First, what sound were you expecting to get? You did not mention any sound sources in your description.
The receiver will play audio from devices that are hooked up at the receiver inputs. For example, if you connect a Blu-Ray player using an HDMI cable from the player to one of the HDMI inputs on the back of the receiver, then the receiver can pull the audio out of the mix and send it to the speakers. The video will be forwarded to the TV over the HDMI cable that you have hooked up to the receiver's HDMI out.
If you are using a cable box or satellite box, then you will have to make a similar HDMI connection: from the box to an HDMI input on the receiver.
If you are watching broadcast TV over an antenna that is hooked to the TV, then you have to figure out a way to get the audio signal back to the receiver. Most HDTVs have an optical or coax digital out somewhere that you can input to a corresponding optical or coax digital input on the receiver. So the HDTV displays the video from over-the-air and outputs the sound signal back to the receiver for the speakers.
If you just want to quickly make sure that your speakers are connected, then turn on the receiver's tuner and listen to a radio station or listen to the static if there are no signals in your area. Hearing some static here would be a good thing.
Good Luck,
Jim
