HDTV Audio question?

Question

Should most surround sound receivers have multiple audio hookups? I want to be able to output my HDTV's audio to the reciever and also hookup my computer's audio to the receiver. Is this possible with any receivers that you know of or would have have constantly be unplugging one and plugging the other one in?

Answer 1

All receivers - and not those things included with those "home theater in a box" kits - are designed to accommodate multiple audio and even video inputs.  The video is just a pass through, but allows your receiver to act as a single switch point for audio and video.

These receivers can also be programmed to group an arbitrary video and audio input together.  For instance, if you wanted your DVD player to use component video, and optical audio cables, you'd group one of the component video sources with one of the optical audio sources, and name that "DVD".  It's also possible to just have an audio input without a video input - such as a CD player, or the audio from your PC.    Receivers include a number of different types of audio inputs to support such configurations.

It is possible to output the audio of your TV signal through your receiver.  The actual way you do this, however, depends on what TV you have, what receiver you have, and what your TV source is (cable, antenna, satellite/cable box, etc.)

Here's my setup:

HDTV, HD satellite, receiver, PS3, upscaling DVD player, etc.

While my TV DOES have an optical audio output, it is ONLY used if I wanted to output the audio from a digital channel that its tuner is using.  In other words - it only works if I'm using an antenna to watch a digital channel, which is useless to me since I have HD satellite.  SO, I have a few options here:

1: Connect the analog stereo audio output of my TV to the receiver.  This will work for any audio that would normally come out of the TV's stereo speakers - but this won't be Dolby surround sound.

2: Connect my HD satellite's optical audio output to the receiver.  My TV continues to get a stereo signal for its speakers, but if I wanted to, I can turn on the receiver and use its  speakers.  If I'm watching something that is in Dolby surround, the receiver will get the signal.

Newer HDTVs can act as a pass through for digital audio - meaning they can take a combined digital video and audio signal from a HDMI connection, and then output the digital audio to an optical audio connection for your receiver.

You can get a good receiver for $300-500 that will have plenty of inputs.  It's best if you make a list of all your current devices and how you'd like to have them connected to have an idea of what you will need.  Be sure to account for some growth.  For instance, even if your DVD player isn't using HDMI today, if you know you'll get a blu-ray player at some point, plan for that.  More inputs - especially for HDMI - will mean higher prices.

Answer 2

Many of the higher priced models have them.  You should be able to find either a splitter or a switching unit that you can use.  Don't forget to allow for a possible future HD-radio, XFM,  or ipod input.  Unfortunately this often means you have another  remote control that you cant find.

Answer 3

Most newer receivers have multiple audio inputs for many different devices. My advice is to find some models that may interest you and look them up on Amazon.com. They have many helpful reviews that will help you decide which is best for you.