Sorry Everyone...I know these kind of questions are probably common.

I have a new setup at home -> Not totally setup yet.

Is it ok to run my :
DirecTV HD HR-20 DVR
Apple TV
Samsung Upconverting DVD-R

to my TV directly via HDMI cables
then use the output of my TV (either optical or coaxial - which is best?)
to my new Onkyo HT-SR800 AV System?

That way all the devices would run through one input on my AV Receiver.
The local AV guy said no I have to run those HDMI through my Onkyo first and use it to switch the inputs - or I will have crappy sound.

I would rather do my way - all through the TV but will I still get all the normal 5.1 / DTS etc. signals passed from tv to my Onkyo - will it sound allright?

FYI My TV is a new Mitsubishi DLP WD-65734

Thanks,
Rich

... all through the TV but will I still get all the normal 5.1 / DTS etc. signals passed from tv to my Onkyo ...
No, probably they won't be passed from tv to your receiver, since most tvs pass digital sound only from the tv digital tuner.

OK - I agree for most...

But my TV does say on the COAX out in the Manual:
DIGITAL AUDIO OUT - This output send Dolby Digital or PCM digital audio to your digital A/V surround sound receiver. If you have a digital A/V receiver, in most cases this is the only audio connection needed between the TV and your A/V receiver.


I am not disagreeing at all...just wanting to make sure I would still get the good surround from my Satellite and DVD that are hooked via HDMI to the TV.

Thanks for the reply.

Sounds like you may have one of the few TVs that passes multichannel audio from sources other than its own internal tuner. Congratulations. But, give it a try and see if it really works that way.

Meanwhile, I am not sure why you would want to do that. Feeding audio sources to a receiver on different inputs allows you to customize the settings for each one. As a general rule, one size does not fit all when it comes to sound.

If you get a Blu-ray or HD DVD player, the TV will not send the high bit rate audio tracks over optical to your receiver. The best you will get that way is DD.

Also, what happens if you want to listen to music on your DVD player? Do you have to turn on the TV and switch it to the DVD input?

Just some things to think about as you wire your system together.

Some TVs do route digital sound -- maybe yours does. But the passage you quote from your manual does not say that a digital audio signal coming into your TV by HDMI will be sent out the digital coax connector.