Connecting a Lifestyle-321 DVD or an MC1 receiver to an HDTV

## Option 4. Possible Lifestyle Upgrade:

*Main article: Upgrading to a Lifestyle AV35 Control Console*

Before I start, I will list the very last option first.

Some Lifestyle systems ***might*** be able to use an upgraded and far more capable reciever:

1. Depending on your sub, you might be able to upgrade the receiver.
2. You might be eligible for a trade-in by talking to your local Bose dealer.

I talk about it in this article. Also, if you have the older subwoofer and wish to replace it with the newer one so you can upgrade your receiver. Know that you will also need to replace the subwoofer cable.

## Universal Remote

With a couple of the solutions below, I would probably purchase a harmony remote or something similar that can control the system and everything else connected (there have been Black Friday sales in the past).

## Receiver Audio/Video connections

### Lifestyle DVD:

*AV28 receiver*

The *VS-2* (an add-on for the AV18/AV38/AV48) and the AV3-2-1III / AV3-2-1GSXIII / AV3-2-1GSXLIII receivers include HDMI 1.2a for video only. **They do not support** HDMI audio, CEC, or ARC.

Lifestyle DVD receivers support Component video using custom external Component adapters.

The version with the **Black** on the Composite plug is for the AV28 media center. However, some early "version 2" adapters did include a black composite plug.
The version with the **Yellow** on the Composite plug is for the AV18/38/48 media centers.

### Lifestyle Sourceless

While the Lifestyle V10/V20/V30 does include 2 HDMI 1.2a inputs that support HDMI Audio & Video, it **does not support** uncompressed audio, ARC, or CEC.

## Audio Format Support:

**All** of the systems mentioned only support **Dolby Digital 5.1**, **DTS 5.1**, and **PCM 2.0**. So you will get the same audio quality using an Optical or a Digital Coax cable (and HDMI audio on the MC1). So change all audio settings on your 3rd party devices to **Bitstream** or **Dolby** or **DTS** and *avoid* PCM or LPCM sound options.

## If the Bose system includes HDMI

This info is posted above, but as a reminder:

* **No HDMI device** listed here will support Uncompressed Audio, ARC, or CEC.
* The **VS-2 does not support** HDMI Audio as audio goes to the receiver and video goes to the VS-2.
* *Aside* from the MC1, the only audio supported on these receivers is RCA, Digital Coax, or Optical.

## Option 0. Video Out issues

Most of the Lifestyle/321 DVD systems did not use HDMI for video but Composite, S-Video, or Component (Bose did sell two "Video Selectors" for the AV18, AV38, & AV48 receivers the VS-1 and the VS-2 to add more video options).

Modern TVs typically only include HDMI inputs, so it can be near impossible to use the receivers on-screen menu to change settings or to access other features, beyond watching DVDs.

Typically when people have problems getting video from these systems, it comes down to **one of these three issues**:

### **Option 0a.** Connecting to a TV that only has HDMI inputs

If you need to access the system menu or you want to watch DVD's, but the TV only has HDMI inputs and your system does not have HDMI outputs. Then you need a Component, S-Video, or Composite to HDMI converter.

I do not have one of the basic devices I list below, so I cannot speak to their quality.  Just make sure that you convert both the audio & video together as cheaper converters typically have a noticeable delay, but this should not be noticeable if both are converted together (unless you are RetroGaming).

I do know that the high-end RetroTINK devices I list are good solutions for their video quality and do not add any delay

You should know that **Component** is the **best video signal** your receiver can output & S-Video has a bit of an image quality improvement over Composite.

The Component / S-Video / Composite to HDMI Converters:

* This Component to HDMI converter is **the best visual** option for your Bose DVD receiver.
	+ Lifestyle DVD owners will need their Component adapters and to change their video out mode via the onscreen or hidden menu. If you do not have the Component adapters, please look at the S-Video / Component options below.
		- if using the hidden menu change it from "Composite+S" to "Progressive" (or if that does not work "Component"). NTSC (if in North America) PAL (outside North America).
		- More info, including the options for Lifestyle DVD Series 1 receivers in this post.
	+ Then there is a **high-end** Component / S-Video / Composite to HDMI converter (direct link) that will give you the best image quality possible from your standard definition source (the RetroTINK-2X Pro Multi-format works with both interlaced or progressive scan video).
	+ Please check this list if it is sold out, but be careful to purchase the correct version as it must convert from Component **TO** HDMI.

* A combined S-Video / Composite to HDMI converter or a basic Composite to HDMI converter.
	+ You could purchase a **high-end** S-Video / Composite to HDMI (alt) converter (direct link).
	+ Lifestyle DVD owners might need to change their video out mode via the onscreen or hidden menu.
		- if using the hidden menu change it to "Composite+S". NTSC (if in North America) PAL (outside North America).
		- More info, including the options for Lifestyle DVD Series 1 receivers in this post.

### **Option 0b.** If you have a Lifestyle DVD system without a VS-2 and are experiencing video issues

 Ok, there is a good chance that your system is stuck in Component mode. With your system, Bose made an external component adapter to allow for progressive scan outputs.

It seems that Bose didn't want to make the system larger by adding these ports to the back of the system, but made it an external adapter. This allowed the Composite & S-Video channels to output YPbPr (Component).
This is because:
* Composite can carry 1 signal
* S-Video can carry 2 signals (1 Luma & 1 Chroma)
* Component can carry 3 signals (1 Luma & 2 Chroma)

You can see why Bose decided to combine Composite & S-Video (1+2 signals) to allow for Component (3 signals). The only downside is if the video is left in Component mode you will not get proper video quality when using Composite or S-Video. So you will need to either see if you can change it back using the onscreen settings or use the hidden menu to do this:
**Activating component or progressive scan connections**
If you have used a component video connection between the media center and the TV, you need to activate settings for the connection, as explained below. With the media center turned off, use the controls on its front panel to follow these steps:
1. Press and hold the Enter button on the media center.
2. While holding the Enter button down, press the Store button.
3. Selections will appear on the media center display each time you press Store. Move up and down using the Volume up and down buttons on the media center console.
4. When **Video** appears as the selection on the display, release the Store and Enter buttons.
5. Use the Volume up and down buttons to scroll through the **Video** options.
	* Stop scrolling at the proper selection.
	* For a component connection only, select: -NTSC COMPONENT (in North America) -PAL COMPONENT (outside North America)
	* For a component connection and progressive scan, select NTSC PROGRESSIVE. **Note**: The system does not support PAL progressive video.
6. With the proper selection made, press Enter to confirm the selection and leave the Video options.

The system is now ready to deliver the DVD video signal you prefer.
Obviously, when you get to step 5 you will have to change the video from Component to Composite/S-Video. I was not sure what that would be, so I did a little more searching and I found it.
**Changing TV video format**
Your system can accept different video formats (i.e. NTSC or PAL). This is useful, for example, if the system is moved to a region that uses a different format.
To select a video format:
Using the system menu
1. On the remote control, press the **System** button Tip: If the system menu does not appear on your TV, be sure the correct TV input is selected
2. Scroll right to select **Video**, then press the **Enter** button
3. Scroll down to **TV Video Format**, then press the **Enter** button
4. Scroll up or down to select **NTSC (US)**, **PAL (Europe)** or **Multistandard** (for TVs that support PAL or NTSC)
5. Press the **Enter** button to select the format
6. Press the **Exit** button to exit the menu
7. Power off your system for at least one minute for the change to take effect.

Using the system display
If this setting is preventing your system from displaying video and on-screen menus, you can change it from the display on the system console.
1. Power off your system
2. On the system console, press and hold the **Enter** button
3. While continuing to hold the **Enter** button, repeatedly press the **Store** button until **Video** appears on the system display
4. Release the **Enter** button, then begin repeatedly pressing the **Volume +** button to scroll through the video format options:
	1. If the accessory VS-2 video enhancer is connected, these options appear:
		1. NTSC INTERLACED
		2. NTSC PROGRESSIVE
		3. PAL INTERLACED
		4. PAL PROGRESSIVE
		5. MULTI INTERLACED
		6. MULTI PROGRESSIVE
	2. If the accessory VS-2 video enhancer is not connected, these options appear:
		1. NTSC COMPOSITE+S
		2. NTSC COMPONENT
		3. NTSC PROGRESSIVE
		4. PAL COMPONENT
		5. PAL COMPOSITE+S
		6. PAL PROGRESSIVE
		7. MULTI COMPOSITE+S
		8. MULTI COMPONENT
5. When the desired option is shown, press the **On/Off** button to select it and exit the menu
6. Power off your system for at least one minute for the change to take effect.

### **Option 0c.** If you have a Lifestyle DVD system with a VS-2 and are experiencing video issues

 Ok, this is a little long, but TLDR, you might need a firmware update or the system is somehow malfunctioning.
**0. Power Cycle:**
Unplug the power from the VS-2 & TV wait a few seconds and plug them back in. A simple solution that quite often works, but one that regularly gets missed.
**1. Check Connections:**
Ok, so make sure that everything is plugged into the correct place and are not loose. Here is the link to the quick setup guide and here is the link to the manual.

Connecting the VS-2 to your media center
Connect the 4-connector end of the VS-2 cable to your media center:
1. Insert the Serial Data plug into the Serial Data connector.
2. Insert the DC Power plug into the DC Power connector.
3. Insert the Composite plug into the Composite Video OUT connector.
4. Insert the S-Video plug into the S-Video OUT connector.

Connect the other end of the VS-2 cable to the VS-2 end panel:
1. Insert multi-pin plug into the Media Center connector.
2. Insert the DC Power plug into the DC POWER Out connector.

Connect the media center power supply to the end panel of the VS-2:
1. Insert the DC power cable from the media center power supply into the DC POWER In connector.

**2. Ensure your system sees it:**
Please check this link and see if your system can view the VS-2. If you cannot next try and see if the system has an option for the VS-2 in the hidden menu.
If everything is connected properly and you cannot see the VS-2 information then you might need an update.
**3. Bose Firmware Update**
I was unable to discover what update VS-2 support was added, but since (according to the manual) the VS-2 came out in 2008 and the Lifestyle 48 was sold from 2004 to 2009. There is a good chance that is the issue. I did find these two posts that say the most recent updates for the system was:
Software Update Disc - uMusic+ MD 01.02.01, Console SW 05.01.08
* Function - Version
* Console - 050108
* Bass Box - 010800
* 1802 Drive Firmware - 1B22
* 1712 Drive Firmware - 1B10
* VS-2 Firmware - 050018
* Music Information Version - 010201
* Tuner - 010300

I would call up Bose and see if they can send you an update disc. I have read comments here that people have been told by Bose that they don't have any more and to check eBay. But the prices for the updates are not reasonable at all.
A repository on GitHub has all the Bose firmware, including the lifestyle updates there. That way you can download and burn it onto a disc.
If you find that everything is connected correctly and you don't need a Bose firmware update, then there is a chance that there is something wrong with the system. you might need to talk to tech support directly and see if they know what's going on. If you do, please get back to us and let us know what was wrong and if there was a solution to this.

@Wazatsir wrote:
it did seem to lose video sync a time or two through bringing up the menus and switching between functions but generally resolved with just switch to another function and back.

Ok, I went too far with support of ARC for the age of the system but HDMI audio pass-through on the vs-2 should have been a given.
My guess is it's an HDCP issue. You might want to find something that removes HDCP as it is known to cause issues. I would assume that something over a decade old and using an older version of HDCP would have a lot of issues with it. I think the HDMI splitter I mention in Option 3 below would work as it might remove HDCP, but it also supports your TV's ARC and has an optical out so that should also help.

## Option 1. Connect everything to the TV

This is the simplest solution.

Just know that a lot of 1080p HDTV's do not output 5.1 for sources connected to the TV only PCM 2.0 (be aware that sometimes internal TV sources like apps do output 5.1). It is almost impossible to know what your TV outputs as it is rarely mentioned in the manual. Luckily your receiver will tell you what signal it is processing so you can know if you are getting the best audio for your receiver or not (just know that YouTube still does not support 5.1 as every audio source there is still standard 2.0 including the 5.1 audio test mixes. If you download them onto a computer and check the media info, they are still 2.0. Even the original series that they have to offer there are in stereo).

### **Option 1a.** Use the TV's Optical out

For simplicity, I would connect all your HDMI devices directly to the TV and use the TV's optical out to your receiver (I will ignore possible RCA/3.5mm headphone connection on your TV as they will only send stereo to your 5.1 surround sound system). Just remember what I wrote directly above as there is a *chance* that you will not get 5.1 but only stereo.

The 321 & Lifestyle DVD receivers include a single optical input. With the exception of the 321 series I systems, **you need to assign the Optical Source** in the settings (321 series II-III, AV28, AV18/AV38/AV48). I would suggest you select **TV** for simplicity's sake as the sound would be coming from the TV.

Another solution is to purchase an Optical to Coaxial converter mentioned in "Option 2b" if you cannot change the systems settings. You would connect the TV's Optical out to the converter and then plug the converter into the Bose receivers TV Coaxial input.

### **Option 1b.** ARC converter with an HDMI pass-through

This is a good option if you cannot assign your Bose receiver's Optical Input (and you do not want to purchase one of the converters mentioned in "Option 0a" or "Option 2b") or if your TV only has an HDMI ARC out, and you wish to listen to a device connected to your TV.

This will guarantee that the HDMI device you connect directly to the converter will send 5.1 to your Bose DVD receiver (if the connected device outputs DD/DTS 5.1). Just remember what I wrote at the start of "Option 1", as there is a *chance* that using HDMI ARC you will only get stereo from anything connected directly to your TV not 5.1.

The 321 & Lifestyle DVD receivers include a single optical input. With the exception of the 321 series I systems, **you need to assign the Optical Source** in the settings (321 series II-III, AV28, AV18/AV38/AV48) as shown in Option 1a.

I would also take a look at "**Option 3**" listed below as it is the only option that will guarantee that the Bose DVD receiver will receive 5.1 from multiple HDMI only devices (if those devices output DD/DTS 5.1 and do not have optical/coax outputs). "**Option 4**" is the best solution if possible.

I found an HDMI ARC converter (alt 1, 2, 3) with an HDMI passthrough that includes a Digital Coax / Optical / RCA output so you can use a Coaxial cable for your Lifestyle DVD system (so you do not have to change the Optical input to get a 5.1 signal). It supports ARC & 4K HDMI video passthrough using **HDMI 2.0** (with HDCP 2.2).

In this guide, other HDMI ARC passthrough devices are recommended. Some do not support modern 4K devices and others that do not have a Coax output but does have an Optical out. I also mention an HDMI ARC audio extractor with Coaxial/Optical outs, but it will sacrifice one of your HDMI ports as there is no HDMI passthrough on the converter.

## Option 2. Send Video to the TV and Audio directly to your Lifestyle system

Now, some home audio devices have both HDMI and other audio out options. If your TV does not output 5.1 but only 2.0 and *all* of your devices have either a Digital Coax/Optical audio out, you could connect your HDMI video to the TV and send the Digital Coax/Optical audio cable to your Lifestyle system.

This is a good example of why a universal remote like what I mentioned earlier would make using your system with this type of setup a lot easier.

### **Option 2a.** Lifestyle with an MC1 receiver

If you are using HDMI and you keep on getting "PCM 2.0" yet you know that it should be playing in "5.1". This is because you are trying to send a lossless audio source like LPCM 5.1 to the MC1. Sadly, as stated earlier, these systems cannot decode lossless audio.

You need to change the settings on your device so that it does not output PCM and outputs Bitstream. If you do not know how, or you checked with the manufacture and those options are not available on your device, please follow the steps shown here by Bose.

### **Option 2b.** 321 & Lifestyle DVD systems

Most devices today do not feature a Digital Coax output, but an Optical output. The 321 & Lifestyle DVD systems include a single Optical and multiple Digital Coax inputs. You could get a Digital Optical to Digital Coaxial converter for each device you wanted to connect to your system.

The drawback to this solution is it could get costly, depending on your setup.

### **Option 2c.** Getting an optical switch

So it might be easier to get an optical switch. I believe this setup would work best with a universal remote. There is at least one automatic switch out there with multiple Digital Optical into Digital Coax out if that helps as you won't need a remote to use it.

The 321 & Lifestyle DVD receivers include a single optical input. With the exception of the 321 series I systems, **you need to assign the Optical Source** in the settings (321 series II-III, AV28, AV18/AV38/AV48) as shown in Option 1a. Or you could purchase the Optical to Coaxial converter mentioned in "Option 2b".

## Option 3. Get an HDMI switch with Digital Coax/Optical out

I found a few HDMI switches with audio outs that support 4k @ 60hz **HDMI 2.0** (with HDCP 2.2). This HDMI 4x1 switch features 4 HDMI in's and has RCA, Optical, & Digital Coax outs, but there are many others. With this setup, I would highly recommend that you purchase a universal remote (as mentioned previously) to help with ease of use for yourself, your family, and anyone else who visits and uses your system.

You should use the Digital Coax output to send your Bose DVD receiver 5.1 audio.

If you use the Digital Optical output, the 321 & Lifestyle DVD receivers include a single optical input. With the exception of the 321 series I systems, **you need to assign the Optical Source** in the settings (321 series II-III, AV28, AV18/AV38/AV48) as shown in Option 1a.

To set this up:

1. Connect your HDMI devices to the HDMI in's on the switch
	* If you need more than 4 ports there are other HDMI #x1 switches out there
2. The TV & Lifestyle
	1. Connect Output to your TV's ARC HDMI port.
		* ARC is a special HDMI port that will send the TV's audio to your Lifestyle
	2. Connect the audio out to the Optical or Digital Coax input of your receiver (labelled on the HDMI splitter below as Toslink or Coaxial).