surround sound TV on my Onkyo TX-SA607

[samhfoley]

I can get my surround to work on my DVD, and my extender, but not my TV, the TV only has one HDMI plug and it's connected to the Onkyo's HDMI out plug. When I choose TV/GAME on the setup menu I cannot assign it an HDMI slot because there isn't another one available to go inot the TV. Does this make sense? How can I connect get surround sound for reg. TV? Thanks for the help!
-Sam

 

[Adam]

Hi, Sam. Right now, HDMI is only one-way. Meaning that your Onkyo is sending information to the TV through the HDMI cable, but the TV isn't sending information back through that cable. You'll need to make another connection to get sound from the TV.

Are you using an external tuner (such as a cable box, satellite receiver, or digital converter box)? If so, you may want to connect that directly to the Onkyo. Otherwise, you'll want to connect the TV to the Onkyo.

Does your TV have an optical audio output? I'm guessing that it does because it has an HDMI input, so it's a relatively new model. If it does, connect that to an optical audio input on the Onkyo. You can use any audio output from the TV, such as the analog audio outputs (red and white RCA jacks), but the optical is going to give a better quality sound.

BTW, did you mean TX-SR607 instead of TX-SA607? If so, then the optical audio inputs are assignable.

 

[samhfoley]

I live in Japan so I had to by the TX-SA607 model! Thanks for the heads up. No I don't have a set top box, satellite or anything like that. Just cable straight to the TV from the wall. I will look for an optical cable for the TV sound. Do I need something for the video signal as well?? Many thanks!

 

[Adam]

Ahhh, the Japanese model. I didn't think of that.

No, you shouldn't need anything else for video. The HDMI connection from the Onkyo to the TV will transmit video from components connected to the Onkyo (like a blu-ray or DVD player) to the TV.

Because you don't have an optical cable, you can always connect the analog audio outputs from the TV to an input on the Onkyo until you get one. That's assuming that you have a set of RCA cables around.

 

[samhfoley]

I thought so too, but when I select TV/Game now on the Onkyo I get no picture or sound. Shouldn't I at least be getting the picture. Of course my TV has the following settings.
TV Aux 1,2,3,4,5

The Onkyo is on Aux 5 and that's where I am trying to access the TV with no picture or sound. If I go to TV, then I can view the TV picture with sound only from the TV speakers. Will I need to stay on the TV setting to see the video or can I see the video from the Onkyo setting (Aux 5)?

 

[Adam]

If you are watching cable TV (so, using the tuner in your TV), then you won't select one of the AUX inputs on the TV. Just keep it set so that it shows the picture.

After connecting the audio outputs from the TV to the Onkyo, you'll select the correct source on the Onkyo to listen to the TV audio through your receiver (sounds like your using the "TV/Game" input). You'll probably also want to turn off the speakers on your TV.

If you'll tell us the model of your TV, we can help you set up the speakers on the TV if you have questions about that.

EDIT: To be clear, when you are watching cable TV, the Onkyo won't be sending any audio or video to the TV. The video will be coming from the cable feed, and the TV will be sending audio to the Onkyo.

 

[samhfoley]

Again, Japanese model Sharp Aquos 32BD2

I see the Onkyo has 2 optical plug spaces, I should get 1 for my DVD player as well? I am now using the component plugs for video, but red/white plugs for sound. Optical is the way to go right?

 

[Adam]

If your DVD player doesn't have an HDMI output, then I'd recommend the optical (or digital coax) connection - yes. It will be far (far) better than the analog audio connections. I say that because the digital connections carry higher quality surround sound modes like Dolby Digital and DTS, while the analog audio connections can at best carry matrixed surround sound (like Dolby Pro-Logic). If you've only been using the analog connections, I think that you'll be very pleased with the improvement once you switch to a digital audio connection. You'll almost surely need to go into the DVD players menu and switch the output settings for that, instructing it to output Dolby Digital and DTS as "bitstream" instead of "PCM". If you'll let us know the model number of the DVD player, we could confirm the menu settings if you'd like.

Do you have questions about how to turn off the speakers on your TV? If so, I'll look up the manual for that.

 

[samhfoley]

DVD player is an old one Toshiba model number SD-JF70, and no HDMI on that. I'll have a look at the TV when i get home with the optical cables when I get off work tonight.

 

[samhfoley]

This summer I will be building a HTPC to take back to Japan with me. It will be HDMI, but I won't be able to get TrueHD/DTS-HD because I don't want to spend the money on the ASUS Xonar HD sound card. Can I do a HDMI/optical out of my HTPC to get the TrueHD/DTS-HD?

 

[Lordoftherings]

Yo! Adam!

^ Adam? Where are you? I wish that I can help, but sorry. Perhaps Adam can shine a light on your question.

Bob

 

[samhfoley]

Got the optical cables and installed everything fine. My wife wants to keep the reg. TV speakers available for daily use so I won't worry about turning them off.

What about the HTPC and the video card I should buy for it? Ideas? Wrong forum? LOL I am looking for the best bang for my limited dollar! I am not a gamer and will just be watching movies. Primarily .avi and .mkv files

 

[Adam]

This summer I will be building a HTPC to take back to Japan with me. It will be HDMI, but I won't be able to get TrueHD/DTS-HD because I don't want to spend the money on the ASUS Xonar HD sound card. Can I do a HDMI/optical out of my HTPC to get the TrueHD/DTS-HD?

I don't entirely understand the question, but I'll say this - you can't transmit TrueHD/DTS-HD over an optical connection. Those don't support the bandwidth.

What about the HTPC and the video card I should buy for it? Ideas? Wrong forum? LOL I am looking for the best bang for my limited dollar! I am not a gamer and will just be watching movies. Primarily .avi and .mkv files

I'd suggest that you post your question in our new "Home Theater PC (HTPC) & Media Servers" section. People here tend to see all posts anyway, but it'll help if you start a new thread with that question, as the HTPC gurus might not open up a thread titled like this one. There are definitely people here that I think will have an opinion on that question and could offer you suggestions.

 

[Adam]

^ Adam? Where are you?

Snoozing.

 

[samhfoley]

I will try and post over there then. Thanks again for all of your help. Everything appears to be running great now!