Philips DSR704 Optical Question

[DioMike]

Hi guys,

I've had a Philips DSR704 (DirecTV) that I added a Weaknees Hard Drive to about a year ago. I just recently bought a Sony 50" SXRD and while recabling, finally decided to connect an Optical cable from the Philips DSR704 to my Sony ES333 receiver. I also connected a digital coax from my Cyberhome DVD player to the Sony receiver as well. I also have my optical from my Sony PS2 connected.

Now onto my problem... I get no sound when I switch the receiver to optical for the DVR. I do get sound from the PS2 optical, and the Cyberhome Digital coax. I tried the typical troubleshooting. Replaced the optical cable from the DVR to the Receiver - no luck. Connected the DVR to a diff receiver input (swapped the PS2 and DVR) - no luck. Right now I just have the RCA jacks connected (Red/White) for sound, but obviously not the DTS sound I'd like.

The Philips DSR704 DirecTV DVR does not have a menu option for enabling the optical out/digital out.

My DVR menu shows this for the Audio Settings:

- Dolby Digital => No/Yes (I have this set to Yes)
- Enhance Audio Output => Right/Left Audio OR RF Out (coaxial) --- (I have this set to RF)

I expected to see a setting for Optical, but nothing. Is there a OEM setting on the Philips that I need to set? I can see the light eminating from the cable at both ends (didn't point directly into my eyes duh ;)

I can't determine why I have no sound from the Optical on the DVR. All of my troubleshooting points me back to the DVR.

Any tips you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

- DioMike

[stevel]

There is no setting - the optical out is always active. I have two DSR704s which I have used with optical audio (and Sony receivers) without issue.

You've done all the things I could suggest to diagnose this.

[Directvlover]

There is no setting - the optical out is always active. I have two DSR704s which I have used with optical audio (and Sony receivers) without issue.

You've done all the things I could suggest to diagnose this.

Are you sure the setting that enables dolby digital (AC3) for your output is set correctly....that should do the trick....same thing was happening to me till i set it correctly.

[bnoble]

Sorry to hijack, but I have a follow-on:

I just upgraded to a recvr with an optical in port. On channels that actually transmit 5.1 (e.g. HBO East) there is a significant delay of several seconds between swtiching to the channel and getting sound---also shows up if I use any of the trick-play features. It's like the recvr is re-syncing to the digital stream.

Is this to be expected, or is my recvr lame?

[willardcpa]

DioMike, just to prove that the Dtivo is outputting a signal (I am sure that it is) plug it's digital audio cable into where you have the one for your PS2 hooked up and tune your receiver to the PS2 and see if you get the Dtivos sound. Then you know that you need to RTFM for the reciever.

bnoble, check your receiver settings. My sony has the option of either "locking" the input for a selection or setting it to "automatic" where the receiver would detect where the sound was coming from and attach to it. The problem with the "automatic" setting is that if there is a period of silence the receiver starts "hunting" for a sound source again and then when it hears something attaches to it - hence the delay whenever you change channels, use trick play, or the sound just goes completely silent for a while. Your receiver is not lame, you just don't have it set up right yet. ;)

[bnoble]

The lame one is me then! I'll have to hunt around...