I thought I would try here first about my problem.

I bought the new PS3 Slim and just recently purchased The Matrix as my first blu-ray movie. I have the PS3 hooked up to my 52'' Panasonic Viera 1080p plasma via the HDMI cable. I liked the picture but the sound is coming out through my TV speakers as I have nothing connected from the PS3 to my Yamaha 5:1 stereo which I bought about 2-3 years back.

My question is simply this... my Yamaha receiver does not have an HDMI input. I don't think I'm getting the sound I'm supposed to get from The Matrix. I still have the component wires if that will do the trick? I doubt it. Will I have to upgrade? I'm a bit confused on what to do here.

Thanks in advance.

Does your receiver have an optical input? That is the way to get the best sound with your system and the Slim. I believe the Slim has a direct optical out, no proprietary cable needed.

I don't have the slim, but that's the way I have mine hooked up. HDMI from PS3 to TV, and optical from PS3 to receiver.

I looked at the back of my stereo and it has 2 optical inputs and a DVD input. The two optical inputs are labeled CD 3 and DTV/CBL 2 and the DVD input is labeled DVD 1 and the numbers are circled but they're in the same "Digital Input" outlined box on the back of my stereo.

One problem, the DVD 1 input is a coaxial while #2 and #3 has a different cable for them which is optical. What cable will I need for this? And I'm assuming I'll try the DTV/CBL first? and then try the CD input? My PS3 Slim has the digital port by the way.

Use an optical cable on either the CD3 or DTV/CBL2 if they are optical, given that your DVD input appears to be a coax (?). Make sure that on the PS3 you set the sound as "optical out" otherwise you will hear nothing.

You won't get the full benefits of a TrueHD/PCM/DTS-HS soundtrack, given that the required audio connection for that is HDMI, but the core 5.1 tracks on those are (I think) somewhat better sounding than the 5.1 tracks on DVD's. In other words, while you don't get the full HD soundtrack, you will get a quality 5.1 "core" track that is decoded from the full HD track.

Hopefully this doesn't confuse you - if it does, let me know.

No, you pretty much explained what I needed to do. I'll have to go out this weekend and find the cable and mess around with it.

Thanks for the help guys and I'll report back if I have any problem.

Not sure how much stores are charging for optical cables these days, but if they are more than $10 and you can wait a few days, then I (everyone) recommend monoprice.com.

This can't be emphasized enough. B&M stores will absolutely rape you on any kind of cable if you give them a chance.

Alright, I got the digital optical cable and connected it from the back of the PS3 Slim to the back of the stereo in the CD output.

I went through my PS3 settings and found Sound Settings -> Audio Output Settings -> Optical Digital and here's where I'm confused.

I looked on my Yamaha 5:1 stereo and on the front panel it has "Dolby Digital Pro Logic II" and DTS Digital Surround" but in my PS3 it has DTS 5.1 Ch checked but not the Dolby Digital 5.1 Ch. I'm assuming I make sure Dolby is checked as well?

EDIT #1: Hooked the optical cable in the DTV/CBL port and I'm only getting the sound from the center speaker (Dolby 5.1 on, DTS 5.1 off).

EDIT #2: Tried turning both Dolby 5.1 and DTS 5.1 on, nothing changed, sound coming from center speaker.

EDIT #3 Tried turning off Dolby 5.1 and DTS 5.1 on. Two front speakers works, no surround/center/SW.

On the back of Full Metal Jacket said PCM: English 5.1, Dolby Digital: English 5.1

Should I try the CD port this time?

Have both Dolby Digital and DTS checked on the PS3.
Try a different movie. Kubrick was notorious for only using mono sound, regardless of what it says on the package.

Ah, well, the only other blu-ray I have is The Matrix, will that work? I just upgraded to blu-ray, so my blu library is just starting out.

I'll have to remember this tidbit about Kubrick, thanks for the info

Matrix is perfect. The point is, Most Kubrick movies will only come out of the center speaker, so it's hard to use them to test the speakers.

I generally switch into Mono in my receiver when watching such movies. That moves the sound into more speakers so at least it sounds more even throughout the room.

Is it just Kubrick's movies that does this?

I'll try the mono option in my stereo, that is if I can find it.

Well, any mono movie played in standard Dolby Pro Logic mode will do this. I do not have Kubrick on BD, I don't know how they put the audio in there. Most mono movies on DVD have simply put the same audio in both left and right channels, and frequently call it "Dolby 2.0 Mono" or similar on the box. But if your receiver thinks it should use Pro Logic in this scenario, it will come out the center only.

Pretty much any movie before a certain time (late 70s? I've forgotten) will be mono, unless they've remade a multi-channel soundtrack for DVD or BD.

It should be noted that the all PS3s share the same connection options, and does not matter whether you have the 'slim' or the regular console.

They all have an HDMI, Optical, Ethernet and AV Multi Out.

The difference only lies in the more advanced settings you make after establishing the proper cable connections, as the slim can bitstream HD audio through HDMI in addition to the original PCM option, and that Bravia Sync feature if you have a Sony TV. The regular PS3 cannot be updated to include these two new options.

I played The Matrix and it works. I did it by turning on digital optical and have BOTH Dolby 5.1 and DTS 5.1 checked. My stereo showed all speakers worked and I went to each one to make sure the sound are coming out of it.

So, whatever I get an oldie (pre-1970), I'll have to manually switch to 2 front speakers or TV speakers? since it's more louder and clearer than the center speaker no matter how high I turn it up. I'll have to mess about with my stereo for the mono option on there on my next free day.

That's been true since surround sound has existed (1980s). If you want the best sound, you have to check what the DVD is giving you and select accordingly. They do not always default to the sound format you want, and this is even more true with BD.

I thought this question would be better to post here than starting a whole new thread since it's semi related.
I'm a college student and I recently moved into an apartment. I have a 37 inch Insignia LCD that is connected to my PS3 via HDMI cable. Whenever I try to play a blu ray or dvd that 5.1, I only hear the background noises. Is there anyway I can change this? I know I can't get the best sound quality with surround sound but that isn't really an option right now. Thank you for your help.

Change the audio settings to bitstream the PCM 2 channel. That's the same as CD sound.