[Phil17108]

What comes out of it on the HR dvr's, 5.1 or something ells

 

[fleckrj]

Yes, it is 5.1. The optical output carries the same information as the digital audio coax output, but if you are using HDMI, then you do not need either of them - HDMI caries the video and digital audio information. The optical or coax audio output is only needed if you are using component or composite output for the video and want to run digital audio through an A/V receiver.

 

[Phil17108]

thanks, thats what I was thinking use hdmi to tv and optical to sound system.

 

[fleckrj]

thanks, thats what I was thinking use hdmi to tv and optical to sound system.

That will work. If your sound system supports HDMI switching, then you can run HDMI from the DirecTV receiver to the A/V receiver, then run HDMI from the A/V receiver to the TV.

 

[harsh]

If your sound system supports HDMI switching, then you can run HDMI from the DirecTV receiver to the A/V receiver, then run HDMI from the A/V receiver to the TV.

I typically recommend this only if the AVR also supports carrying the HDMI signal while it is in standby as many use their TV sound for casual viewing/listening.

 

[mdavej]

thanks, thats what I was thinking use hdmi to tv and optical to sound system.

That will work. If your sound system supports HDMI switching, then you can run HDMI from the DirecTV receiver to the A/V receiver, then run HDMI from the A/V receiver to the TV.

If I'm reading this right, the OP's AVR probably doesn't have HDMI, hence the desire to run HDMI straight to the TV and optical straight to the AVR. If the OP intends to run optical from the TV to the AVR, that's a different story. Some newer TVs will pass 5.1 from the HDMI input to the optical output, but older one's will only pass 2 ch. The OP will just have to try it and see what works.