I just bought the PS3 and the 60" Sony XBR2 SXRD TV and have connection questions.

I used HDMI from the PS3 to the TV for my video.
I used the optical from the Directv receiver to my only optical input on my Yamaha receiver for my TV/SAT audio.

I would like to take advantage of better audio then just the red/white RCA from the PS3 since I will use the Blu Ray quite a bit.

Should I get some type of optical switcher?
Should I spend $200 for a so-so receiver that has HDMI capability
Should I buy component cables for the PS3 and run the audio using component to my receiver (can I do this and is it better then RCA?)

Does your Directv box have HDMI out? Can you go HDMI out to your TV for both the PS3 and the Directv box and then optical from TV to your audio receiver?

That's how I have my HD-A2 and PS3 hooked up to my Onkyo receiver. All though for some reason the sound is really low when I use the HD-A2. PS3 is fine though.

Does your Directv box have HDMI out? Can you go HDMI out to your TV for both the PS3 and the Directv box and then optical from TV to your audio receiver?

That's how I have my HD-A2 and PS3 hooked up to my Onkyo receiver. All though for some reason the sound is really low when I use the HD-A2. PS3 is fine though.
So your TV converts the HDMI audio and outputs it over optical? I didn't think that could be done. I was hoping it could be, but after it didn't work for me I did a bit of reading and I concluded that it wasn't going to work, and that the optical out on the TV was only for the ATSC tuner. If it works for you, I find that very interesting, it will solve a lot of my problems. I also am short one optical input on my receiver and have to switch the cable between the PS3 and HD-A2.

To the OP: Assuming that you can convert your HDMI to optical and feed the audio from the PS3 thru the HDMI on your TV and then out to the receiver via optical, that's what I would do.

I would also get an HDMI switch to handle the video switching between your receiver and TV. Again, I am assuming that you are using the DVI or HDMI out on your satellite receiver and only have 1 HDMI in on your TV. If you have 2 HDMI in, then no need for a switch obviously. If you are using component from the receiver right now, I would recommend switching over to HDMI. I just did this myself recently and I noticed a big improvement.

If you can't feed the HDMI audio out through the optical on your TV, then yes get an HDMI capable receiver.

You cannot run audio into your receiver via component cables. Component is video only, no audio.

Last option is if your Directv receiver has a digital coaxial out and your AV receiver has a digital coax in that can be on a different input than the optical input, you can switch your TV over to digital coax, and use the optical for your PS3. That solution would keep you from having to buy anything else (other than maybe a digital coax cable :))

Thanks guys. I will take a look when I get home to see if my receiver can do the digital coax route.... otherwise I will buy a new receiver - though I don't want to spend the money.

So your TV converts the HDMI audio and outputs it over optical? I didn't think that could be done. I was hoping it could be, but after it didn't work for me I did a bit of reading and I concluded that it wasn't going to work, and that the optical out on the TV was only for the ATSC tuner. If it works for you, I find that very interesting, it will solve a lot of my problems. I also am short one optical input on my receiver and have to switch the cable between the PS3 and HD-A2.




It works but I don't think it's working correctly. My Receiver displays different when I have it coming from the TV as opposed to coming directly from the devices. I figured that was the only reason my TV has an optical output. Sony 46E2000.

It works but I don't think it's working correctly. My Receiver displays different when I have it coming from the TV as opposed to coming directly from the devices. I figured that was the only reason my TV has an optical output. Sony 46E2000.
Nope - you can't use the optical out of the TV (reserved for the ATSC tumer and repective audio). There isn't a TV that I'm aware of that does it and most of us have all tried to see if it work at least once. All you will get is 2 channel stereo out.

To MegaHurtz83 - check out monoprice. There are alot of optical cable devices to help you out of your situation. I think there are swictcher, I think there are merger like devices (2 into 1 out) if you never plan to have both on at the same time, and I think I read about optical to coax covnerter plugs. I'm sure there had got to be something to keep you from needing to rotate the optical plugs of the HDDVD and PS3 in your receiver.

Radio Shack used to sell a little switch box for 10 bucks that works just dandy.

mrowe8,
I had the same problem with my Onkyo receiver only having one optical input. Monoprice has a 3to1 in/out optical switcher. It works great. Now I have my PS3, DVD player, and TW HD box all going through the switcher into my one optical input on receiver. I was looking at getting a new receiver too but this switcher solved my problem.

I've seen both the toslink -> coax convertor and the toslink switch before, but I don't like those solutions. I am already using my single coax connection for my PC, so that's out, and if I have to manually switch, then I might as well just swap the cable until I can afford an HDMI receiver. A toslink switch that my Harmony could control would be perfect.

I've seen both the toslink -> coax convertor and the toslink switch before, but I don't like those solutions. I am already using my single coax connection for my PC, so that's out, and if I have to manually switch, then I might as well just swap the cable until I can afford an HDMI receiver. A toslink switch that my Harmony could control would be perfect.
Aren't there some remote controlled AV switchers? You could just use it for the audio part if thats what you needed.