Quote Originally Posted by markw View Post
If you're talking two channel audio, then you should be fine using that digital optical link.

If you're talking digital multi-channel, then you are most likely out of luck.

The way most HDTVs work, unless the multi-channel signal was generated from within the TV itself (from it's internal ATSC tuner), any multi-channel audio fro an external source is "down-converted" into 2 channel PCM, no matter how it enters the TV.

I've heard tell there are some exceptions that will do what you want, so you need to check the owners manual vewy, vewy cawfully before making a purcasing decision if this is a critical issue.
My receiver is hybrid dvd player/receiver, it is a sharp ht-x1,
Sharp HT-X1 DVD Home Theater Audio System - 5.1 Dolby Digital,Slot loading Disc,Wall mountable at TigerDirect.com
it can take either digital optical input or one RCA audio L/R input.

My TV is a LC32D47UT HDTV , does that model "down-convert" any multi-channel audio from an external source into 2 channel PCM, or stays as multi-channel audio so when outoutted from the digital output from the TV to the digital optical input of the receiver, nothing is lose? and if it does downgrade to a 2 channel PCM, how apparent/differences is the audio when the digital audio is connect to the receiver directly, or connect to the TV first, then digitial optical out to a receiver?

what type of unit has multi-channel audio????? ..... blue-ray? i mostly just connect my laptop, xbox, iphone, blue-ray player.... dvdplayer..