Thanks for clarifying this a bit. I'll probably find out by trial and error. Believe it or not, I seem to be getting the best, richest and most natural (stereo) TV sound using cheap $4 RCA cables which I have going from my TV monitor out to my receivers TV inputs. The HD DVR is connected to my TV via component cables.

What NAD receiver did you get and what was the price?


Quote Originally Posted by IRG
I am getting a new NAD receiver today, but I have had my Time Warner cable box plugged into my 2 channel amp using the RCA cables, as there was no other option for me. When I went to the dealer last weekend where I am getting my NAD unit, I asked him about hooking up, and he said to use the RCA cables anyway, and not the digital cable. The reason according to him (and he seemed pretty knowledgeable) is that the Scientific Atlanta cable boxes do not have a digital/analog converter in them. Perhaps new units are starting to do that, not sure. I have a newer unit, but it is not for HD cable, not sure that matters anyway.

But the point that Paul mentioned which is correct, is that if you use only the digital cable, and want to listen to a station that is analog, and there is no converter in the cable box, you aren't going to hear anything but static. Now if you use both analog cables and a digital cable, I am not clear whether this will alleviate the problem or not. I guess the receiver then has to know which signal is working, but usually the receiver is programmed to pick the best type of connection, which is digital first. So, if there is no converter in the box, and you are watching an analog station, the only thing the receiver is going to play is this static.

If you use only RCA cables, then the box is sending a real signal to the receiver which can be listened to, although you are then defeating the point of listening to a 5.1 broadcast in cable. The only solution would be to constantly change cables depending on which station you listen to, which is of ridiculous.

Paul or anyone else, can this point be clarified at all?