Audio connections for PS3, Surround sound Receiver, and HDTV.

[Europa13]

Ok, I'm ready to buy my LCD HDTV. I'm going to get a Sony Bravia XBR HDTV. All of my other components are Sony brand. I have a Surround Sound Receiver, 5 disc DVD player, and PS3. I also have a Dish network 522 DVR. I have a couple questions on the best way to connect them all.

I heard someone say, and I don't know if this is true, that the optical cable won't work (on the PS3) if you use HDMI to connect it to the TV. Right now I have my PS3 connected to my tube TV with component cables and to my SS receiver with a optical cable and it works fine for surround sound through the receiver. Maybe they meant you can't connect the PS3 to the TV with HDMI and to the TV with optical at the same time, although I don't know why anyone would try to do that.

1. Will I get surround sound from the receiver if I connect the PS3 to the TV with HDMI and to the SS receiver with an optical cable?
2. If question #1 doesn't work, could I connect the TV to the SS receiver with an digital (coaxial) cable and get SS from the PS3. I'm not sure why but the new TV's don't have optical outputs, but they do have digital (coaxial?) If this doesn't work, how can I set it up to get SS through my PS3?
3. My SS receiver remote and Dish DVR remote work with my tube TV. Will they automatically work with my new TV, or are they going to have to be set up/programmed to work with the new TV, and if so, how do I do that?

Thanks in advance,
You guys have been very helpful so far :)

[abeas]

I run HDMI to a switcher and optical to my receiver for my PS3 and it works fine. I get Dolby Digital/DTS so go ahead and do that.
You will have to reprogram different IR codes for your remotes, unless your old TV was a Sony in which case it might work. You will have to get the manual and see how to program new codes for the TV. Usually this is done by holding the TV source button on the remote to be programmed, entering a 3-5 digit number, releaseing TV button and powering on/off. In your case, I can't tell you exactly how yours will work.

[kevinw]

You may want to call Dish and upgrade your tuner to a 622 or 722 in order to get HD programming. The Dish receiver will have a manual that can walk you through the remote set up. If your Sony A/V receiver does not have HDMI ability you could also look at replacing it with a Yamaha, Denon or Onkyo A/V for a reasonable cost and most likely an improvement in sound quality.

[57U]

1. When you connect the PS3 with HDMI, you'll be asked if you want to use HDMI for audio and video - answer yes.

2. Then go into the audio settings on the PS3 and change it back to "optical". You can then get video with the HDMI and audio with the optical. You cannot have sound from both, so the TV will be "mute".

3. You cannot go "through" the TV and maintain DD5.1. You need to go directly from the PS3 to the AVR. See:

http://www.hdtvoice.com/voice/showthread.php?t=2046 bolding

4. Cables & Connections:

http://www.hdtvoice.com/voice/showthread.php?t=3529

[Europa13]

Thanks for all the replies.

kevinw, later this summer I plan on upgrading the DVR to the 722. Until then, the 522 will work fine, it just won't be HDTV, correct?

abeas, do you have the HDMI going to the TV and the optical going to the Surround sound receiver? Do you get audio from both? My old TV is a Sony, so hopefully all the remotes will automatically work. But if they don't, will the directions to reprogram the IR codes will come with the new TV or do I need to look at the manuals from the old components?

57U, I read somewhere that HDMI quality isn't any better than component AV. Is this true?

[abeas]

No, I don't get audio from both. Just from the optical, which is fine; the way I want it anyways. Apparently you can only output audio from one output at a time. Way to go Sony.
Look at the manuals from the old components for their IR codes if you want to use THOSE remotes to control your TV.

[57U]

1. Do you get audio from both?

2. 57U, I read somewhere that HDMI quality isn't any better than component AV. Is this true?
1. As stated in my post, the answer is no.

2. Although component video quality on a properly calibrated TV input is equal to HDMI, the PS3 and many upconverting players, will only upconvert SD DVDs via the HDMI connection, therefore HDMI is "better" due to the restriction in the device, but not due to the connection itself. So, for the PS3, use HDMI.

Of course, if you have an AVR that handles HDMI audio, there is the added bonus of "HD Audio" in the AVR when connected through the AVR with HDMI.

See: http://www.hdtvoice.com/voice/showthread.php?t=33977

[Europa13]

OK, I bought a 40" Sony Bravia LCD HDTV (not XBR) yesterday and got it all hooked up. The PS3 is connected with HDMI, running at 1080p resolution, and looks great :) My Sony DVD player (about 4 years old...not blu-ray) is at 480i resolution. The remotes all automatically worked with the new TV. I'm using a Dish DVR 522 (not HDTV). I am going to upgrade to the 722 HDTV DVR soon. Maybe I'm being picky, and I know the signal will be better once I upgrade, but the satellite TV is kind of blurry. More so than it looked on my old tube TV, but maybe that is because it was a smaller TV.

I connected my PS3 to my receiver with a Monster 600 optical cable a few weeks ago, when I got the PS3. When I first connected it the optical cable was very easy to remove. Yesterday, when setting up the new TV and stand, I had to disconnect all the cables. The optical cable was so tight (on PS3 end and Receiver end) that it literally came apart when I unplugged it. I ended up leaving the PS3 end attached to the console. When I pulled the optical end out of the receiver, the square plastic part stayed in the receiver. I was going to replace the cable because of this, and I tried very hard to remove the square plastic end piece from the receiver, but I could not. HOWEVER, it still works, the cable plugs back into the square piece that is now in the receiver and makes a good connection. Basically, part of the cable just became a permanent fixture in the receiver. But if I wanted to switch optical cables at some point, I don't think I would be able to. I find it more than coincidental, since it happened on both ends. But like I said, it still works, I'm just curious why it happened. Here's a picture of it, it's the black square part at the end that stayed in the receiver and won't come out. http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8046571&type=product&id=1158316174378&ref=06&loc=01&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=8046571


1. Is there a way to change the DVD player resolution from 480i or should I just leave it there?
2. Is there a way to change the resolution for the satellite TV mode so the picture is more clear, or do I just need to deal with unclear picture until I upgrade my DVR?
3. Is it normal for Monster optical cables to "seal/lock in" with time, or is there some special way to disconnect them without pulling them apart and leaving part of the cable in the component?

[57U]

1. There is probably no reason to use your DVD player. Use the PS3 as your DVD player. With it doing the upconversion to 1080p, it'll probably be superior to your DVD player. Most recent DVD players were 480P capable, but not all. If it's a progressive scan DVD player, then there should be a setting in the user menu, or a hard switch on the back, or both to switch it to progressive scan. What is the make/model?

2. See the following on SD PQ.

http://www.hdtvoice.com/voice/showthread.php?t=14280

3. Mon$ter products are known for being very tight. Their component video cables are often so tight that they damage the connectors on TVs and AVRs. Perhaps the optical connection is similar? The optical cable has one flat side which should go into the equipment only one way. Sometimes people have difficulty finding the flat side and force the cable into the socket, causing the problem you encountered. The cable should simply "click" into place when inserted properly. No one should ever purchase a Mon$ter product though. They are Charlatans.

http://www.hdtvoice.com/voice/showthread.php?t=21206

[bda4life]

Europa, like 57U says, use your PS3 as your dvd player for both Blu-Ray and non-HD dvd's (regular dvd's). When I bought my PS3, I moved my regular dvd player into the kids room. The PS3 is a fantastic upconverting dvd player, so why settle for 480i????

Also, it has been said before but must be repeated....Monster products are overpriced and unnecessary. Go to monoprice.com for all of your cable needs. I have used them for years and would not think of another site for cables.

Lastly, make sure that your PS3 has been updated to the latest firmware (I believe version 2.35). There have been many upgrades over the past couple of years that will only enhance your movie theater experience.

Congrats on the new purchase. You may want to look into a new AV receiver. I bought a Yamaha receiver over the holidays and it rocks.

[Europa13]

My DVD player does have progressive scan, so I just went and turned that on and it changed it from 480i to 480p, I think it looks a little better. I'll use the PS3 for DVD's most of the time, so I guess it doesn't really matter.

I took the TV off of "torch mode" by changing it from vivid to standard. I set the sharpness at the half way mark. Would turning the sharpness down more be a good idea?

I did put the optical cable in right. I was very careful about the positioning. It wasn't so tight when I put it in. It's like it heat sealed or something. So, what do I do if I need to remove the cable from the PS3, take it to a AV shop so I don't damage the console?

Also, if removing the tight Monster cable does damage the optical output port on the PS3, would there be any other way to get surround sound from the PS3? There is no coaxial audio output on the PS3, so would running a coaxial cable from the TV to the receiver give you PS3 surround sound? If that wouldn't work, could I run a AV cable from the PS3 to the receiver (and only plug in the 2 audio cables) and HDMI to the TV?

[57U]

As stated in post 4, item 3, you cannot go "though" the TV and maintain DD5.1. As discussed in the links in that post, analogue audio cables don't provide DD5.1 either, if that's what you're asking by "AV Cables".

I don't know of many (any?) TVs that have coaxial audio outputs, most are optical and as discussed above, are designed for use with the internal tuner, not as a "passthrough".

See the following for proper TV setup information:

http://www.hdtvoice.com/voice/showthread.php?t=1440

[Europa13]

I greatly appreciate your help. I guess I'm just a little slow with all of this. I'm just trying to figure out what other options there would be for surround sound if the optical port was damaged. Would the AV cable (from the AV multi out port on the PS3) ran directly to the receiver work?

[57U]

I've added some additional information to my previous post. If you're concerned about removing the optical cable from the PS3, I'd take the PS3 with cable connected to the place that sold you the cable and have a technician there remove it - that way if they damage the port, they can be blamed.

[Europa13]

Good idea. I bought the PS3 and the cable at Best Buy, so I'll just take the PS3 in (with the cable attached) so they can remove it, when I go to get my new receiver.

Thanks for all your help.

[Europa13]

1. There is probably no reason to use your DVD player. Use the PS3 as your DVD player. With it doing the upconversion to 1080p, it'll probably be superior to your DVD player.
If the PS3 can upconvert regular DVD's to 1080p, is it the same quality as Blu-ray?

How do you get the PS3 to save the spot on a movie when you stop it? When I press stop and then resume it, it starts the movie over.

[abeas]

1- No, it is no where close. Upconverting is taking a 720x480 signal and scaling it to a HD resolution. It is not HD but some players will produce a better image vs a non-scaling DVD player. Blu-ray is 1920x1080 (assumming the movie is 1080p) which is a lot higher resolution than standard DVD.

2- It is my understanding that the feature of disc resume is not available on blu-ray yet. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

[Europa13]

Maybe only some of the movies have that capability. I'm almost positive it saved my spot on 28 weeks later, but it won't on V for Vendetta...

So, if a standard DVD is 720x480, what resolution does it upconvert it to?