Everyone on here has been really helpful, and I realise that there are a million products out there, so not everything works the same way, but I didn't expect it to be this much work.

Can I just return it and get my money back?

Gary

[ma...@garymshaw.co.uk]

Thanks Paul, tried that, but still no joy.

It's either a faulty device or it's just not what I need.

[Nick Hickson]

There's much equipment my partner can't use or get to grips with, tbh. I'm limited with what I'd really like to buy because I'm the only one who'd be able to operate it fully.
To give up something for a lead costing a fraction of what you've already outlayed seems a bit silly.
However I do agree and with what I know now about my recent purchase, I would never had imagined how difficult the B2 would be to operate without the WEB UI.
I've only ripped half my meagre CD Classical collection but the UI is essential for doing that and editing each CD. To do this just using a rotary knob and pressing it appropriately would take forever.
Iv think you've given up on it no matter what we say now.

[ma...@garymshaw.co.uk]

Hi Nick,

Fair comment.

At the same time, I just don't think this is the solution that I am looking for.

[Daniel Taylor]

Gary,

If your unit is really broken, why not treat it like any other piece of kit you might buy that needed service under warranty?  If it's defective, the folks at Brennan will surely make it right.  If it's not defective, and you just aren't able to get it to cooperate, then I quite agree with your decision.

[PMB]

Hi GAry,

Please email us on thebre...@gmail.com and we will take it from there.

Paul
Brennan Support.