New system setup. - Surround Sound

[beavercreekfs]

I have finally finished my basement and am getting ready to setup my
system.

I have an Onkyo 7.1 HT-S790 system. It does not have any HDMI.
I have an 553 Vizio HD
I have an Samsung 6500 Blue Ray with 7.1 analog outputs
I currently have dish network, but do not yet have a HD DVR on hand.

I believe my only option do actually get 7.1 is to connect the 7.1 analogs from Blue Ray to the Onkyo? Digital coax and optical do not support 7.1?

I will have to use either Digital coax or optical to go from the TV to the Onkyo and live with whatever it gives me (or should I be going from the dish box to the Onkyo)?

 

[jostenmeat]

1. Correct, at least for a native 7.1.

2. No, they do not, at least not native 7.1.

3. option number two, go directly to Onkyo.


The advantage of using the analogs is that you can now have your lossless mch.

The disadvantages are that you lose out on post processing, flexible bass mgmt, and simply never get to use the rear speakers unless the track is natively 7.1.

So, what I would do is connect both mch analogs as well as an optical. I'd use the mch analogs for lossless mch tracks, and I'd use optical for any track that is lossy, whether that might be bluray or dvd.