Home audio & video forum: Help w/ Polk Audio SoundBar & Receiver

[bjax]

I'm a novice so apologies in advance for anything silly I say. Without going into all the boring details of WHY, let me start by saying I recently purchased a Polk Audio Soundbar with a wireless subwoofer. My issue: no sound from the soundbar. Which leads me to believe we hooked up something wrong. Here is the set up:

46" LCD LED Sony Bravia TV
Yamaha receiver
Direct TV DVR
Samsung Blu-Ray player

At this point, we have the HMDI from the signal (DVR, DVD) connecting to the receiver HDMI. Then an HDMI from the receiver to the TV. We get picture from the TV and if we turn on the TV speakers, sound.

Now for the soundbar - we have an optical cable from the soundbar to the receiver? Is this wrong?

AND we tried optical cable from the soundbar to the TV - still no sound. And we did select "audio system" from the TV sound options.

So, what am I doing wrong? This forum has helped me out before (previous system) - I'm grateful for any advice!!

B

 

[markw]

The devil is in the details, which seem to be missing.

Polk makes several soundbars. ...and Yamaha makes many different receivers. Exactly which ones you have might help us help you better. As it stands, I can only offer generalities.

Does the receiver have an optical analog output? I know they have inputs but I'm not to sure about inputs. But, there's a lot I don't know, too.

But, for starters, try using red/white analog interconnects (which at least one Polk model says is included) from the TV's audio outputs to the soundbar.

Or, if your receiver has an analog output, you could run that to the soundbar, but don't these have their own amplification system built in, making the receiver redundant?

 

[bjax]

Thanks Mark - from the little I have been able to gather on my own. I think you are right especially about making the receiver redudant (see, novice!). Polk did offer that you could try going with the RCA connections. I guess I shouldn't be concerned about the quality of the connection given I am going the way of a soundbar. I do appreciate your input. Going to put everything I have learned to work tonight. Wish me luck.