Hey, I was thinking about changing the way my audio is connected to my receiver/TV. Currently I have a PS3 and an HDPVR connected to my LCD through HDMI cables. My PS3 audio is connected to my receiver through a Optical cable.
The issue with this setup is that to hear my PS3 I must turn on my receiver, unless I go into the audio properties (of the PS3) and change the output to hdmi (which is connected to my TV). Sometimes I would prefer just to hear audio out of my TV as opposed to my receiver (to avoid waking up everyone around me).

If I were to connect my optical cable from my TV to my reciever, would there be any downside? That way I would only have my 2 hdmi's coming from PVR & PS3 connected to the TV, and one optical going from my TV to my Receiver.

Another note, my receiver is older and does not have any hdmi connections on them.

The downside that that virtually all TV's only output Dolby Digital from the internal ATSC tuner. All other inputs are downmixed to Stereo. Buy a good programmable universal remote to control everything instead.

how do i determine what kind of decoding my TV ( Samsung LN40A650) will output through the optical out?

how do i determine what kind of decoding my TV ( Samsung LN40A650) will output through the optical out?It's likely in the manual. :)

Look at the page where it describes the TV's digital audio output. That's where you usually find the disclaimer that says audio from external devices such as a disc player or a set top box is output as two channel PCM. But, you may get lucky. Some TVs do pass encoded tracks out through their optical ports.

I have the same question. I am getting a 42LG55.

I cant link the manual, but it can be found from here by entering the above product code:
edit: apparently i cannot post URLs.... it's the LG website

There is a Digital Audio Out with optical and coax. Can anyone tell me if these will output 5.1 sound?

Thank you

I have the same question. I am getting a 42LG55.

I cant link the manual, but it can be found from here by entering the above product code:
edit: apparently i cannot post URLs.... it's the LG website

There is a Digital Audio Out with optical and coax. Can anyone tell me if these will output 5.1 sound?Yes, they will. But, the issue here is whether the TV will output DD or DTS from external components.