Why optical digital cord from TV to receiver: Why do I need this if I am using HDMI for all of my connections?
2027075
the only audio output on some HDTVs is optical, such as my Viera X1, so the only way you will get any sound from your TV channels through your speakers (which your TV processes from the input from the wall) is from that optical output to your receiver unless you use a cable-box in which case you can just get it from a HDMI or optical cable from the cable-box to your receiver. The reason for this is the TVs, at least the ones I've setup, do not output audio through HDMI only through RCA or optical, and you'll only get digital audio from optical obviously so that's why the guide shows that. The optical cables are really cheap anyhow on Amazon so it shouldn't be a problem.
365113
You will need it if your TV has an HDMI input, but the TV does not support what is called an Audio Return Channel (ARC). If this is the case, you will need an optical cable to send the audio from the TV to the receiver. If your TV supports ARC, then you will not need the optical cable. ARC allows audio from the TV to be sent to the receiver using the same HDMI cable that is used to send video from the receiver to the TV. My TV does not support ARC, so I am using HDMI for video and an optical cable for audio.
112515
I believe it's for the optical audio out. I have a projector and didn't want to run hdmi to the projector audio back down to the receiver. I just ran the optical from the switch to the receiver 18" away and for that I needed digital audio out for good sound.. I love the thing, it works great!
336529
Depending on how you have configured the connection the answer may lie in whether or not you are using a digital optical cable for the out put of the TV to the unit. HDMI is for ingoing signals, but if you are using the TV as a source to amplify then you need to add the digital optical cable from the TV out to the Sound bar in for this cable. If that does not correct the problem, then you may have a defective unit. This cable is not included in the box, but can be purchased for about 10-20 dollars depending where you buy.
1806620
I haven't tried it both ways, so I don't know that there's a difference. But I have my main connections go directly to the TV and run the optical cable for when I want better sound (which I don't always care about), and that works just fine.
2121210
Well, there are two choices. There is no HDMI hook up available, so the choices are either an RCA hookup or an optical/digital hookup. I am currently using the RCA hook up, only because I am looping it through a graphic equalizer. Were it not for that fact, I would use a digital optical cable.
2255440
If you want picture and sound with the receiver or the 607 turned off, you'll have to connect your source to the television and not use the receiver. HDMI pass through merely implies that the receiver does no processing of it's own on the signal, essentially acting as an HDMI switch. However, the vast majority of receivers must be powered in order to allow the digital signal through
1438376
James, do you have an HDMI connection on your cable box and or other peripherals (DVD, bluray etc)? Optical is a good solution for component or analog video connections with digital audio (surround sound) decoders. If you have HDMI then your best possible video and audio solution is to go directly from your cable box and DVD/bluray with HDMI cables which would carry 1080p (high definition) video as well as 7.1 surround sound on a single cable. If this option is out of the question then you could go the lesser quality route of using optical connection into 2 inputs on the rear of the v375. This unit would replace your current surround processor. Any further questions feel free to reply! James, do you have an HDMI connection on your cable box and or other peripherals (DVD, bluray etc)? Optical is a good solution for component or analog video connections with digital audio (surround sound) decoders. If you have HDMI then your best possible video and audio solution is to go directly from your cable box and DVD/bluray with HDMI cables which would carry 1080p (high definition) video as well as 7.1 surround sound on a single cable. If this option is out of the question then you could go the lesser quality route of using optical connection into 2 inputs on the rear of the v375.... » Read More James, do you have an HDMI connection on your cable box and or other peripherals (DVD, bluray etc)? Optical is a good solution for component or analog video connections with digital audio (surround sound) decoders. If you have HDMI then your best possible video and audio solution is to go directly from your cable box and DVD/bluray with HDMI cables which would carry 1080p (high definition) video as well as 7.1 surround sound on a single cable. If this option is out of the question then you could go the lesser quality route of using optical connection into 2 inputs on the rear of the v375. This unit would replace your current surround processor. Any further questions feel free to reply! « Show Less
478145
I have a new HDTV and it only has the optical output. We went from the cable box to the TV with HDMI, but I also want to connect to a home theater system. My receiver is an older one and does not have HDMI or optical. Can I just use the left- right audio outputs that are on the back of the cable box for the audio receiver as well as using the HDMI for the television??? Sal
1561122
If you are using an HDMI cable from the TV output to the receiver you should have audio through the receiver. I assume that you have multiple inputs that are selected by the receiver and you have selected the input that is connected to the TV. I found that there are different audio configurations in the receiver that need to be selected also. The manual offers a lot of information but for me it's too difficult to understand. Try a different HDMI cable and/or input port to begin with.
2007852
Your HDMI video and audio signals will pass through the receiver when it is "off". The receiver does not have to be "on".
134481
you could get a $10 ish converter box to take the optical to rca digital, I've had to do that for my audio receiver as it came with more rca digital, than optical, and HDMI was yet to include audio pass through at the time.
882544
This is true. I tried setting up my home theatre every way possible, but efter speaking to Sharp, they said you cannot use the audio optical out for HDMI. This is a shame. You must go directlyu from the audio source to the receiver via optical cable when using HDMI to the TV. No big deal, the TV is still awesome!
865395
I have my TV connected to the Soundbar via optical as well and it works fine. I had to buy the cable separately though. I would think that HDMI is all you need since the Soundbar acts as an HDMI hub.
2280994
I have a WDTV PLAY (no smart tv), so I connect the hdmi to the TV por the best picture, and then I connect the optical to the home theater for the best audio, it works perfect, hope my experience helps.
1699947
Remember that the optical cable is for hearing what you are looking in your tv using a home theater or a soundbar the hdmi is for audio and video from the device that you are using like cable box, game console or dvd\blueray player.
55880
An HDMI cable is the only thing needed. HDMI carries both the video and audio in one single cable.Getting the audio to a stereo receiver requires a separate audio cable (probably optical) that will go from your HDTV audio output to your stereo receiver.If your stereo receiver has HDMI pass-through, you might be able to have the DVD HDMI cable go straight to your receiver, but then you would need a second HDMI cable to go from your receiver to your HDTV, which is MUCH more expensive than an optical audio cable in the scenario I described above.