Apologies in advance for ignorance and denseness. I'm just getting started.

The plan is a HDTV/5.1 Surround system. So far no TV (I'm waiting for January.) What I do have is the Onkyo SR605 receiver and shortly will have my speakers in place. I have a digital decoder/DVR from Comcast. Right now the TV is an ancient mono/CRT in which even the mono sound is lousy. I'd like to take the sound right from the STB and run it to the speakers through the receiver. (I figure this will be the set up even after the new TV arrives).

Can I use the HDMI connection between the STB and receiver even though I just want the Audio?

If not could I use optical or analog cable (actually I don't even remember if there is an optical output.)

If so should I leave the coax connection between the STB and TV or try and run that though the receiver too?

If I try to use the receiver what kinds of connections should I use. Should I just run 2 coax cables (STB-SR605 and SR605-TV)? Will I now get sound out of the TV speaker as well? The only other signal input on the TV is an RCA plug that I'm using the for DVD player.

Does anyone know what I'm talking about?

The sensible thing of course is to wait until I have all the pieces-- it's just a few weeks. But I'm really eager to see what I can get with what I've got.

I was reading the SR605 manual last night and almost wept from the complexity. I felt like I needed to enroll in the Onkyo academy for for a six month course.:(

Thanks!!

Rick

rskay, I don't blame you for not wanting to wait, it's like putting the toys in the room and asking a kid not to play with them! I also don't blame you for feeling a little overwhelmed with the receiver--the Onkyo can do a lot, and the whole AV thing has gotten really complicated lately. I think I understand what you're asking, but if I've misunderstood something, let me know.

I'd recommend that you run either optical or coaxial digital (not to be confused with the coax going to your tv, it looks like an RCA connector, and is usually orange) from your cable box to your receiver. If you have the same cable box as me (Motorola DCT-6416 III), then it has a digital output like that. You may be able to connect the HDMI just for audio, but it may not work either. Once you get the new TV, that's probably the easiest way to connect though. As for the regular coax, I'd run it straight from the cable box to the TV. This will still let you have sound out of the TV. While you probably don't want that, it's an option--just turn the volume on the TV all the way down.

I hope that helps, if you just run optical or digital coax to the receiver and regular coax to the TV, I think it should do what you want. Anyway, don't get discouraged in trying to understand this stuff--it will come! Hope the wait for the TV isn't too long!

Thanks drrick. That's exactly what I wanted to know. My STB is a Motorola DCT-3412. It has outputs labeled SPDIF and Opitcal SPDIF. Are those the optical or coaxial digital outputs you're talking about?

Rick

Absolutely. Either one will work just fine for you--one isn't superior to the other. Enjoy!