Question about DVI on Samsung Plasma

[BMAR10]

My Samsung Plasma has a DVI-D connector and the DirecTV Hi-Def receiver has HDMI. So, I am ready to order a 25' DVI-D/HDMI cable and a 4/1 HDMI switcher from Monoprice. DirecTV is coming next week to install my Hi-Def receiver and my question is this. If I run the 25' DVI/HDMI cable to the 4/1 HDMI switcher will it pass audio to my plasma across that cable? Do I loose that capability when I switch from HDMI to DVI at my display? Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[martyj19]

You lose the audio when you connect to DVI. I'd connect a separate audio cable if you want audio at the TV. (Chances are good that there's a "stereo minijack" for the audio corresponding to the DVI input and you can get an adapter from this to RCA red/white.) To get full surround you'll need a digital connection (optical or coaxial) to a surround receiver and the appropriate number of speakers.

[BMAR10]

The DVI interface on my Plasma has corresponding L/R RCA Audio jacks. However, on the HDMI devices I have seen there is no L/R RCA audio jacks that correspond with the HDMI port. Is this true with the Monoprice HDMI switcher/DirecTV Hi-Def receiver. If so how do I pass audio from the HDMI port on the Hi-Def Receiver to the L/R RCA Audio jacks that correspond to the DVI on my plasma. If I had a surround sound receiver this would not be an issue but unfortunately the only destination for audio is the speakers built into my plasma. Until I have the funds to buy a surround sound set-up. Any further help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[martyj19]

I am assuming your satellite receiver has L/R audio out in addition to the HDMI. You connect the L/R audio from the satellite receiver to the audio in on the TV and you also connect the HDMI to the DVI on the TV. Then you have both video and audio.

[BMAR10]

Thanks martyj19! I do not know if the satellite receiver has L/R audio that corresponds to the HDMI output. I will find out when DirecTV comes Tuesday. It's not the Hi-Def DVR receiver it is just the Hi-Def receiver. I hope it does and it will make my life alot easier. If all else fails I could just use Component but I would love to stay all digital.