Need a pair of optical cables for Onkyo 3500

[andy78]

Guys yesterday I bought Onkyo 3500 and today when the guy came to set it up he was saying that I would need two optical cables to connect the AVR to the TV and the other to connect to the DTH Box. Can someone suggest a good brand for this and how much would it cost? He is saying I will be able to get the 5.1 effect from the DTH channels only if I connect with the optical cable. For HDMI I read couple of threads which said branded and unbranded there isn't much of a difference is this the same for Optical cable?
Also someone suggested MX brand for cables.

Kindly give your suggestions!

 

[Santy]

Does your TV have HDMI input? If yes then optical cable is not needed. Infact there are more TVs with HDMI than optical. If your dth is HD, which only can support surround sound, it must also have HDMI output.

Having said that you can go for optical cable from Bandridge or Belkin which are easily available.


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[andy78]

Does your TV have HDMI input? If yes then optical cable is not needed. Infact there are more TVs with HDMI than optical. If your dth is HD, which only can support surround sound, it must also have HDMI output.

Having said that you can go for optical cable from Bandridge or Belkin which are easily available.


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Currently connected the AVR to the DTH box using HDMI but the Onkyo guy saying Airtel doesn't transmit 5.1 through HDMI and I would need optical cable for it.

How much will the above brand cables cost?

 

[jsanand]

Have been using local non branded cables and they are doing pretty well. I bought them from Nehru Place in Delhi.

Think Parklane in Secunderabad should stock them as well.

You can also check on ebay for anything around Rs. 200
NEW HIGH QUALITY TOSLINK TO TOSLINK OPTICAL FIBRE CABLE AUDIO 1.5M 1.5 METER | eBay




one link that I found

 

[baijuxavior]

You need only one optical cable for connecting STB to AVR. Connection from TV optical out to AVR is unnecessary.

 

[corElement]

also you dont need a very high end cable for optical since it's data, unlike coaxial which is a physically interruptable medium.

 

[andy78]

Does your TV have HDMI input? If yes then optical cable is not needed. Infact there are more TVs with HDMI than optical. If your dth is HD, which only can support surround sound, it must also have HDMI output.

Having said that you can go for optical cable from Bandridge or Belkin which are easily available.


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Well I know TV has HDMI ports at the back but not sure whether they are HDMI IN or HDMI OUT. Pardon my ignorance.

Should I go for these branded ones or local ones. Does quality matter wrt brands?

 

[andy78]

You need only one optical cable for connecting STB to AVR. Connection from TV optical out to AVR is unnecessary.

But the Onkyo guy was telling I need two Optical cables, as mentioned before I think the other cable would be from TV to AVR which I think is needed to get TV out to AVR which maybe needed when I play movies of the usb drive of TV.

 

[andy78]

also you dont need a very high end cable for optical since it's data, unlike coaxial which is a physically interruptable medium.

Do you think when this Onkyo guy tells me that I may not get 5.1 without Optical cable is that true even if I use HDMI?

 

[baijuxavior]

HDMI port on TV are for inputs. Ideally you should make the connections as follows:

STB HDMI OUT > AVR HDMI IN
AVR HDMI OUT > TV HDMI IN (Use ARC Port if available)
STB Optical out > AVR Optical IN (for 5.1 sound from STB. Not needed if STB supports 5.1 over HDMI)
Assign the AVR optical IN you selected to the AVR HDMI IN where you have connected the STB.

But this makes one problem - you need to keep the AVR ON or in standbye mode all the time. So instead of AVR, you can connect the STB directly to TV as:

STB HDMI OUT > TV HDMI IN
STB Optical out > AVR Optical IN

Do you think when this Onkyo guy tells me that I may not get 5.1 without Optical cable is that true even if I use HDMI?

Only a few HD STBs support 5.1 over HDMI. Some other use coaxial or optical out. Some like reliance hd don't have 5.1 even now. Before buying optical cable please ensure which digital out your STB has (coaxial or optical).

 

[andy78]

Guys primarily this thread was to check on what brand of Optical cables to buy and does brand matter. I want to stick to that topic so have posted an other thread regarding my Home Theater Queries.
http://www.hifivision.com/home-theater/25837-need-help-setting-up-onkyo-3500-a.html

 

[andy78]

Have been using local non branded cables and they are doing pretty well. I bought them from Nehru Place in Delhi.

Think Parklane in Secunderabad should stock them as well.

You know which store in Secunderabad and the price there?