Splitting an Optical Digital Audio Signal
 

Hi there.
My stereo receiver has one digital audio optical output. But I want to use digital sound on my TV and on my XBOX 360.

I picked up a digital audio splitter on ebay. It has one input and 2 outputs. I just tired putting it all together, and no results. The sound comes in a little bit at first, then nothing. I have tried different combinations with the cables, and still nothing. Am I trying to do the impossible or am I missing something?

Thanks!

Dave

I'm a bit confused. I think you mean your receiver has one INPUT - in other words, you want to connect two sources (TV and xbox) to it.

The splitter should work (you will actually be using it as a combiner). You should use a decent (nothing fancy, but not super cheap - check out monoprice.com) optical cable for each connection, and keep the cables as short as possible. Only have device can be on at a time - if you are using the xbox, the tv must be off. I bet you have a cable box, so this might present a problem since they are almost always on. Let us know if that works.

I'm using a splitter on my receiver since I have two optical ins, and three devices (dvd, ps2, xbox). I didn't have any problem with the cheap splitter and cables that I got off ebay a couple years ago.

Ok, still confused.

Your receiver has one input. Your splitter has one input. You have two devices that have outputs. You still did not solve your problem as the splitter will do exactly what it says it will, split one source into two, not the other way around.

Actually, an optical splitter can be used in reverse. As long as only one input is active at a time it will work as I described. I used one for a while to connect 2 xboxs to a receiver.

I got a great optical splitter from Radio Shack for both my XBOX and Playstation 2.

Yeah, I think he might be sending the signal from two sources.....

Be more specific, like said...if one is from a cable box, turn it off while you play XBOX and vice versa.

Exactly what I was thinking and that is what is causing the problem.

Thanks for all the replies.
Sorry for the incorrect terminology. I know my way around this stuff, but not an expert.
Still no luck, even with the cable box off.
Here's how I have it set up:
Digital cable from stereo goes into one port in the splitter. Two other digital cables go into the other two ports in the splitter. One cable goes to hte XBOX and one goes to the back of the cable box.
With the XBOX off, there is no cable sound. And with the cable box off, no luck with the XBOX. Do I have a bum splitter maybe? Or is my configuartion wrong?
Thanks.
Dave

it sounds like you have everythign set up right. Try this: unplug the xbox's optical cable and keep the cable box connected. If you still don't get any sound, then it is probably a bad splitter. The optical input on your tv works for sure, right? You may want to try to plug one of the devices directly into the receiver to make sure the problem isn't with the receiver.