my tv doesn't have an audio optical input but my cable box does can i connect the cable box to the tv and play the tv through

[jbwhite]

i'm trying to play my tv through my house stereo but my stereo doesn't have an audio optical input on it but my cable box does have one. can i connect the optical cable between the cable box and the tv to play my tv through the stereo receiver

 

[jsmithepa]

Do you require surround audio, or stereo is good enough?

No optical on the receiver? what about a RCA jack labeled as DIGITAL? any HDMI ports on the receiver?

 

[americanaudiophile]

Your cable box has an optical output not input.
You will need to convert the TV optical out to analog with one of these
http://www.parts-express.com/parts-express-dac-digital-to-analog-converter-(51-compatible)--180-999
an optical cable and RCA stereo cable.

 

[j.felice]

Your cable box has an optical output not input.
You will need to convert the TV optical out to analog with one of these
http://www.parts-express.com/parts-express-dac-digital-to-analog-converter-(51-compatible)--180-999
an optical cable and RCA stereo cable.

I did this, but the sound through the external speakers was not controllable by the remote.

 

[Alabalcho]

… and this is by design. You can get a universal remote like the ones from Logitech where they can be programmed to send volume commands to the receiver, and everything else to the TV or cable box.

 

[jsmithepa]

OP has a receiver, that's the new volume control.