yes and no u cant, but maybe
Ok let me explain what i know, first if you are getting cable tv audio through optical cable and video goes thru hdmi strait to the tv then when you can switch sources on the receiver your audio will do radio or what u select,and video will be the hdmi source ,but feeding audio thru hdmi as well as video will not allow it,because your sources are one dimensional !
Optical gives another way to output audio while watching video of a dvd,playing music cd while watching tv is simple!
Put the hdmi directly to your tv and optical too receiver from digital cable box simple!
My menu on ps3 and cable box allows u too select hdmi for video and optical for audio,i suspect the L&R rca audio outputs on cable boxes are allways active so thats another way also! Just like your audio pre-outs on receivers are!
I just ordered 2 hdmi cables from parts express for $10.00.i hate those things but ps3 decodes the new true hd & DTS master audio formats from hdmi only!
No watching dvd without the dvd audio,thats ok,who does dvd that way!
Watching the whales on the history ch while listening to music thats cool!
Ever hope to be more confused, just have a hdmi problem,now theres a mess!