Need to Clarify my HDMI Passthrough Question?

Question

I have just purchased a Sony Home Theater system (HT-7000DH). The receiver has HDMI Passthrough (2 HDMI inputs/1 HDMI output). The DVD player is HDMI as well. I also currently have a DirectTV HD Receiver hooked up via HDMI to my Plasma TV. I want to fit all this together seamlessly.

The HDMI signals carried by the HT receiver are only "passed through". Video and sound pass through the HT receiver without being processed or sent to the speakers (this is intentional by Sony for legal reasons). The receiver does allow for the reassignment of sound inputs.

From earlier support here I believe to get surround sound I will need to run optical or component cables (in addition to HDMI) from both sources to my HT receiver. Right/wrong? Two other questions. 1) Will I then run a Optical Out from my HT receiver to my TV? 2) Do I have this all wrong?

If you can answer here that would be great. Or if someone will share an e-mail address I can contact you there. Sorry my first HT ever.

Answer 1

It's confusing. What you want to do is run the HDMI from your sat receiver and DVD player to your surround receiver, then the single HDMI output to your TV. From there, you hook either optical or coaxial digital audio (whichever your TV/receiver facilitates) from your TV's digital output to your surround receiver's digital input. You will have to configure your receiver to use the single digital audio input for both sat and DVD. Now you are effectively switching both audio and video simultaneously in the digital realm.

for questions email [e-mail]

Answer 2

I believe that the HDMI cable is supposed to carry both the audio & video signal into the receiver , so you should not have to make any other connections for surround sound.
You will have to make another HDMI connection from your receiver to your HDTV, but the signal it is passing on is so the signal is not degraded to your TV , hence the name passed through.

Answer 3

I helped you on your first question, e-mail me at [e-mail] if you still need some help.