Home Cinema Set-up Help Please ;-)

Swarvey · 26-09-2008, 14:45

Hi Guys,

Recently bought a Sony DAV-DZ660 home cinema system but I'm have trouble getting the surround sound to work with my PS3 and Sky+ box

. (The whole system works very well playing a dvd.)

Here is a brief outline of what wires are going where...

Sony DAV -> HDMI -> TV
PS3 -> HDMI -> TV
Sony DAV -> Digital Optical -> PS3 (don't think this is right!)
Sky+ -> Scart -> TV

How can I get my Home Cinema system to recognize the PS3 and Sky+?

Hope this makes sense and I'm sorry if it doesn't but as you can tell I haven't got a clue what I'm doing

Many thanks!

Willie Wontie · 26-09-2008, 14:59

How many optical inputs does this home cinema thing have? Because you need at least two - one for Sky, one for PS3. If you don't have at least two, you will either have to plug one in and disconnect the other depending whether you are listening to Sky or playing with the Playstation, or you can get an optical hub which takes the input from both and outputs single optical which you then connect to the home cinema.

Other than that, as long as you select the correct audio input on the home cinema when watching Sky/playing on the PS3, it should work fine.

If it's anything like the Sony DAV S500, you press the FUNCTION button on the remote persistently to cycle around the various audio inputs (DVD, VIDEO 1, VIDEO 2, TUNER etc).

Swarvey · 26-09-2008, 15:11

Cheers Willie Wontie,

It has a digital optical and coaxial optical. Can I use both?

So if I just concentrate on the PS3 for the moment....

PS3 has an hdmi cable to the tv (LG42) and a digital optical to the home cinema system (Sony DAV-DV660). That's what I have currently connected but I still cant get the sound out of the home cinema speakers?

chrisjr · 26-09-2008, 15:14

The DZ660 has one of each flavour audio input, analogue, optical digital and coaxial digital.

Which means you can connect both Sky box and ps3 to it. The Sky box has optical digital so that takes care of that input on the Sony. If the ps3 has coaxial digital out as well as optical then use that to connect up.

However if it only has optical all is not lost as Maplin will happily sell you an optical to coaxial digital audio converter box. Bit more expensive than an optical switch or combiner but probably work out easier to use.

Problem with a switch is you have to get up out of your chair to operate it.

A combiner won't work if both source devices are on at the same time. So if you want to use the ps3 to play a game or watch a DVD you will have to switch off the Sky box. Which means that you might not be able to use it to record a TV programme at the same time. Basically if both optical sources are active at the same time it screws up.

So easier all round to connect both separately to the home cinema system i suspect.

Swarvey · 26-09-2008, 15:16

Sorry forgot to add the functions->

TV, DVD, LINE, AUDIO, TUNER FM, TUNER AM, Digital Media (I think that's all of them

Swarvey · 26-09-2008, 15:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisjr

The DZ660 has one of each flavour audio input, analogue, optical digital and coaxial digital.

Which means you can connect both Sky box and ps3 to it. The Sky box has optical digital so that takes care of that input on the Sony. If the ps3 has coaxial digital out as well as optical then use that to connect up.

However if it only has optical all is not lost as Maplin will happily sell you an optical to coaxial digital audio converter box. Bit more expensive than an optical switch or combiner but probably work out easier to use.

Problem with a switch is you have to get up out of your chair to operate it.

A combiner won't work if both source devices are on at the same time. So if you want to use the ps3 to play a game or watch a DVD you will have to switch off the Sky box. Which means that you might not be able to use it to record a TV programme at the same time. Basically if both optical sources are active at the same time it screws up.

So easier all round to connect both separately to the home cinema system i suspect.

Thanks for your reply Chrisjr. If I could just get it working with the PS3 I'd be chuffed! Just doesn't seem to work

Swarvey · 26-09-2008, 15:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swarvey

Sorry forgot to add the functions->

TV, DVD, LINE, AUDIO, TUNER FM, TUNER AM, Digital Media (I think that's all of them

Which function works with the optical digital input?

chrisjr · 26-09-2008, 15:41

I've just been reading the online version of the manual.

What a nightmare bit of kit! It seems you cannot use the digital inputs as external sources in the way you want. It would appear that they are designed to connect to the TV - so the TV function selects them - however there appears no way to select optical or coaxial or analogue for that matter.

So you can select TV on the remote but there is no guarantee you will get any sound. or which of the possible options it will come from. I get the impression the Sony decides for itself which source it picks and if it's the wrong one then tough. you've got no way to force it to pick one or the other.

So you may have the same problem as if you combined two optcal signals into one, ie can't use both at once.

Swarvey · 26-09-2008, 15:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisjr

I've just been reading the online version of the manual.

What a nightmare bit of kit! It seems you cannot use the digital inputs as external sources in the way you want. It would appear that they are designed to connect to the TV - so the TV function selects them - however there appears no way to select optical or coaxial or analogue for that matter.

So you can select TV on the remote but there is no guarantee you will get any sound. or which of the possible options it will come from. I get the impression the Sony decides for itself which source it picks and if it's the wrong one then tough. you've got no way to force it to pick one or the other.

So you may have the same problem as if you combined two optcal signals into one, ie can't use both at once.

So basically I'm F**ked

. So what you're saying is I can connect one or the other (PS3 or Sky) but not both to the Sony DAV?

Willie Wontie · 26-09-2008, 15:55

No, what he's saying is that even if you use a switch to connect both, there is no guarantee that you will be able to select the optical input (as opposed to the coaxial input) when you select the TV input using the function button.

Swarvey · 26-09-2008, 16:06

I'm getting confused!

So what does all of this mean? Can I hook my PS3 and Sky+ up
to the Sony DAV660?

Willie Wontie · 26-09-2008, 16:12

Just get a proper amp with multiple optical, coaxial, stereo and HDMI inputs. You've already got a PS3 that will play DVDs (and even Blu Ray DVDs) so you don't need a home cinema system anyway. Get the Sony banged on ebay, and whatever you get for it put towards a proper amp and speaker set-up.

Swarvey · 26-09-2008, 16:19

Not an option, it was a present.

The manual says I can hook the PS3 up to it. Shall I just use the red and white Audio out jacks for the PS3 instead?

Willie Wontie · 26-09-2008, 16:24

Can use the red and white stereo inputs for either the PS3 or the Sky box - won't be DD5.1 surround sound, but at least it will get some audio into it.

dwhite · 26-09-2008, 23:40

I think you've been confused too much.

Connect the sky+ by optical. Connect the PS3 by a optical to coax convertor to the coax input. As long as you only have one of them on at once it will work. Sky+ does not output anything over optical when in standby. Neither does the PS3.

26-09-2008, 14:45	#1
Swarvey Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 12	Home Cinema Set-up Help Please ;-) Hi Guys, Recently bought a Sony DAV-DZ660 home cinema system but I'm have trouble getting the surround sound to work with my PS3 and Sky+ box . (The whole system works very well playing a dvd.) Here is a brief outline of what wires are going where... Sony DAV -> HDMI -> TV PS3 -> HDMI -> TV Sony DAV -> Digital Optical -> PS3 (don't think this is right!) Sky+ -> Scart -> TV How can I get my Home Cinema system to recognize the PS3 and Sky+? Hope this makes sense and I'm sorry if it doesn't but as you can tell I haven't got a clue what I'm doing Many thanks!

26-09-2008, 14:59	#2
Willie Wontie Inactive Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 2,847	How many optical inputs does this home cinema thing have? Because you need at least two - one for Sky, one for PS3. If you don't have at least two, you will either have to plug one in and disconnect the other depending whether you are listening to Sky or playing with the Playstation, or you can get an optical hub which takes the input from both and outputs single optical which you then connect to the home cinema. Other than that, as long as you select the correct audio input on the home cinema when watching Sky/playing on the PS3, it should work fine. If it's anything like the Sony DAV S500, you press the FUNCTION button on the remote persistently to cycle around the various audio inputs (DVD, VIDEO 1, VIDEO 2, TUNER etc).

26-09-2008, 15:11	#3
Swarvey Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 12	Cheers Willie Wontie, It has a digital optical and coaxial optical. Can I use both? So if I just concentrate on the PS3 for the moment.... PS3 has an hdmi cable to the tv (LG42) and a digital optical to the home cinema system (Sony DAV-DV660). That's what I have currently connected but I still cant get the sound out of the home cinema speakers?

26-09-2008, 15:14	#4
chrisjr Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Reading Posts: 27,916	The DZ660 has one of each flavour audio input, analogue, optical digital and coaxial digital. Which means you can connect both Sky box and ps3 to it. The Sky box has optical digital so that takes care of that input on the Sony. If the ps3 has coaxial digital out as well as optical then use that to connect up. However if it only has optical all is not lost as Maplin will happily sell you an optical to coaxial digital audio converter box. Bit more expensive than an optical switch or combiner but probably work out easier to use. Problem with a switch is you have to get up out of your chair to operate it. A combiner won't work if both source devices are on at the same time. So if you want to use the ps3 to play a game or watch a DVD you will have to switch off the Sky box. Which means that you might not be able to use it to record a TV programme at the same time. Basically if both optical sources are active at the same time it screws up. So easier all round to connect both separately to the home cinema system i suspect.

26-09-2008, 15:16	#5
Swarvey Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 12	Sorry forgot to add the functions-> TV, DVD, LINE, AUDIO, TUNER FM, TUNER AM, Digital Media (I think that's all of them

26-09-2008, 15:23	#6
Swarvey Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 12	Quote: Originally Posted by chrisjr The DZ660 has one of each flavour audio input, analogue, optical digital and coaxial digital. Which means you can connect both Sky box and ps3 to it. The Sky box has optical digital so that takes care of that input on the Sony. If the ps3 has coaxial digital out as well as optical then use that to connect up. However if it only has optical all is not lost as Maplin will happily sell you an optical to coaxial digital audio converter box. Bit more expensive than an optical switch or combiner but probably work out easier to use. Problem with a switch is you have to get up out of your chair to operate it. A combiner won't work if both source devices are on at the same time. So if you want to use the ps3 to play a game or watch a DVD you will have to switch off the Sky box. Which means that you might not be able to use it to record a TV programme at the same time. Basically if both optical sources are active at the same time it screws up. So easier all round to connect both separately to the home cinema system i suspect. Thanks for your reply Chrisjr. If I could just get it working with the PS3 I'd be chuffed! Just doesn't seem to work

26-09-2008, 15:26	#7
Swarvey Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 12	Quote: Originally Posted by Swarvey Sorry forgot to add the functions-> TV, DVD, LINE, AUDIO, TUNER FM, TUNER AM, Digital Media (I think that's all of them Which function works with the optical digital input?

26-09-2008, 15:41	#8
chrisjr Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Reading Posts: 27,916	I've just been reading the online version of the manual. What a nightmare bit of kit! It seems you cannot use the digital inputs as external sources in the way you want. It would appear that they are designed to connect to the TV - so the TV function selects them - however there appears no way to select optical or coaxial or analogue for that matter. So you can select TV on the remote but there is no guarantee you will get any sound. or which of the possible options it will come from. I get the impression the Sony decides for itself which source it picks and if it's the wrong one then tough. you've got no way to force it to pick one or the other. So you may have the same problem as if you combined two optcal signals into one, ie can't use both at once.

26-09-2008, 15:47	#9
Swarvey Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 12	Quote: Originally Posted by chrisjr I've just been reading the online version of the manual. What a nightmare bit of kit! It seems you cannot use the digital inputs as external sources in the way you want. It would appear that they are designed to connect to the TV - so the TV function selects them - however there appears no way to select optical or coaxial or analogue for that matter. So you can select TV on the remote but there is no guarantee you will get any sound. or which of the possible options it will come from. I get the impression the Sony decides for itself which source it picks and if it's the wrong one then tough. you've got no way to force it to pick one or the other. So you may have the same problem as if you combined two optcal signals into one, ie can't use both at once. So basically I'm F**ked . So what you're saying is I can connect one or the other (PS3 or Sky) but not both to the Sony DAV?

26-09-2008, 15:55	#10
Willie Wontie Inactive Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 2,847	No, what he's saying is that even if you use a switch to connect both, there is no guarantee that you will be able to select the optical input (as opposed to the coaxial input) when you select the TV input using the function button.

26-09-2008, 16:06	#11
Swarvey Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 12	I'm getting confused! So what does all of this mean? Can I hook my PS3 and Sky+ up to the Sony DAV660?

26-09-2008, 16:12	#12
Willie Wontie Inactive Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 2,847	Just get a proper amp with multiple optical, coaxial, stereo and HDMI inputs. You've already got a PS3 that will play DVDs (and even Blu Ray DVDs) so you don't need a home cinema system anyway. Get the Sony banged on ebay, and whatever you get for it put towards a proper amp and speaker set-up.

26-09-2008, 16:19	#13
Swarvey Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 12	Not an option, it was a present. The manual says I can hook the PS3 up to it. Shall I just use the red and white Audio out jacks for the PS3 instead?

26-09-2008, 16:24	#14
Willie Wontie Inactive Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 2,847	Can use the red and white stereo inputs for either the PS3 or the Sky box - won't be DD5.1 surround sound, but at least it will get some audio into it.

26-09-2008, 23:40	#15
dwhite Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Bigrigg Posts: 260	I think you've been confused too much. Connect the sky+ by optical. Connect the PS3 by a optical to coax convertor to the coax input. As long as you only have one of them on at once it will work. Sky+ does not output anything over optical when in standby. Neither does the PS3.

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Home Cinema Set-up Help Please ;-)