I have been looking for a budget home theater system over the last month or so and have settled on a couple of systems that I need to make my mind up on though. One of the receivers I am looking at has two HDMI inputs and 1 HDMI output. These are HDMI passthrough though, which as far as my research has told me is that this will only carry video and not audio. Is this correct?

If this is in fact correct how would the audio work? Would I connect my PS3 and cable box to the receiver vai HDMI cable and then output the HDMI to the TV for the video and then use an optical cable from the TV to the receiver for the audio?

Almost. Run HDMI from sources to the receiver and HDMI from receiver to TV. Also, digital or analog audio from sources to receiver.

What if the receiver only has 1 optical input?

What if the receiver only has 1 optical input?Optical switch? Does it have any other inputs?

Yes there is a coax input as well. But I think I would just go with a optical switch. Thanks. Although I think I am just going to go for a more budget system since the HDMI inputs on one of the systems I was looking at really have no use since they wouldn't be carrying the audio for me. Since my room that I am putting this in is very small a budget HTIB for about 200-300 would be more then enough for me. I actually found a Sony system for 199 that would probably be perfect for what I need it to do. No need to spend 500 bucks on a system since I doubt I would notice the difference.

Yes there is a coax input as well. But I think I would just go with a optical switch. Thanks. ??? I would definitely go with using the coax digital and the optical digital than a switch, if only for the simplicity of input selection. In addition, it would avoid unnecessary additional devices and connections.

??? I would definitely go with using the coax digital and the optical digital than a switch, if only for the simplicity of input selection. In addition, it would avoid unnecessary additional devices and connections.

Okay thanks. I actually wasn't sure if my cable box had an coax audio out. But it does so I guess I could use the optical from the PS3 and then the coax from the cable box. But thinking about it, wouldn't using the optical switch and having the cable and PS3 going into the switch allow me to not have to switch inputs on the receiver ever? Thanks again for all of the help. If you haven't noticed I am an audio n00b.

Never mind that last part as I see on the switch you have to manually change the input on the switch so I see what you mean now.

Okay thanks. I actually wasn't sure if my cable box had an coax audio out. But it does so I guess I could use the optical from the PS3 and then the coax from the cable box. But thinking about it, wouldn't using the optical switch and having the cable and PS3 going into the switch allow me to not have to switch inputs on the receiver ever? Nope, it would mean that you would have to use the new switch all the time. By running both inputs into the receiver, it will switch audio and video with one pop if you set it up right.