I realize that I am a newbie when it comes to HDMI and many of you on here are going to be a little miffed at this question...but here it goes.

I was in Best Buy about four months ago and was told that HDMI does NOT carry a 5.1 signal. I had to use a optical cable to obtain 5.1 surround sound. However, I was under the impression that was the whole POINT of HDMI...to carry both digital HDTV signal AND full, TRUE HD surround sound.

I am a youth pastor and just installed a 5.1 speaker system in our new youth area. I am running a Sony STR-DG710 A/V receiver to drive the system. When I set the A.F.D. to auto while playing a HD-DVD in our Toshiba HD-DVD player, the receiver automatically sets a 2.1 sound. This concerns me. I can set it to a Pro Logic II set and get somewhat of a surround sound, but I don't get the 5.1 that I get at home. Maybe I haven't configured the receiver correctly?

I will say that I got an open box Sony 710 at Best Buy that didn't come with any of the components and the WRONG remote. So...I bought one on Ebay brand new for $40 cheaper and it's coming tomorrow. Maybe that will solve my issue of configuring the receiver. Hopefully it will.

In the meantime...any suggestions/comments to my dilemma? Thanks in advance!!!

I was in Best Buy about four months ago and was told that HDMI does NOT carry a 5.1 signal. I had to use a optical cable to obtain 5.1 surround sound. However, I was under the impression that was the whole POINT of HDMI...to carry both digital HDTV signal AND full, TRUE HD surround sound.

As is not unusual, the BB boys don't know what they're talking about. Probably wanted to sell you some Monster cable too since it's the "Best" (for their bottom line).

HDMI cable will indeed carry all the digital surround sound modes. In fact it will carry some of the newest TRUE HD and SACD formats that optical won't carry.

It may be a problem with your receiver, it may also just be a problem with your HD-DVD player. go into the setup, and click audio (er something). You may have it set to a downmixed PCM or something. Change it to PCM, and ya should have no problems. Hopefully

Some products default to stereo as was said look in the menu and check for multichannel.

I will say that I got an open box Sony 710 at Best Buy that didn't come with any of the components and the WRONG remote.

I'm sure that when the customer returned the unit you bought, Best Buy put their best technicians on it and decided it was working perfectly, so they put it out for sale. LOL

I love Best Buy. For fun, a friend and I go into their local store sometimes and ask them about some sort of new technology. We listen as though we are completely green and ask pointed questions that are not unreasonable for a novice to be asking, but designed to require an answer that would show a level of expertice. Then we listen to the answers. Afterwards, we go to the local coffee shop and laugh our a**es off:

"HDCP is like THX. They only certify equipment."
"HDMI is the same as Component Video, except you only have to plug in one thing."
"HDMI is a fad. It won't last. Use Component Video, it's better anyway."
"If you can't afford a Bluray/HDDVD player, why not just get an upscalling DVD player? It outputs 1080 too."
Here's one from the past: "8mm video is better than SVHS because they use pixels instead of lines."

I'm laughing while writing this post. :)