Question about Digital Audio and Alpine remote

[MauroMJ]

Hello everybody,
I'm an happy PBO Core user and I'm waiting to buy this new PBO Alpine, but I live in Italy and it seems there is no reseller that has this new media player in stock yet.

By the way, I'd like to know how to connect the Alpine to a separate 5.1 Home Theatre System (AC3/DTS); indeed, the PBO Core has a "friendly" optical audio output that works like a charm, but from what I've read around the "audio out" connector on the Alpine is a composite audio/video with only stereo analog support! So, do I have to split audio/video signal from the HDMI cable?

Ok, that was the first question, regarding the remote instead, has anyone taken a look at the patriot website recently? In the product page of the Alpine, the last picture shows the Alpine itself with the remote from the old PBO Core and the new "credit card" remote has disappeared. Don't get me wrong, if it's not an error and they have changed idea about that ugly looking remote, I'll be the first to be happy, but is it really so? Any idea, rumors, patriot-gossip, nothing?

I'll be waiting for suggestions and information. Thanks and bye.

[Patriot_Ben]

Hey MauroMJ,

With the Alpine, yes you'll need to split the audio/video signal from the HDMI cable. The unit cannot process both HDMI and A/V simultaneously.

The picture on the website is correct. Due to popular demand, we are now including the large remote with all PBO Alpine units in addition to the original small remote.

[MauroMJ]

First of all, thanks for your quick reply.
As usual, one good news comes with a bad one (probably thanks to a guy named Murphy :D).

The remote of the old version was indeed a very good one and it's very commendable that Patriot decided to include both the remotes. On the other side, I think it's a little step back that the separated optical audio output has been wiped away with this new media player; my LG TV sadly, don't like very much the optical audio output and won't passthrough the 5.1 (and DTS) signals, preferring instead to downmix them to stereo. This wasn't a problem with the PBO CORE that can be connected via HDMI to TV and simultaneously with optical cable to my Thomson HT. So, now I'm gonna find a solution.

By the way, any idea when Patriot will be shipping the PBO Alpine in Europe?

Thanks again and bye

[Patriot_Ben]

Hey MauroMJ,

The PBO Alpine should be available in Europe in roughly a week. I don't have exact retailers yet, but most likely Poland and Germany.