Hooking up multiple Toslink Devices (1 Viewer)

[TomWilson]

Have an Onkyo reciever that only has one Digital Optical (Toslink) input. I've got a DVD player and a DirectTV reciever that I'd like to hook up through those means.

Would I lose any sound quality if I used a toslink splitter and plugged them both in simultaneously to the reciever? Would there be any conflicts that would emerge?

Also, are there any better options to get Dolby Digital 5.1/DTS from the reciever to the second unit? (DTV Reciever or DVD player)

Would I be better off with a different type of cord for the second unit or perhaps an audio selector of some sort?

Thanks for the help guys

 

[Stacey]

Hi Tom,

Logically the splitter sounds like it should work as long as signal is not being sent from both units at the same time but not having the experience of actually trying this myself, I cannot guarantee this will work.

I'm not sure at all about your second question so I'll leave that to the more knowledgeable people here.

 

[Ted Lee]

what model onkyo do you have?

most receivers have at least one optical and one coax digital connection. does your onkyo only have a single optical digital input? if it has a coax as well, use the coax from your dvd player, and use the optical for your sat.

the only other way to transmit 5.1 sound (that i'm aware of) is a hdmi connection, which i'm pretty sure you don't have/need.

---

as far as optical splitters go, do a google search on "toslink splitter".

 

[Jorge M]

Hey Tom,

I have the same problem myself, so I'm curious if you (or anyone else) ever tried the 'toslink splitter as splicer' trick. If so, did it work?

Thanks for keeping us posted!

 

[Brian L]

Can you actually split an optical signal? Not sure I have seen anything to do that. Unless its some sort of active switch, I don't see how you can split the signal as you can with a line level audio cable.

I would think for it to work, you would have to make sure that only one device were on at a time.

But I stand ready to learn, if such a device exists.

But I do know that there are optical switch boxes. I just bought one at Radio Shack when I added one more optical device than my NAD AVR could handle. It is a manual device, but it works fine, and was on close out for less than $20.

BGL

 

[Ted Lee]

brian - as i stated earlier...

 

[Brian L]

Thanks Ted....you would think that by now, having hung out here since the late 90's, I would understand the concept of "read 1st, post 2nd". Duhhh.

BGL

 

[Ted Lee]

no worries. i *know* you know better ... just had to give ya a hard time!

 

[Tom C]

I used to have a similar problem. I didn’t have the correct number and type of digital inputs to match my components. I had to use the analog outputs of my CD player (DVD took priority). Then I discovered the Midiman CO2. The CO2 will convert either coaxial digital to optical or the other way around. This allowed me to take the coaxial out from my CD player and hook it to the optical in of my receiver. The CO2 is about $60. Not to many places carry it. I got mine (and later one for my dad when he ran into a similar problem) at Guitar Center.