I have a Vizio VX32L LCD HDTV. I connect the DVD player to it via the HDMI, and then connect the TOSLink output of the VX32L to my receiver. However, when I do this, I don't get 5.1. It gets down sampled to 2 speakers. Anybody know what the problem is? Is this normal behavior? I've tried it now with two different DVD players and I get the same thing. This strongly suggests that the problem is at the TV (unless both of these DVD players for some reason don't output 5.1 via the HDMI output).

I know I could always hook up the DVD player's audio directly to the receiver. In fact, this works just dandy. I get 5.1 sound and everything. However, it's a little more convenient to hook it up to the TV and have the TV pass on the audio to the receiver. This way, I can keep the audio source on the receiver to the same setting and therefore I just need to change the video source on the TV when I wanna see a DVD. If I hooked up the DVD player's audio directly to the receiver, I not only have to change the video source on the TV but also the audio source on the receiver.

Most TVs will not pass-through 5.1 audio via their optical output. The optical output will only pass 5.1 audio from the TV's OTA tuner.

Does your receiver have HDMI in and out?

I had a VX37L for awhile, I can tell you for a fact it doesn't pass through 5.1.

If I hooked up the DVD player's audio directly to the receiver, I not only have to change the video source on the TV but also the audio source on the receiver.

A programmable remote will solve that. They can do one button switching on both devices at the same time.

A programmable remote will solve that. They can do one button switching on both devices at the same time.
Get a Harmony remote. One button turns everything on and off and does all of the input selections on your devices. There's an easy, online interface to program your remote.

Thanks everybody for confirming that there's nothing wrong with my setup and thats how it's supposed to work. I guess I'll just hook up the DVD player directly to the receiver then. And thanks also for the tip on the remotes!