Audio System Question - Conceptual

[stopps]

I'm going crazy with all the component and technology research and just need to ask a conceptual question to put a momentary end to the madness. I am trying to map out the audio system and need to know if this this is possible.

HDTV(SamsungLN-4692), Cable STB, PS3, HTPC - If I have the sources setup: PS3(HDMI1), Cable STB(Component), HTPC(HDMI2). Than use audio out or optical out from the TV to get audio feed to the receiver...will that work?

Also, if I'm using an audio card, does that feed the processed signal to the HDMI output on the Video Card or do I need to feed audio directly from the sound card to the receiver or tv? How does that factor in?

Or Does this all need to happen through the receiver first and pass-through the HDMI feed to the TV?

 

[sivart]

Most TV's only pass optical out when you are using the internal tuner. If you want 5.1 from your Cable STB, you will need to go optical out from the STB directly to the receiver. I'm not sure how the HTPC will handle the audio, but the PS3 should go HDMI to your receiver and then your receiver HDMI to the TV (assuming you have an HDMI receiver).

 

[stopps]

Thanks, I have asked this a on couple boards and haven't had much response so I may have to just try out.

The most confusing thing for me is how the sound card would play in. If I have a receiver than how would the audio benefit from a sound card. Probably redundant processing. Only benefit I can see is it taking the processing load off the cpu. But how worthwhile is that?

 

[sivart]

Well if the card doesn't have HDMI output for audio you won't get the HD audio codecs. Unless of course the card has analog outs (5.1/7.1) and your receiver has analog in's. With optical out from your sound card you are stuck with lossy audio. (I.e. DTS, DD5.1, etc)