Expert: Cleggsan - 4/4/2010

Question
I've got a Samsung Plasma TV, Sony receiver model# STR-DE695 and Motorola cable box modelDCH6200.  I'm trying to get the audio from cable TV to play through the receiver and speakers.  I can get the audio to work with my DVD player but not cable TV.  I've tried switching the audio source on the TV to "external speaker" with no luck.  As far as I can tell by the Sony manual, I've got it all hooked up right.  Any ideas as to what I am missing here would really be appreciated.

Answer
External speaker is for when you have a receiver and speakers, which you have.  It turns off the tv internal speakers and sends audio to audio outs or to hdmi etc.

So, check the audio outputs and their connection to the audio inputs on the receiver.  If you are using hdmi it should be automatically connected.  Or, you may have audio outs from your cable box; if so, they can go directly to the receiver (if you are using the cable box for switching channels.)

I took a quick look at the specs on the STR-DE695 and it does not appear to have hdmi or S, so you should be using the composite video and analog inputs.

Some Plasma sets do not have analog outputs because most of the newer flat stuff uses either digital audio outs or hdmi.

So, check the specs of the tv too.

Hope this does not confuse you.  Let me know if there is more you need.