[Steve_2000]

I'm sure this question has been asked umpteen times before, but is it possible to connect a standard Sky box to a home cinema system? If so, what needs connecting and how? Many thanks.

[Dave Javue]

If the home cinema system accepts external audio inputs (stereo only if you have a standard Sky box, optical input if you have a Sky+ or Sky HD box) then yes, you can output the audio from your Sky box to your home cinema system. If it doesn't accept external inputs, you can't.

[Steve_2000]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Javue

If the home cinema system accepts external audio inputs (stereo only if you have a standard Sky box, optical input if you have a Sky+ or Sky HD box) then yes, you can output the audio from your Sky box to your home cinema system. If it doesn't accept external inputs, you can't.

Thanks for your help, Dave. Just stereo it is for now then as I only have a bog standard Sky box. That'll do nicely for starters though!!

[chrisjr]

The other thing to watch for is what happens to the stereo signal once it gets into the Home Cinema system.

Many systems come with a Dolby ProLogic option which can generate a surround effect from a stereo signal, or decode ProLogic information if it is available in the signal. However it has cropped up a few times here that some all in one systems can only apply ProLogic to the internal DVD player and not to an external signal.

So if you have/are getting an all in one system it might be worth checking out whether it can process external inputs as fully as it can the DVD player sound. Otherwise you might be limited to hearing a stereo source from just the front speakers and not get any benifit from ProLogic soundtracks (you do get the occasional telly programme with ProLogic sound - seem to recall old episodes of Taggert sporting the double D Dolby logo for instance).

[Steve_2000]

Cheers Chris... got it all hooked up now and coming through loud and clear in the home cinema speakers. I do have a ProLogic option for movies/music so I'll see how far a basic Sky box can be pushed.

All the more incentive to upgrade to Sky+ methinks!

Many thanks for all your help, chaps.

[Super]

I have currently my Logitech speakers z5500 running into my dvd player via digi coaxial line into the decoder.....

I was wondering if I can connect my sky+ box to my dvd player via optical cable to get my sky plus through my speakers in digital instead of just being able to play dvd's in Dolby Digital?

[chrisjr]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Super

I have currently my Logitech speakers z5500 running into my dvd player via digi coaxial line into the decoder.....

I was wondering if I can connect my sky+ box to my dvd player via optical cable to get my sky plus through my speakers in digital instead of just being able to play dvd's in Dolby Digital?

Connect the Sky box to the speaker system not the DVD. The speaker system has an optical input as well as coaxial digital so you can connect Sky and DVD at the same time.

In any case unless the DVD is a recorder any optical connection it has will more than likely be an output not an input anyway. So connecting your Sky box output to an output on the DVD wouldn't work. The two beams of light would just meet in the middle and basically just get lost.

[Super]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisjr

Connect the Sky box to the speaker system not the DVD. The speaker system has an optical input as well as coaxial digital so you can connect Sky and DVD at the same time.

In any case unless the DVD is a recorder any optical connection it has will more than likely be an output not an input anyway. So connecting your Sky box output to an output on the DVD wouldn't work. The two beams of light would just meet in the middle and basically just get lost.

Cheers, my decoders is away from my dvd player its on my computer enabling that to use the direct effect... I would need a long optical lead for it to work and I don't think they do em that big. That's why I have a long digi coax lead to my dvd player lol.....

It's an unorganised set up but i'll have make do with Sky coming through the tv speakers

[chrisjr]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Super

Cheers, my decoders is away from my dvd player its on my computer enabling that to use the direct effect... I would need a long optical lead for it to work and I don't think they do em that big. That's why I have a long digi coax lead to my dvd player lol.....

It's an unorganised set up but i'll have make do with Sky coming through the tv speakers

10 metres long enough?

http://cpc.farnell.com/AV14349/audio...ignal-psg00886

Not sure how well two would work with a coupler but such things do exist to join two optical cables together

Alternatively if you have a coax lead that works over the necessary length get a second one and a pair of converters. Optical to coax at the Sky box end and coax to optical at the speaker end.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=29293

Optical to coaxial

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=29291

Coaxial to optical