Vizio TV can't control volume to TOSLink?

[Glendor]

My old Olevia 37" TV was connected to my Logitech Z5550 speaker controler (amp?) using the TOSLink. Amp was in a cabinet, hidden from view, and set for about 50% volume. The TV remote would control the volume, and the amp would amplify it, as expected.

I upgraded my TV to a Vizio M3D550KDE and connected the Z5550 speaker controler to the TOSLink, just like before. I get sound, but I cannot control the volume using the TV controler. The onscreen volume slider goes up & down, but it doen't adjust the volume. It is as if the TV cannot adjust the digital volume sent to the TOSLink. I have to manually adjust the volume at the speaker controler.

I was able to add the speaker controler as a "device", and the TV remote will control it directly, but where it is located in my home theater doesn't have LOS to the seating area.

I would rather have the TV controler adjust the volume of the digital signal and have the speaker controler set at a fixed 50% volume like I used to do with the old TV.

Anybody have any advice about this?

Update: The reason why this is important to me is that the Comcast DVR remote will control the TV, but not the Amp. The TV remote will control the amp, but not the DVR. So if the TV will just control the volume of the TOSLink like in the old system, I can use the one Comcast remote for everything...

 

[Soundmanred]

The analog output can be variable or fixed, the optical is fixed.

 

[Glendor]

Thanks for the reply. Is that a common design, or specific to my make/model? My other TVs worked fine the way I had them connected to the Z5550s. If I was to exchange it for an LG, or Samsung, would I have better luck with the TOSLink audio?

 

[Soundmanred]

Thanks for the reply. Is that a common design, or specific to my make/model? My other TVs worked fine the way I had them connected to the Z5550s. If I was to exchange it for an LG, or Samsung, would I have better luck with the TOSLink audio?

I was under the assumption that most sets have a fixed optical output.
You can always look up manuals for sets you're interested in.

 

[sdifox]

This is not unique to Vizio. Toslink is fixed level.

 

[Glendor]

I suppose the Olevia is an oddball. I tested the Olevia again last night, and the TV does control the output of the TOSLink.

If TOSLink output is fixed on Vizio, and apparently others, I suppose I'll have to rearrange my home theater to get the Z5550 controler LOS, and I'll have to invest in a Logitech Harmony if I want to get control down to one remote.

Unless anyone has had luck configuring the Vizio remote to control Comcast/Cisco RNG200N

 

[kornphlake]

It's pretty typical for a line out of any flavor to be at a fixed volume rather the interface is toslink, spdif, RCA, TRS, XLR, or something else, that's just the way it is with audio. Any device that can vary the volume of the signal would be an exception. The only way to control the volume on a digital signal is to decode, and re-encode which opens the door for a lot of other issues. It's a much more elegant solution to control the volume with a pre-amp.

 

[Soundmanred]

Analog outs are almost always switchable from fixed to variable in my experience. (which began with a Sony XBR years ago).