[kharvick]

I recently purchased a new home that was prewired w/ in-wall and in-ceiling speakers (no idea what brand or model) and installed with a Sony STE-DE197 Receiver. I decided to upgrade a purchased a Denon AVR-1708. Now that I am trying to set it up using optical audio from my cheap RCA DVD player and Direct TV box. When I do this, I get absolutely no audio. I changed the optical inputs to be assigned to the DVD and TV/CBL, but still no sound. I then tried running rca cables and was able to get stereo only out of the front two speakers. I even tried the coaxial cables for the audio and no sound. I was then told by a friend to try changing the audio option on the DVD player menu...but there was not one.

Any suggestions? Is the receiver bad? Is there something that I am missing?
Note: I have the two front speakers and two surround speakers...no center and no sub. That is my next purchase.

[Ed Moxley]

There really should be a setting in the dvd player's setup menus, to set the audio output to "Bitstream", not PCM. I've not seen a player that doesn't have this option. If your's really doesn't have this option, you might want to buy another dvd player.

You might also need to go into the DirecTv's box setup menus, and make sure the audio output is set to "Dolby Digital", or "digital", depending on how it's worded.

Double check your assignment of the optical inputs on your receiver. That is usually the culprit, of this type problem. If you still can't get it working right, maybe there's a forum member in your area, that would be willing to give you a hand?

The one bad thing about a Denon receiver, is their remote. Some of them can be a nightmare to deal with, when you're new to the Denon brand. If you're trying to change sources, and play them, using remote buttons, maybe the buttons aren't being used quite right. Make sure the "amp" or "rec"(receiver) button is pushed, before you try to do anything with the remote..........
Good luck!