How to Convert Digital Coaxial to 5.1 Surround Sound

By Christopher C. Odom

i Polka Dot Images/Polka Dot/Getty Images

Today's state-of-the-art flat screen HDTV televisions, home theater systems, audio receivers and digital cable boxes all use HDMI connections for the highest quality HD video and 5.1 Surround Sound signals. However, if you do not have an HDMI cable, or if you own an older home theater system, an older audio tuner or digital cable box that does not have an HDMI connection, you can still use a digital coaxial cable to convert your audio signal to 5.1 Surround Sound.

Step 1

Connect one end of your digital coaxial cable to the back of your digital cable box, DVD player or Blu-Ray player. You will see a singular RCA input on the back of the device that reads, "Digital Coaxial." The digital coaxial cable itself looks just like an RCA stereo cable but will be colored orange at both ends of the cable.

Step 2

Connect the other end of your digital coaxial cable to the back of your home theater system or 5.1 Surround Sound audio receiver. Again, you will see an RCA input on the back of the device that reads, "Digital Coaxial."

Step 3

Power up your digital cable box, DVD player or Blu-Ray player. Power up your television. Power up your home theater system or 5.1 Surround Sound audio receiver.

Step 4

Using your home theater system or audio receiver remote, select the secondary input that corresponds to digital coaxial audio. On most systems, that button will read "SA-CD/CD."

Step 5

Press the "menu" button on your home theater system or audio receiver to adjust the volume of each speaker independently.

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