Filter
Top Products
Connections & Setup
18 Chapter 2
Connections & Setup
Chapter 2 19
Making the Connection
Connect one end of either an optical digital audio cable or
a coaxial digital audio cable (you do not have to connect
both) to the corresponding digital audio output jack on the
HD Receiver, and to the corresponding digital audio input
jack on a Dolby Digital or PCM-only receiver or decoder.
Note: Your digital audio receiver back panel may not look
exactly like the one pictured here.
Optional Connection 2:
DIRECTV
®
HD Receiver + Digital Audio Receiver
Cable: Either Optical or Coaxial Digital Audio
Use this connection to take advantage of Dolby Digital quality sound, when available.
Your HD Receiver’s digital output jacks can output digital audio signals in either PCM or Dolby
Digital format (depending on your selection in the Sound setup menu; see Setting the Digital
Audio Format at the bottom of this page for more information). These jacks are designed for
connection to an external digital audio receiver/decoder.
Older equipment, some of which is not fully compliant with IEC958, may not be compatible with
Dolby Digital. If the digital audio output is connected to a receiver that cannot decode Dolby
Digital signals, set the Digital Audio Output setting in the Sound menu to PCM (see Setting the
Digital Audio Format at the bottom of this page for more information). Failure to do so could
create a high noise level, causing damage to headphones, speakers, or your hearing.
Setting the Digital Audio format
After you connect your HD Receiver to your digital audio receiver/decoder, you must select
Digital Audio Output from the Sound setup menu.
To set the Digital Audio preference:
1. Press the MENU button on your remote control.
2. Highlight SYSTEM SETUP (use the arrow buttons on your remote) and press
SELECT.
3. Highlight Preferences and press SELECT.
4. Highlight Audio and press SELECT (the Audio menu appears).
5. Highlight Digital Out and press SELECT (a list appears from which you can
choose Dolby Digital or PCM audio formats).
Select Dolby Digital if you’ve connected the HD Receiver to a Dolby Digital-
capable receiver/decoder. Select PCM if your digital audio receiver is not
Dolby Digital capable. See your audio receiver’s manual if you’re not sure.
6. Highlight the format supported by your audio receiver and press SELECT.
When you select a format, the Digital Out list disappears. Your selection
appears in the Digital Out line of the Audio menu.