Testing Optical Audio

Check that the TV menu is set to output S/PDIF audio and check the same on the surround system input menu.

Almost all audio amps with an optical input choice have a menu that allows you to specify which audio input is to be connected to which audio source. For each input, (DVD, CD, TV, etc.) you can choose which audio connection to use (analog 5.1 in, A/V in, digital coax in, or digital optical in.

If you don't get it right, there will be no signal from the amp.

Thank You for the reply. I have chosen the source via the menus carefully. And, now have the systems connected via composite or I guess analog via the Red & White connections. Sound is fine but the desire to use the optical audio and to find out what's not working has me baffled.

I found the following forum. Seems like you're not the only one wondering about this.

A quick perusal of the replies suggests not using the TV optical out; instead go directly from your cable box/satellite receiver/DVD player/game system/whatever to the audio input of the surround system.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/archive/index.php/t-822577.html

Thank you for the reply. I don't have a cable box simply an "F" connection diectly to the TV. I'll have to check further with the TV mfr. but the first line of tech support wasn't that helpful. Could be the TV is not capable of generating or separating a digital audio output - so why do they have a optical audio output.