Optical cable vs. A/V cables

[jjholmes93]

I have my ATV2 plugged into my TV via HDMI. My TV also has an optical audio output as does my stereo receiver. Is it possible to run an optical cable from my TV to the stereo to handle all the audio for devices that are plugged directly into my TV???

 

[Lumpy05]

Yes it is preferable to take digital audio out from the tv rather than standard analog RCA. You can connect from the optical out on the TV to the optical input on the receiver.

 

[jjholmes93]

Yes it is preferable to take digital audio out from the tv rather than standard analog RCA. You can connect from the optical out on the TV to the optical input on the receiver.

So if I use the optical cable from my tv to the stereo, that will provide audio for all my components that are plugged into my tv via HDMI?

 

[Alrescha]

Many (most?) televisions do not pass Dolby Digital which arrives via HDMI out their optical ports. If you want to hear Dolby Surround from your DVD/Blu-Ray/Apple TV/etc., you may need to connect those devices directly to your receiver.

A.

 

[mchalebk]

I have my ATV2 plugged into my TV via HDMI. My TV also has an optical audio output as does my stereo receiver. Is it possible to run an optical cable from my TV to the stereo to handle all the audio for devices that are plugged directly into my TV???

I assume you meant to say that your receiver has an optical audio input ( and not output, like the post implies). If so, this will work.

So if I use the optical cable from my tv to the stereo, that will provide audio for all my components that are plugged into my tv via HDMI?

This should work, though it would depend on the TV. The only issue would be that you probably wouldn’t get 5.1 surround. However, since you said “stereo receiver” (and not surround or 5.1), I assume you don’t care about that..

 

[jjholmes93]

I assume you meant to say that your receiver has an optical audio input ( and not output, like the post implies). If so, this will work.



This should work, though it would depend on the TV. The only issue would be that you probably wouldn’t get 5.1 surround. However, since you said “stereo receiver” (and not surround or 5.1), I assume you don’t care about that..

I meant to say 5.1, but I only have 2 Bose speakers and not surround. But I believe there is a setting on my receiver for Dolby sound.

 

[diminiko]

Any way of merging these identical posts by the OP?

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1186365/

 

[laurim]

Many (most?) televisions do not pass Dolby Digital which arrives via HDMI out their optical ports. If you want to hear Dolby Surround from your DVD/Blu-Ray/Apple TV/etc., you may need to connect those devices directly to your receiver.

A.

That's true. With my relatively new Samsung tv, I had to buy an optical switch to get 5.1 from my ATV AND my cable box because 5.1 won't pass through my tv through the optical port. Don't know why they would build a tv that way.

 

[kirsch92]

Don't know why they would build a tv that way.

Legal BS.

same reason DVDs have region codes. same reason HDMI has HDCP, etc.

control, money, greed.

 

[PNutts]

I used to have the TV as a "hub" but didn't want to have it turned on when just listening to music so now the AT2 goes into the receiver. Other than that it's good either way.