Tech. help - digital audio switch????

[searcher21]

I would certainly appreciate some help with this. Is there such a thing as a switch that could be used with either an optical or digital audio cable? What I would like to do if possible, is to run an audio out cable(optical or digital) from my cable converter box to a switch, and then run 2 cables from the switch to my TV and my receiver. In this way I can simply use the TV speakers for most SD TV programming, but then switch to receiver and stereo speakers for HD brodcasts in 5.1 surround. Does such a switch exist? Thanks in advance

 

[OttoMatic]

What I would like to do if possible, is to run an audio out cable(optical or digital) from my cable converter box

Since you've given us the option of coax or optical, does that imply that your cable box has both types of outputs? If so, run the coax the receiver and the optical to the TV (or vice versa).

 

[OttoMatic]

Here's a switch without remote ($20).

Or here's an optical splitter ($3); split the signal and send one to the receiver and one to the TV (similar to sending coax to one and optical to the other suggested in my first post).

I've never tried this, but I think it should work... Use a Y-adapter ($2.29) to split your coax output and send to both TV and receiver. You might run into an impedance matching problem by running two coax devices in parallel, or you might not -- just a note of warning (I'd still give it a try if it were me, and I had the part lying around).

Good luck!

 

[searcher21]

thanks otto

Otto I originally tried using the 2 different outputs, and running one to the TV and the other to the receiver. Had all kinds of trouble with the sound cutting off. I called Motorola support and they informed me that you can't run both audio outs at the same time, only one or the other. That's why I was asking about the splitter. I already took a look at the slitter you suggested, unfortunately it provides 3 inputs but only 1 output.

 

[OttoMatic]

Hi searcher21,

I got this from that switch page:

(bi-directional: can go in reverse direction)

So you can do 3 in and 1 out or 1 in and 3 out. I think it will work for you. Also check out my second link -- it's just a simple splitter that will split your single optical into two. I think that's what you're looking for.

Too bad about the Moto box not working that way.

 

[bandphan]

why do digital to the display at at all? why not just analog?

 

[Haoleb]

why do digital to the display at at all? why not just analog?

yeah, usually when hooking up a system to use with and without all the surround sound going you would just want to hook your digital to the reciever and then L&R analog to the tv since the tv is really only stereo anyway. That way you wont have to buy any additional items and it will all work great.

 

[searcher21]

thanks

Thanks guys. Your suggestion worked just fine. Just used stereo outs to my TV and the optical out to the receiver. Works great.