I just got my hands on a brand new PS3 to add to my current setup and need help in configuring things correctly. Here are the different components I have:
- 46" Samsung LCD TV (LNT550)
- Denon AVR3300 Receiver
- 80 gig PS3
- Comcast Cable HD DVR Box (Motorola)

Tried hooking up both the HD DVR box and PS3 to the receiver via optical for audio and both to the TV via HDMI for video. Wasn't able to get the audio to work correctly. Should I be setting it up a different way? Are there settings I need to mess with to get everything sounding and looking correctly? I'm sort of a newb at this so any suggestions/help would be greatly appreciated! Basically looking at the best way to configure my setup based on the components I have. Thanks!!

Could you be more specific about what wasn't working correctly?

I would think HDMI for video & optical for audio would be a good choice if you can't do HDMI for both. I don't know much about your AVR, but I imagine it has some sort of input assignment setup. (ex. - use Opt1 to do audio for DVD input on AVR) Did you set that correctly? Also, you will have to set your audio output from the PS3 to optical.

Sorry about that. So basically, the receiver is an older denon receiver that doesn't have HDMI connections. It does have two optical in's i believe that i tried connecting the optical cables to. The HD cable sound would come out alright with 5.1 dolby digi sound. However, I'd only get "direct" sound or pro logic sound when trying to switch to the PS3. It was also a pain trying to switch automatically from one source to the other.

Sorry about that. So basically, the receiver is an older denon receiver that doesn't have HDMI connections. It does have two optical in's i believe that i tried connecting the optical cables to. The HD cable sound would come out alright with 5.1 dolby digi sound. However, I'd only get "direct" sound or pro logic sound when trying to switch to the PS3. It was also a pain trying to switch automatically from one source to the other.

So the problem is that you aren't getting Dolby Digital from the PS3.

It sounds like the audio settings in the PS3 need to be changed. The only other thing I know to check would be to make sure you don't have a bad cable or a bad optical jack on your AVR.

^^
Yes. The symptoms described suggest that the PS3 is set to PCM instead of bitstream. With PCM, the optical output is limited to stereo. Depending on the downmix setting in the PS3, the stereo output may be flagged as Dolby Surround, instructing the AVR to engage ProLogic. Or, the OP may simply have that input set to use PL on stereo sources.

At any rate, check the PS3 settings and make sure the optical output bitstreams to the AVR for decoding.

Okay, i'll try that when i get home. Thanks!!

For clarity though, it shouldn't be a problem connecting the cablebox to the tv via hdmi and to the receiver via optical and also connecting the PS3 to the TV via separate hdmi and another separate optical connection to the receiver? A friend of mine was under the impression it would be difficult to switch between the 2 sources.

Hopefully it all works! Thanks again!

That should not be a problem. I have a similar setup to what you are describing and as long as you assign your optical inputs on your AVR properly, and get your audio outputs from your devices straightened out, I think you should be fine.

For clarity though, it shouldn't be a problem connecting the cablebox to the tv via hdmi and to the receiver via optical and also connecting the PS3 to the TV via separate hdmi and another separate optical connection to the receiver? A friend of mine was under the impression it would be difficult to switch between the 2 sources.The only switching problem is a user interface issue. Without a good remote, you will need to power up the devices, switch the TV input, and switch the AVR input in order to get everything properly set. I use a Harmony remote, which makes everything happen with the press of a single button on one remote.

I'm with BIslander on the remote. I have a Harmony too, but there are other brands of universal remotes that would probably work. They don't have to be expensive and they make things much easier.

Got it to work yesterday, thanks everyone for your help! Basically, it looks like I had to re-assign the optical input to a device and switch it from analog to digital. It seems to have done the trick! Thanks again!!

Currently I have a 2008 samsung LED dlp rear projection tv. Samsung bd -1500 bluray player, verizon hd box and an old techniques receiver that has four speaker inputs.

My hook up is as follows:

-bluray and hd cable box and pc hooked to tv via hdmi cables.
-a/v receiver connected to tv via a set of rca cables (red and white.)
-two polk r50 front speakers and two polk monitor 30 rear speakers.

I am looking to purchase a center channel speaker and a 5.1 receiver. I love the picture and would like to have my audio top quality as well. I will try to limit my questions.

1. bluray does decoding of audio, Am I am hearing the decoded bluray audio with the current setup I have now or is it sd audio?


2. If the answer to number one is hd audio is coming thru then I assume I can hook up new receiver same setup as I have now but if I am only hearing sd audio that means that I need to hook bluray to receiver then receiver to tv (cable box as well or just leave it hooked to tv?)

3. New receiver should have what major functions?

Thank you

1. bluray does decoding of audio, Am I am hearing the decoded bluray audio with the current setup I have now or is it sd audio?
You are getting analog stereo audio from your TV to your current receiver. Blu-rays that have TrueHD or PCM tracks will produce high quality stereo. The quality will be lower from movies with dts-MA tracks, which your player can't decode, although I doubt you wuld notice the quality difference.

But, none of that really matters. Your current arrangement leaves you with stereo. You need to wire things together so that you can get discrete 5.1 audio, even if it comes from the non-HD codecs instead of the lossless ones.

2. If the answer to number one is hd audio is coming thru then I assume I can hook up new receiver same setup as I have now but if I am only hearing sd audio that means that I need to hook bluray to receiver then receiver to tv (cable box as well or just leave it hooked to tv?)You need to run the audio directly to your receiver, not through the TV.

3. New receiver should have what major functions?With a BD-P1500 player, you want a receiver with HDMI 1.3 and lossless decoders (TrueHD and dts-MA). The Amps, Receivers & Processors forum has lots of information about AVRs in all price ranges.

I was hoping someone could explain to me how to get the audio from my samsung bd 1500 player to a receiver. The bd 1500 decodes dolby true HD. If I connect the bluray to a hdmi receiver - and most receivers, low and middle end receivers only take in the video from the hdmi cable from the bluray and not the audio. How do I get the decoded dolby true HD surround from the bluray to the receiver? Thank you

I was hoping someone could explain to me how to get the audio from my samsung bd 1500 player to a receiver. The bd 1500 decodes dolby true HD. If I connect the bluray to a hdmi receiver - and most receivers, low and middle end receivers only take in the video from the hdmi cable from the bluray and not the audio. How do I get the decoded dolby true HD surround from the bluray to the receiver? Thank you
With a BD-P1500, you have to use HDMI to a receiver that can process audio over HDMI. There's no other way.

But, the legacy DD 5.1 and DTS tracks on Blu-ray are less compressed than the ones on BD and they sound great. So, with an optical connection to an older receiver, you will get much of the benefit of improved audio on BD even without hearing the lossless versions.