Connection question HDMI and Surround Sound

I just bought an HDTV and will be getting my cable installed
tomorrow. Now, they say when they come over they connect the box to
my TV with an HDMI cable. That's fine, but will pump the audio
through my TV. I don't have HDMI on my receiver. So, is there a way
to get the best of both worlds, the picture via HDMI and the sound
through my surround sound receiver? Is it as simple as just
connecting the optical out from the cable DVR (assuming it has one, my
old one did) to my receiver and the cable box will simply send audio
to both devices so I can just select the receiver and turn off the TV
sound when I want it, or the reverse when I don't care and want the
audio through the TV?

Thanks,
Jim

On Nov 5, 9:40 am, jtpryan wrote:
I just bought an HDTV and will be getting my cable installed
tomorrow. Now, they say when they come over they connect the box to
my TV with an HDMI cable. That's fine, but will pump the audio
through my TV. I don't have HDMI on my receiver. So, is there a way
to get the best of both worlds, the picture via HDMI and the sound
through my surround sound receiver? Is it as simple as just
connecting the optical out from the cable DVR (assuming it has one, my
old one did) to my receiver and the cable box will simply send audio
to both devices so I can just select the receiver and turn off the TV
sound when I want it, or the reverse when I don't care and want the
audio through the TV?

Thanks,
Jim

I have similar situation, and would like to do the simplest thing and
the most logical connection.
Connect your DVR if it has the optical-out into your optical input in
your receiver, and let this digital in/out connection producing the
best quality sound you ever get.
Don;t bother to get the TV speaker output working together with the
surround sound receiver. It has small wattage output compared to your
system.

All the best!

Erry

On Nov 5, 2:26 pm, " wrote:
On Nov 5, 9:40 am, jtpryan wrote:

I just bought an HDTV and will be getting my cable installed
tomorrow. Now, they say when they come over they connect the box to
my TV with an HDMI cable. That's fine, but will pump the audio
through my TV. I don't have HDMI on my receiver. So, is there a way
to get the best of both worlds, the picture via HDMI and the sound
through my surround sound receiver? Is it as simple as just
connecting the optical out from the cable DVR (assuming it has one, my
old one did) to my receiver and the cable box will simply send audio
to both devices so I can just select the receiver and turn off the TV
sound when I want it, or the reverse when I don't care and want the
audio through the TV?

Thanks,
Jim

I have similar situation, and would like to do the simplest thing and
the most logical connection.
Connect your DVR if it has the optical-out into your optical input in
your receiver, and let this digital in/out connection producing the
best quality sound you ever get.
Don;t bother to get the TV speaker output working together with the
surround sound receiver. It has small wattage output compared to your
system.

All the best!

Erry

I see. That way I'll still get the benifit of the digital video, and
the optical sound.

-Jim

Run optical or spdif from the cable box to your receiver and turn off
the internal TV speakers. Almost, if not all, modern TVs allow you to
do this.

Good luck.

jtpryan wrote:
I just bought an HDTV and will be getting my cable installed
tomorrow. Now, they say when they come over they connect the box to
my TV with an HDMI cable. That's fine, but will pump the audio
through my TV. I don't have HDMI on my receiver. So, is there a way
to get the best of both worlds, the picture via HDMI and the sound
through my surround sound receiver? Is it as simple as just
connecting the optical out from the cable DVR (assuming it has one, my
old one did) to my receiver and the cable box will simply send audio
to both devices so I can just select the receiver and turn off the TV
sound when I want it, or the reverse when I don't care and want the
audio through the TV?

Thanks,
Jim

I'am sure you got all the correct information on the best audio
connection HOWEVER one factor to think about is who and how the HDTV
will be used. I at first connected a new DVD player audio only to my 5.1
receiver. My wife wanted to watch a quick movie while doing some hand
sewing in the TV room but could get the DVD sound from the HDTV speakers
and didn't want to mess with the 5.1 receiver. I had to then connect the
audio L&R from the DVD player to the component audio input on the HDTV!
So sending audio to both devices may be required (if possible)for the
best viewing experience by all.

-mike