Hooking up PS3 to hometheater system?

Question

I have the Philips HTS3555 Home Theater System and i want to hook up it up to my ps3 for surround sound. The problem is that the ps3 has optical and my home theater doesnt, but it does have and hdmi output. Would connecting an hdmi cable work or no?

Ive done some research and it sounds like i'd need to buy a optical to coaxial converter. So looks like im going to need to buy more cables :(

is this the only way?

currently im using component cables for my ps3, i dont have a HD tv yet, and im quite satsified with the sound it already has. Does a coaxial cable really make a difference in sound performance?

Answer 1

Well, your Home Theater System ONLY takes coaxial audio input. The HDMI port it has is an output port and it won't receive sound. For now you are kinda' stuck.  

Sorry.

Answer 2

HDMI tranfers Digital Video and Digital Audio. If you have no HDMI input on you Reciever you will have to use something other than HDMI, for both video and audio. As far as the difference between Digital COAX and Optical the results are about the same.  Technically optical or TOSLink  is capable of more.  But Analog audio sounds warmer.  Depends on what you are playing though it I guess.

Atlona make a very good Digital Coax to Optical Converter.