How Do I Get Digital Audio?

Question

ok im really confused so this might not sound right,

I have an old dvd player (without HDMI plugs), a new home theatre system (With HDMI) and a new plasma tv (HDMI). i tried connecting the home theate and the tv together with a HDMI cable thinking that sound would be transmitted but it didnt work so i connected them with old RCA cables. Im thinking the next best thing is digital audio? the dvd player has a plug called coaxial (its a black socket like that of RCA) and a werid thing that sticks out thats called optical. The home theatre has a orange socket with coaxial written and two other plugs, not the same as the dvd. the tv has a digital audio out. idk what any of these mean i just want to connect them with digital audio. help?

http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm315/aussierobbie08/?action=view&current=IMGP1797.jpg

http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm315/aussierobbie08/?action=view&current=IMGP1804.jpg

What cables do i get?

Answer 1

I could tell you but....

kidding

Just e-mail me a list of your components and i can write you a "hook-up diagram"

Or just wait for someone below me  to spend time confusing you.

More questions? Just e-mail me. I have owned a home theater business.

Answer 2

Connect the black RCA (coaxial) to the orange RCA (coaxial) on the HT receiver. These are the digital coaxial output/input sockets. It's best not to use a standard RCA patch cords since it likely isn't coax and (while it will work) it won't work as well as a coaxial cable. Expect to pay about $10 (although a budget store (see link) will sell for less).  This connection will give you surround sound.

Connect the DVD video to the HT system via component jacks if you have them (red/green/blue triple RCA jacks).

Now, assuming your HT system "transcodes" (i.e. sends the analog video to the HDMI output) you can connect the HT System to the TV via HDMI. If not, you will have to use the component connections (same as the connection from the DVD player to the HT system).

There is no particular performance advantage to HDMI for SD video so you aren't losing anything.

It's worth noting that IF you bought an upconverting DVD player (NOT a really cheap one ... say $60+) you would probably get a better picture from DVDs (See 2nd link re why) and be able to connect everything via HDMI. Consider before buying coax/component cables though. Just a thought.

Hope that helps.