5.1 audio for DVD only, but not TV?

[bulldognut]

I can't understand why I can hear only my DVD movies in 5.1, but when I watch TV, no 5.1 sound. The only sound is through the TV's speakers.

Is this something to do with my cable box? Or not having the correct cables? Or not connecting the Video and Audio inputs/outputs correctly?

I have my DVD player connected directly to my TV (Yellow/White/Red cable connected just fine). My cable box is directly connected to my TV (coaxial cable).

When I decide to switch to TV mode in the middle of watching a DVD, the audio is still the movie, not the TV show.

And if I just want TV while my DVD player is turned off, I get no 5.1 sound.

This is all very frustrating to me. Can anyone help?

Thanks!

 

[johsti]

What receiver do you have?

First of all, you don't want any audio cables connected to your TV.

Your receiver should have a monitor output. Depending on how old the receiver is, you should have composite, s-video, and/or component monitor/video outputs (possibly HDMI if it's a newer receiver). Connect the monitor/video out from your receiver to your TV's video input(no coaxial will be connected to your tv. only coaxial from your wall to the cable box). Run all the audio and video cables from the cable box and dvd player to the audio and video inputs to your receiver.

This makes your receiver the hub for your system. Remeber you only need video cable/s going to your TV, no audio.

 

[johsti]

Oh yeah, go into your TV's settings, and turn off the speaker.

 

[j_garcia]

You do want stereo audio cables connected to your TV in the event that you want to watch TV without the receiver on. If you will always have the receiver on, then johsti is right, you don't need any audio connections to the TV.

You ARE NOT getting 5.1 from your DVD player if you only have stereo RCAs connected. 5.1 REQUIRES a digital connection or multichannel (6 RCAs) analog connection for this. This applies to the cable box too. If it is not digitally connected to the receiver, there is no way to hear 5.1. Now, with TV/CATV, not all broadcasts are dolby digital 5.1; in fact, most are not. So for broadcasts that are not, you will have to use a DSP to "simulate" the surround, which is what you are currently getting with stereo RCAs.

 

[bulldognut]

I don't have a separate receiver. The DVD is also the receiver. It's built in.

The 6 audio cables supplied in this "theater system-in-a-box" connect the subwoofer to the back of the DVD/Receiver. That's working fine. I get 5.1 sound when watching DVDs. The problem is getting 5.1 when watching TV.

I wonder if I'm supposed to connect the additional RCA cables (White/Red) to the back of my TV (Audio Out L and Audio Out R) to the DVD/Receiver, or cable box?

The weird thing is my DVD/Receiver doesn't have any more Audio Inputs to use.

I'll try your suggestions (and turn off my TV's internal speakers.)

 

[danny]

hey guys,
just registered and this website looks great i was wondering if i can get some of your experienced help setting up my system to its bestpossible performance?