optical input help

Gman · 12 Dec 2006 at 09:54

morning all, i'm a noob when it comes to things involving the tv and surround sound etc but need some advice about the optical input for the sound.

i've got a dvd player thats got optical out which i'm feeding straight to my crappy surround sound. Now next week i'm getting a sky plus box fitted in the room which also has an optical out. Now the surround sound only has one optical input so how would I go about getting both the dvd and sky running via the optical input please ?

Gman · 12 Dec 2006 at 12:46

thanks, I like the Toslink Switch thing but was really looking for someone that didn't require you to physically go up to the thing ad switch it over.

I think realistically i'm looking at a new surround sound box thing with more than one input, but even on these do they need to to switch over the optical input (via the control) when you switch devices ? i.e. say i'm watching sky then suddenly went onto the dvd would I have to switch the optical input to the dvd on via the control every time or will the surround box just know i've switched input s :confused:

oh my current surround sound is the creative soundworks dtt3500 which I know is a more comput based system than for a tv, what better systems are out there and how would they be better than this ?

Gman · 12 Dec 2006 at 13:00

squiffy said:
New AV amplifier with more inputs + IR learning remote with macro function, so when you need to use that device it also sends that devices input IR code. I use one and the system is really easy to use, despite being really complex. Switching is done in the background without any user intervention, can have 10 sources but never need to change input as it's done automatically.

right sounds good, what box you using there ?

also think I might have found a short term solution, this soundworks set seems to accept a Coaxial and Digital inputs, and my dvd player has got a Coaxial output so I could switch that to Coaxial and have the sky on optical.

whats this Coaxial going to be like compaired to optical ?

Gman · 12 Dec 2006 at 13:28

thanks mate, will have a look see if it's worth shelling out or sticking with what i've got for now.

Gman · 13 Dec 2006 at 22:28

just had a quick look and based on the description it gives it's for splitting to two separate sources i.e. from the DVD player to so two surround sound units. Not sure it'll work how I want to to i.e. taking an input in from the dvd and sky and output it to the single surround sound, although based on my limited knowledge theres on direction to the optical right or am I wrong ?

Gman · 14 Dec 2006 at 18:32

Shimmyhill said:
Get a Zektor.

http://www.zektor.com/

lol $500 just get a second optical cable connected

umm let me just pluck a few notes off the money tree growing in my room

Gman · 16 Dec 2006 at 12:05

In the end I just shelled out £15 for a coaxial cable and switched the DVD player to that freeing up the optical for the sky.

Gman · 25 Dec 2006 at 13:21

james.miller said:
a £2.99 rca cable would have done the job just as well glad you got it sorted though.

merry christmas

Now you tell me

thought it might have been something to do with the length as I needed a 3 meter one.

Gman · 25 Dec 2006 at 13:54

squiffy said:
There is impedance differences between proper coaxial cables and standard RCA cables

so by that are you saying I did right avoiding the cheap stuff ?