Thread: AC3-Home theatre ??

Is AC3 another way of saying optical inputs and outputs for 5.1 or dolby surround sound etc and if so will they work if you run an optical cable from a Fortec LT Ultra (s/pdif) to the surround sound receiver and out to the tv. Will this work for all the channels that say AC3 or just some. I have a Yamaha home theatre that has optical features that I currently run my Bell ExpressVu thru. Thanks MK.

AC3 is Dolby Digital (not dolby surround or pro logic), and not specifically for the optical inputs. DTS will also work via optical on most newer A/V receivers. Likewise both audio formats can work via digital coaxial as well. Any programming that is outputting AC3/Dolby Digital, regardless of the channel, will work via the same connection. I also use a Yamaha A/V receiver (RX-Z9) which do you have?

I believe mine is the DVR-S150. It has optical in and outs, component video, s video along with rca and coax inputs and outputs...............now I am even more confused. Is it basically connect it and you have sound or you don't ?????????

If you use the optical input ports of your Yamaha (at least on mine) they are mappable inputs and can be changed per source. If yours is the same, then you can try moving the input cable to each optical port until your hear the audio, or just find the map table and change it until you have AC3 audio. Which is what I did because it was a lot easier than moving anything from the back of the A/V.

If your optical ports are "hard coded" to a specific source control (like coaxial inputs) then yes, you will have audio or you wont. If you are on an AC3 channel like PBS, then you should be good to go.