Sony STR-K750P & Optical Audio

[sonyoptical12]

I have been able to connect an external stereo receiver (old Kenwood stack) to my Sony STR-K750P and have it receive audio through the MD/TAPE output when the Sony is on the Video 1 setting. The Video 1 is through audio cables (white/red) from my cable box. However, when I use Video 2 to receive my optical audio straight from the television, the MD/TAPE output does not play back. The Video 1 grouping (on the back where the input is) has an output available unlike the Video 2. I would hope this does not mean that there is no chance of audio out from Video 2 but this may be the case. Any wiring configurations or advice appreciated.

 

[markw]

I do believe that those outputs on the receiver will only pass what was sent to them in analog format. Anything fedd into it digitally will not pass out from these outputs. Likewise for any additional "zone" outputs.

 

[Adam]

Welcome to the forum!

Mark is correct - you cannot use a digital audio input to output sound from the VIDEO 1 analog outputs (check out page 34 of the Sony owner's manual, and here's a link to the PDF on Sony's site). There are a couple of options that come to mind, assuming that your TV has an analog audio output (which might be a headphone jack):

1. You could also connect the TV to the Sony using an analog connection and then switch to that analog input when you want to also listen to the TV audio through the Kenwood. The downside to that approach is that you'd lose the Dolby Digital surround sound capability on your Sony because the analog connection would just be stereo.

2. You could directly connect the analog output from the TV to the Kenwood, and then switch to that source on the Kenwood when you want to listen to audio from the TV. If you want to keep surround sound in the room with the Sony, that's the way that I'd do it.

I'm assuming that your TV, if it has an analog audio output, will output audio over both the digital and analog outputs simultaneously. If not, that's more of a hassle.

Also, do you get digital cable? If so, your cable box should have a digital audio output, and that would let you get surround sound from cable, too, as opposed to using a stereo analog connection.

 

[sonyoptical12]

Thanks for your responses!

There are a couple of options that come to mind, assuming that your TV has an analog audio output (which might be a headphone jack):

Unfortunately, I have a newer Samsung TV and it only has an optical output.

Also, do you get digital cable? If so, your cable box should have a digital audio output, and that would let you get surround sound from cable, too, as opposed to using a stereo analog connection.

I do have digital cable, but I use my TV to watch over my Apple TV, my cable box, and my XBox360 so I wanted to use the television as the audio output instead of the individual sources, how I currently have it hooked up. However using analog, the sound wouldn't align between the television and the Sony, so I was forced to use the Kenwood as a general speaker. With the optical, the sound is perfectly in sync so I can keep the television unmuted and use that in addition to surround. Thanks for clarifying the audio to digital mix-up. I will still be using my Kenwood as music speakers but I assume they wont get much more use than that.

 

[Adam]

Unfortunately, I have a newer Samsung TV and it only has an optical output.

What model is it? I'd be happy to double check that for you...and that's not meant to be patronizing! It's not all that uncommon to overlook one of the possible connections, and it sometimes helps to have another set of eyes on it.

 

[sonyoptical12]

A samsung un55f6300afxza. No problem at all, I appreciate the help.

 

[Adam]

Sorry for the delay (nice night out and was out with the pooch).

Your TV actually does have an analog audio output, according to the Samsung site and the owner's manual. It's a 3.5mm jack (like a headphone jack) that is labeled "AUDIO OUT." You can buy 3.5mm-to-stereo-RCA cables for not much money (such as this six-foot cable from Monoprice for about $3 before shipping).

EDIT: Just grabbed this image from Crutchfield. The "AUDIO OUT" jack is just to the left of the HDMI label.

 

[sonyoptical12]

No problem at all, I understand the dog relationship (with my american eskimo). Thanks for all your help, I'll hook it up using that!