namrfumot

Just got Cox HD installed. Right now the cable comes out of the wall, into the cable box, and then to the TV. Everything works perfectly except I can't watch TV in surround sound.

I tried plugging in coaxial cables from the AUDIO OUT on the tv into the AUDIO IN on the receiver but I get no sound from the surround speakers.

There are no other AUDIO OUTs on the back of the cable box. What do I do now?

tonyc3742

The cable box does not have optical audio out? Mine (Scientific Atlanta 8300HD) did, so I ran component cable and regular audio cables from HD box to reciever to TV, and optical audio cable from box to receiver.
That's really odd that an HD box would have nothing but coax (is it an HD box?)
If you're using the regular coax cable into the box and to the TV, correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think you're getting HD anything on the actual TV, or multichannel sound.

namrfumot

My cable box does have optical out. But my receiver is so old that it does not even have component or optical inputs - just coax.

I have a brand new Samsung plasma too, so it looks like the receiver is the weak link?

tonyc3742

Sounds like it, unless your Samsung can process and output multichannel audio to a set of speakers. Many TVs have a fake-it "surround" audio setting, but it's not even close to the same thing as a true surround system through a receiver (though it's definitely better than regular mono or stereo).
The workaround for your existing layout is if your receiver does some of the fake surround as well, so you can at least get some use out of the surround speakers; but it might not, if it's that old; or it might just have ProLogic.
Sounds like it might be time for an upgrade. If you are on a budget (and who isn't these days) I always suggest the Onkyo HTiB sets. Purists and audiophiles scoff on HTiBs, but based on when I was doing my research a couple years ago, they were the best way to get a good quality set for less than 500$ or so. I have neither the money nor the interest to spend 200-1000$ per piece on an HT set building it piece by piece.

namrfumot

Ok here's what I just tried. Regular audio out of the cable box, into the receiver, and back up to the TV.

I got the TV in surround sound, but when the receiver wasn't turned on the TV sounded like shit. So I think it indeed is time to upgrade. I don't need speakers, so I'll just have to buy a new receiver.

Thanks

GreenMonkey

This might help you out:


Monoprice has an optical to coaxial audio converter for $11.16

http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2

Shazam

Obvious question: Did you set the receiver to TV?

namrfumot

Ok..I bought one of these and went OPTICAL OUT of the cable box and into my receiver. All I got was static

I also tried AUDIO OUT from the tv and all I got was static

WTF is going on??

Mr. Salty

You may need to enable the optical digital connections, either on the cable box, the receiver, or both. I have an Onkyo receiver. I have to assign the optical prt to whichever input I want to use it with --- DVD, Video 2, Video 3, etc.

Also, double check to make sure both ends of the cable are inserted correctly and properly seated.

chipmac

Yeah, I don't know how many people I've talked to that forgot to take off the optical cable covers from t he ends and didn't have them seated right because they won't fit with them on.