Optical Audio

[browndk26]

We have our Plasma TV hooked direct to cable TV(not going to pay for a 3rd DVR). If I connect an optical cable from the optical audio out of the TV to an AVR, can I get Dolby sound if the show has it?

[emoxley]

Originally Posted by browndk26

We have our Plasma TV hooked direct to cable TV(not going to pay for a 3rd DVR). If I connect an optical cable from the optical audio out of the TV to an AVR, can I get Dolby sound if the show has it?

Only if you're using an antenna with the internal tuner. If you try to go through the tv, before going to the receiver, and if it will pass audio that way at all, it will downmix it to 2.0. So, the best you can hope for is Dolby Pro Logic II (simulated surround). You don't have a cable box at all? You can have a box without it being a DVR.

If it's using a QAM tuner (for cable), or digital ATSC tuner that's built-in, I suppose it's possible. I've never really heard, under those conditions. Why don't you try it and let us know. You probably know already, on an HD channel that broadcasts in 5.1, it should say Dolby Digital in the receiver's display. Let us know if it works, and what kind of tuner it's using, so we'll know how to answer other people that asks the same question. Thanks!
Good luck!

[browndk26]

Originally Posted by emoxley

Only if you're using an antenna with the internal tuner. If you try to go through the tv, before going to the receiver, and if it will pass audio that way at all, it will downmix it to 2.0. So, the best you can hope for is Dolby Pro Logic II (simulated surround). You don't have a cable box at all? You can have a box without it being a DVR.

If it's using a QAM tuner (for cable), or digital ATSC tuner that's built-in, I suppose it's possible. I've never really heard, under those conditions. Why don't you try it and let us know. You probably know already, on an HD channel that broadcasts in 5.1, it should say Dolby Digital in the receiver's display. Let us know if it works, and what kind of tuner it's using, so we'll know how to answer other people that asks the same question. Thanks!
Good luck!

We are using the internal QAM tuner to get the Digital channels so we don't need a cable box for this TV. When we connect a surround sound to the TV we will try it.

[solarrdadd]

if your tv has a digital tuner, you will get both HD channels, digital channels and yes, if your tv has optical out for audio you will get DD 5.1 sound to your receiver. my sony RPTV has a digital tuner in it and i have my cable tv split to a DVR and direct to the tv (as a back-up in case the cable box goes crazy or so i can record 2 programs at the same time they i can watch something in HD with my TV tuner)

it works like a charm. just assign something to the optical input and use that when you want to get sound from your tv. i do it all the time! just remember to turn the sound off on your tv when doing this or you'll get audio ghosting and that will drive you crazy because they will be out of sync!

best of luck & keep us posted

[repete66211]

To second emoxley: Some TVs will pass 5.1 via optical regardless of source (in my experience only Sony), but most TVs only pass 5.1 from antenna source programming.