Just downloaded a Samsung HD TV manual and had a look. It had the same info about the optical output only being two channel with HDMI connected. That is extremely lame of them....don't the Koreans (Samsung) know HDMI was supposed to make cabling simpler

Anyway a couple of questions

1. Does the amp/home theatre have HMDI inputs?
If so connecting the HDMI from the DVD to the amp then a second HDMI from the amp to the TV will give you surround for DVD replay.

However it won't supply surround from the TV from free to air TV stations back to the amplifier.

This is my suggestion.... with many more cables unfortunately.

a) Connect the DVD video output via component (3 cable) video to the TV. Ideally you connect it to the home theatre component input and with a second component cable connect the component output of the amp/HT to the TV's component input. The quality difference is minimal between HDMI and component video.

You can also connect the stereo phono audio to the TV for stereo replay from the TV's speakers without the amp if you want (this isn't necessary though only an option)

b) Connect the Optical out of the DVD to the amp/HT for digital (surround) audio matching optical input with the component input for video. Check the manual on how to assign an optical input on the amp to a specific video input eg Component 1 (video) = Optical 1 (audio).

c) Connect the TV via another optical cable to the amplifier on a separate input (assuming there is more than one optical input on the amp/HT)

This would require your parents to switch to Component on the TV to watch DVDs and also select the correct input (DVD) on the Amp/HT.

To watch TV they only need to select the TV channel but if they want to hear surround sound on 'Bones' for instance then they'll need to select the amplifier input that has the optical output of the TV assigned to it (ideally TV/SAT) on the amp/HT.

Confusing... well yes and that is why Logitech are selling their new Logitech remotes so you can switch all the various components to the correct setting with one button.

Good luck with this.... it is similar to the way I have my system setup except that my LG TV still outputs surround signals down the optical output with HDMI plugged in. I certainly won't be buying any Samsung TV's after discovering the stupidity of their HDMI to optical design.

New Hope Media

Thanks for the replies.

The Home Theatre (HT-Z310) includes the DVD and the TV is LE32 A456.

Is HDMI supposed to be two-way? The HT manual tells me that the HDMI is OUT only and the TV is IN only. With the Aux inputs being 2CH analoge I can't see a way of getting any surround sound from the TV or am I missing something here?

HDMI is generally one way.

OK the HT-Z310 is an all-in-one Home theatre system, which limits the options somewhat. I was imagining you may have had a 'receiver amp' with more inputs and outputs.

You should already be hearing surround from DVD replay as the HT-Z310 is also your DVD player and the speakers are directly connected to it.

If this isn't the case you'll need to read the manual and check your set up again.
Note Some DVDs require you to select the Dolby Digital track as an option, though more recent releases usually default to the surround (Dolby Digital) track.

I've just looked at the manual for the LE32 A456 TV and now see it is an HD READY TV meaning it has a standard definition (SD) receiver but is capable of displaying hybrid HD images at 1366 x 768 from HD sources such as an HD Set Top Box.

I'm not sure what the TV stations in the UK broadcast but here in Australia it isn't mandatory for Dolby Digital 5.1 to be broadcast on standard definition digital channels. In essence we get a Dolby Digital 2.0 on SD broadcast which is the equivalent to stereo or Dolby Prologic (surround) encoded into a stereo signal. We only get Dolby Digital 5.1 on HD broadcasts (and then only on programs that have a 5.1 mix basically the latest US series like 'Bones' 'Criminal Intent' or BBC docos and the odd larger local production. However your TV isn't capable of receiving HD broadcasts without an HD set top box.

That being the case I'd leave your setup with the HDMI capble supplying video and audio to the TV but make sure you have the TV's speakers set to off (0 volume) and listen through the HT-z310's speakers for both DVDs and TV. Connect an optical cable to the optical out on the TV to the external optical input on the HT-Z310. Alternative use the RCA cable you indicated you have already used for an analoge connection. My reasoning is that i don't think any of the TV stations in the UK are broadcasting Dolby Digital 5.1 on SD broacasts and you'll still get Dolby Surround (Prologic) down a stereo feed from the TV whether it's digital or analogue. Sorry but that's jst a limitation of your TV.

If however TV stations in the UK do transmit Dolby Digital 5.1 on SD transmisions (and don't be fooled here by your TV's onscreen indication that it is Dolby Digital 5.1 as my LG thinks it's receiving 5.1 all the time when in fact it's only 2.0 unless I'm watching HD and the program has a Dolby Digital 5.1 mix) then you can do the following to achieve 5.1 on DVD replay as well as off air TV programs.

1) Use a 3 cable Component video connection from your HT-Z310 to the TV and DO NOT connect the HDMI cable at all ( because doing so makes the Samsung TV switch its Optical Digital output to 2 channel stereo).

This is described in the manual as 'Method 2 : Component Video' on page 24 of the manual.

2) Connect an optical cable from the TV optical output to the external digital optical input on the HT-Z310. When watching TV select the Optical input as the audio source as you have assigned it per instructions on page 30 of the HT-Z310 manual.
Without the HDMI connected to the TV the optical output should give you surround signal from the TV if the off air program being watched has surround.

Normally I'd use the HDMI if the Samsung TV didn't restrict its Optical Output to 2 channel when an HDMI cable is plugged in but using component seems to be the only option to get surround both on DVD replay and watching off air TV.

Finally you should NOT be trying to listen to the audio through the TV's speakers ONLY the speakers connected to the HT-Z310. (Though you can use the TV's speakers for stereo only and/or watching TV without using the TH-Z310.

I hope this helps.

New Hope Media