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Audio setting on digital set top

post #1 of 2
12/10/09 at 3:34pm
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I have a Scientific America set top box connected to my TV with HDMI and optical.  I just found a setting that lets you choose between Dolby Digital and HDMI.  I have a good surround sound system.  Which do I want?
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post #2 of 2
12/11/09 at 6:28am
Huh - that's an interesting choice of options.  Kind of like having to choose dessert from "Ice cream" and "26".

What it really means is how is the audio sent out of the STB.  Currently, you're using the optical cable to carry the dolby digital sound.  The second option would be to piggyback the audio with the video on the same HDMI cable.

Whether or not you can do this depends on your receiver.  Can it handle audio that comes in via HDMI?  What make/model receiver do you have?

Regardless, for cable/satellite service it won't affect the sound quality at all.  It'll still be the same audio stream, simply transmitted a different way.

Only Blu-Rays have higher-quality audio streams (lossless) that are carried via HDMI and not available via digital coaxial or digital optical.

Personally, I don't think there's any overriding reason to change the setup.  Using HDMI only will save you one coaxial cable, but that's about it.
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