Need advice on connections

[debv1947]

Hello and first let me apologize for my ignorance. I have a question about my new equipment and how it was connected. There is no problem but I don't know if it is connected in the best way and Sony tech support was noncommittal.

I have a Sony KDL-46XBR8 TV, a Sony Blue Ray BDP-S550 and a Sony Home Theater HT-SS2300. My TV source is a High-Definition DVR from Comcast (Motorola DCH3416) This is a once in a lifetime purchase for me so I had it installed by a professional installer. The young man seemed very knowledgable and assured me that he was connecting the system in the way that would provide optimal video and audio.

Here is how it is connected. He connected the DVR to the audio receiver via BOTH HDMI and optical digital cable. He connected the Blue Ray to the audio receiver also with BOTH HDMI and optical digital cable. He then connected the receiver to the TV with HDMI cable. I am fine with getting all of my audio through the receiver.

I am reading in these forums though, that maybe I would get better audio if there was only an HDMI connection. There seems to be great controversy on this topic. The installer insisted that I would get better quality audio by having both connections.

Finally, he did not set up the Blu-Ray menus so I have entered "HDMI" for the Video connection and "Optical" for the audio connection in the Blu-Ray's setup. Is this correct?

I welcome any advice, suggestions or feedback. I've only had the system for a week and haven't really tested it fully but I am confused about the connections. Thank anyone who can help.

[gearyt]

Originally Posted by debv1947

Hello and first let me apologize for my ignorance. I have a question about my new equipment and how it was connected. There is no problem but I don't know if it is connected in the best way and Sony tech support was noncommittal.

I have a Sony KDL-46XBR8 TV, a Sony Blue Ray BDP-S550 and a Sony Home Theater HT-SS2300. My TV source is a High-Definition DVR from Comcast (Motorola DCH3416) This is a once in a lifetime purchase for me so I had it installed by a professional installer. The young man seemed very knowledgable and assured me that he was connecting the system in the way that would provide optimal video and audio.

Here is how it is connected. He connected the DVR to the audio receiver via BOTH HDMI and optical digital cable. He connected the Blue Ray to the audio receiver also with BOTH HDMI and optical digital cable. He then connected the receiver to the TV with HDMI cable. I am fine with getting all of my audio through the receiver.

I am reading in these forums though, that maybe I would get better audio if there was only an HDMI connection. There seems to be great controversy on this topic. The installer insisted that I would get better quality audio by having both connections.

Finally, he did not set up the Blu-Ray menus so I have entered "HDMI" for the Video connection and "Optical" for the audio connection in the Blu-Ray's setup. Is this correct?

I welcome any advice, suggestions or feedback. I've only had the system for a week and haven't really tested it fully but I am confused about the connections. Thank anyone who can help.

If I read this right...

you will not get the HD Audio formats with your receiver
and the Optical is unnecessary...

HD Audio will travel thru HDMI and required a receiver that
supports them, OR thru coax, using the audio outputs of the 550
and letting the 550 do the decodeing

yo Crack.... are you there ??

just checked your set-up no audio, you are stuck as configured

[crackinhedz]

disconnect the optical cable from your bluray player...and set the bluray player to PCM (or "MIX" I think the term is).

Your sound system should accept 5.1 pcm.

also disconnect the optical cable from your DVR. No need for it.

[JasonR]

We will not help until we see pics of the XBR8!!!

[Hammie]

I'd ask for my money back on the installation since he DID NOT set it up for optimum audio performance. Crackin's suggestions are spot on.

[sssick]

Originally Posted by louhamilton

I'd ask for my money back on the installation since he DID NOT set it up for optimum audio performance. Crackin's suggestions are spot on.

+1

It sounds to me like they just wanted to sell more optical cables. If you have an HDMI receiver, you don't need optical.

[debv1947]

Thank you everyone for your advice. I still don't understand why he set it up that way - he didn't sell me the cables - but you folks sound like you know what you're talking about. Thanks again.

[Warjack Prime]

It makes no sense for him to install the optical cables since HDMI carries both video and audio. Weird indeed.