Sound problem I am running an explorer 3250HD cable box and I am using an optical audio cable from the cable box to my Aiwa receiver. The problem I am experiencing is that the receiver will momentarily switch from the digital signal to analog. This will cause no sound for just a second, but it is kind of annoying. The light on the display will switch over to analog and then right back to digital. all my connections are tight. Could this be a defective optical cord? or might there be another issue here.

I'm not sure what you mean by "run surround sound from this tv" . If you are using an antenna for HIDEF you would run an optical cable from the tv to the optical input on your receiver labeled CD. If you are using a cable box or using a blu ray player simply run a coax cable from said box or player (digital out) into your receiver labeled DVD and run the HDMI cable straight into the back of your tv strictly for video. Note that some recent budget players have omitted digital audio outputs entirely. Hopefully your player has them. Hope this helps. Feel free to ask for clarifications.

How have you connected the audio cables to the TV? The 3250HD has component, DVI, and composite video out. There is also two analog audio outputs (for the component and composite video) and a digital audio output. Make sure that you are using a TV and not a monitor. Many monitors do not have built-in speakers. (In that case, use external speakers.)

If you use the digital audio output, make sure that your audio receiver audio input is connected to the set top box audio out. Then make sure to set the correct source for that audio signal. (Note the TV may have a digital audio port; that is an audio out.)

If you are using one of the analog audio outputs directly to the TV, make sure that you are using the correct set of audio IN on the TV and audio out on the set top box. (If you are on the Component input, your audio won't be heard if you are using the Composite audio output.)

Next try different audio cables. Make sure that the TV speakers are on. (Some TVs have an option to disable the speakers if you use external speakers at times.) Try connecting the audio output to a receiver and speaker system (or speakers with aux in). You might need an RCA F/F to 3.5 mm M adapter for some devices. If another set of speakers do not work, then the set-top box probably has a broken audio output. If another set of speakers work, then the problem is with the TV audio. This could be a problem with the jack or the speakers.

I hope this helps.

Cindy Wells

If your TV has HDMI in and digital optical out, run your HDMI cable via HDMI out on box to, HDMI in on TV then, run digital optical ouyt from TV to digital optical in on reciever. Your reciever has video pass through but, not the best option. Video components should run to TV then out to reciever. If you do not have digital optical out on TV, you may be able to use RCA.

If your remote also controls the Cable Box you might want to look at its audio settings. Maybe you muted it.

BTW: it would be a good idea to also run video and analog audio from the cable box directly to the TV if it has speakers so you can watch and listen independent of the Onkyo.

Before you buy anything try checking the AUDIO Settings in the Menu of Each Device (Mostly TV) and see if they are set to PCM or BITSTREAM. HDMI is mostly set to PCM while Optical is generally Bitstream. The TV may be set to the opposite of what it needs to be. I would try to get PCM to work first cause it is Better, If not then set what you can to Bitstream and it should pass. Also check in TV Menu for SOUND OUT or AUDIO OUT or SPEAKERS. Some TV's have a problem passing Audio through when they are already Outputting them to it's own Speakers! I Hope this Helps out!

I have the 405 as well. My TV has an optical out and I run that straight to the 405 optical input. I set the input selector to DVD/CD (not DVD)and presto! TV audio out my speakers. It all comes down to the audio connections on your TV.

Can you tell me, is the set top box connected directly to the tv? (i.e. not to a surround sound receiver or anything)

The Playstation 3 automatically broadcasts video and audio through HDMI even when an optical audio cable is ran to the receiver. If your TV has an optical audio out, it's just best to run everything into the TV including audio, and then run the optical cable from the TV to the reciever. It's less confusing and less buttons/remotes you have to use when you want to change devices, i.e. Cable/PS3/DVD

Do you mean the optical digital audio output from the cable box? This is so you can listen to Digital sound from cable tv broadcast, First go to the cable box remote control, select setup or menu to find audio, then select audio output, check digital audio, not mts or stereo, this should enable to optical output instead of the typical 2 channel red and white left and right RCA analog audio outputs, sometimes different cable boxes vary, but most require you to enable the optical output via the method listed above.

my cable box want turn on