[calaski8123]

OK here's my setup. In my basement I have a den with a HDTV, PS3, receiver and surround sound and and a FOIS tv box. On the other side of my basement I built a full blown home theater with HD Projector, DVD player and receiver and surround sound.

At our old house, the "den" setup was upstairs and the theater was in the basement so I had no choice but to have separate setups. For the new house, since the rooms are next to each other, I decided to make some changes. First, since the TV is now HD, I wanted to have the FIOS tv box run to the theater as well. Second, since I already had the PS3 and the controllers are bluetooth, I didn't have to buy a bluray player and I could use the PS3 for games and movies in the theater and the den. So my dilema was how to hook it up.

For video, I found and bought a 4x2 HDMI switch which works great. I have the PS3 and FIOS tv box into the switch and then two outputs, one to the HDTV and one to the projector.

Audio is giving me problems. I could not find an optical toslink switch that had 2 outputs so I bought a 3x1 optical switch and a 1x2 optical splitter. I hooked it up so that the single switch output goes to the splitter and then to each receiver... problem is it doesnt work. The switch by itself and the splitter by itself works fine, but not with both inline.

So for now I found a way to have it work.. I ran the audio output to the theater receiver and that receiver has an optical out that I ran to the "den" receiver. The only thing is that if I watch tv in the den, I have to have both receivers on and I don't like that.

My question is how else can I hook this up?
Is there an optical swicth that has two outputs?
Can I run two rooms of full surround speakers off one reciver and be able to select which room is on? I see an option for A and B speakers, but that is just two extra speakers not a full surround setup.

Anyone? Thanks,

Jim

[davepuma]

Originally Posted by calaski8123

My question is how else can I hook this up?
Is there an optical swicth that has two outputs?

You could try an active optical switch connected to the splitter (and keep the cable runs as short as possible). Alteratively look at a cat5/6 network solution as optical can run into problems over long lengths esp. with switches and splitters in the chain. If you're not in the UK, I'm afraid I can't suggest a model or supplier, however, the likes of Gefen or Octava are worldwide. You might be able to find a combined HDMI/Digital Audio switch/splitter/matrix. I'm guessing you're in the states, so I would suggest AVSForum.com or asking a mod to move this to the cables forum. The likes of Joe Fernand in there is far more knowledgable on this stuff and can probably suggest something.

Originally Posted by calaski8123

Can I run two rooms of full surround speakers off one reciver and be able to select which room is on? I see an option for A and B speakers, but that is just two extra speakers not a full surround setup.

The short answer is no. I'm sure with a whole combination of speaker switches you could do it but I'm always wary of connecting speakers to two amps. It is basically a recipe for disaster. A/B speakers apply to the fronts only.

[calaski8123]

Yeah I am in the US... Didn't realize I was in the wrong forum. I will try and post there too. Thanks for the answers. I don't understand the CAT5/6 solution you suggested... Would you mind providing me with a little info?

Thanks,

Jim

PS - I looked at HDMI switches with optical also but I couldn't find one with 2 outputs... just the HDMI switch I got has 2 out but no audio unfortunately. It is a tremendous switcher for the price so that is too bad.

[davepuma]

CAT5 Cabling - AVForums.com

Gefen Inc. - Digital Audio Extender

You really need to speak to the experts in the cables forum but I would try AVSForum as it's based over in the states. AVF is predominantly UK based.

[calaski8123]

Thanks for the info... never heard of the digital audio extender.

Thanks again!

Jim