How to hook up a Playstation 3 to my Bose 5.1 system for best sound?

Question

I have a HDMI cable from the current dvd player (upgraded) to my tv. Do I need other connections?

Answer 1

A simple HDMI cable from PS3 to your receiver's HDMI-in should do the trick.

But don't buy into the lies from Monster or other disreputable companies.  For example, see this:

http://www.monstercable.com/productdispl...

They are selling a plain old HDMI cable, but they're making it out to sound like it's special, and their claims are pure bull-pappy:

"...textures are sharper, shading more realistic..." -- that is TOTALLY impossible -- they're implying that textures at their sharpest can somehow be improved by adding bandwidth (texture sharpness depends on the PS3 hardware, software (original bitmap resolution), and your telly, and not the HDMI cable.  Shadows/shading is completely software-driven or hardware-assisted, and again has NOTHING to do with your HDMI cable -- in fact, you could disconnect your PS3 from the TV entirely, and the shading would be the same (it would still be running inside the PS3, you just wouldn't see it).

Don't believe the hype!  Get a cable for $5 - 20, otherwise you're being jacked.  When buying, get a "1.3" spec cable because the PS3 supports "deep colour" mode (part of HDMI 1.3 spec).  Of course, it should work fine without 1.3 as well.  Interestingly, Monster doesn't even mention 1.3 for their "oh-so-special" cable.

Where to shop?  Check the AV Science forums for reputable sellers.

Answer 2

First, no all Bose systems have HDMI connections. Dave mentioned he has a DVD connected to his TV through a HDMI cable but he didn’t mention whether this cable goes from the PS3 to the Bose system and then to the TV or directly to his TV.

I would think that if he had a HDMI connection on his Bose system he would used it already.

Now, no all the Bose systems have an Optical Digital input (aka TOSLINK) and again, Dave didn’t mention if his system has one.

So, if you have a HDMI input connection in your Bose system, use that one. Connect the cable from your PS3 to the Bose system then your system will handle the switching between devices (audio and video at the same time), or

If you Bose system doesn’t have HDMI but has a TOSKLINK input connection, send the video cables directly to your TV/screen and the fiber optic cable to the Bose system. In this way you will need to switch the audio source from the Bose remote.

Finally, if your Bose systems doesn’t have a HDMI or TOSLINK input connection and since as far as I remember PS3 doesn’t have a coaxial digital connection; you will need to get a TOSLINK to Coaxial converter an connect PS3 video directly to the TV/screen and the TOSLINK cable to the converter and the coaxial from the converter to the Bose system. I know all Bose systems have a coaxial input connection.

See the diagrams showed on the link I posted in the “Source” section. I hope this information helps you.

Answer 3

-HDMI output from PS3 to TV. Optical digital output from PS3 to Bose system.

Answer 4

The HDMI cable is for the best   HD Video quality  to be transfered from your PS3 to your HDTV.

You need a Digital Optical Cable for the  HD Sound quality to be transfered from your PS3 to your Bose 5.1

If its possible have the HDMI cable go from the PS3 to the Bose and then another HDMI cable can go from the Bose to the HDTV.  (this way you don't use a Digital Optical Cable) (you use two HDMI since HDMI is the best for both video and sound)  Which ever sounds the best go with!