Digital Audio Problems!

[KJAZZ1958]

I took advice from these forums and direct-connected all video and audio. I also used TOSLINK fiber connects for all audio. Everything seemed to work fine yesterday, now today NOTHING WORKS . At first, the volume from receiver did not work. At -80dB, it was off, and at all other dB settings, it was on the same exact volume (fairly loud). Now, I am getting NO SOUND at all through the receiver for any devices.

Receiver is a Harman Kardon AVR240. Again, I purposely ran audio direct to HK and both video sources (TV and DVD) direct from source to TV (bypassing any extra "pass through's).

Here is how I did my hookups: From HD satellite receiver, ran optical cable to OPTICAL1 on the HK (I also ran component video straight to the TV). For the DVD, I ran another optical cable to OPTICAL2 on the HK (in this case I used HDMI input to the TV from the DVD). I had to assign the 2 input sources on the HK through its menu.

Only other things I can mention: I played a CD through the DVD player (it also seemed to work fine), and I have a subwoofer cable hooked up the the HK, but do not have the subwoofer yet (expecting it in a fews days). I doubt these have anything to do with anything.

I suspect either TOTALLY UNRELIABLE AND UNPREDICTABLE TOSLINK CONNECTIONS, OR A FAULTY RECEIVER.

Any ideas out there?? I am about ready to do sound only through the TV (a decent Sony HDTV) and send all of my surround components back... very frustrated!

 

[MDS]

You said you did the assignment on the receiver and that is the first thing I would check. Check it again just to be sure. Perhaps the receiver did not save your settings. Also make sure the satellite and DVD player are set to output digital audio.

You would have to severly bend or break the optical cables for them not to reliably transmit the signal. If the cables are fine then I would suspect a problem with the receiver itself.

 

[KJAZZ1958]

Thanks, MDS. I redid the cables, different channels. This time, I do get audio, but still no volume control from receiver. It has two volumes: -85dB is "off" and everything else is "on". Is there a calibration I need to do? I emailed Harman Kardon, will see if they respond. I think I will try digital COAX (can I just use any standard COAX cable?)