How to: digital connections to soundbar with multiple devices and older TV

[geotrouvetout]

I have an older LCD TV with an hdmi in and optical port out and analog out. I want to get a new 5.1 soundbar system but I'm struggling with what to get for the connections.

To the soundbar I want to connect the following devices

- older TV (no HDMI ARC)
- DVD player
- Roku
- possibly a game console later.

But I want to get the best of the soundbar on all devices so only use digital connections.

On my current system, I manually switch optical cable between the devices I use at the moment to the soundbar, one for the TV, one for the DVD and one for the Google TV.

How can I connect 3 or 4 devices to a new soundbar (which usually only has 1 optical input) without that cable shenanigans?

 

[americanaudiophile]

If your TV will pass 5.1 through its optical out you can use that connection for the soundbar. Check the audio set up menu to see if that is an option. Sources connect to the TV.
If not then you can add an HDMI input selector with digital audio out.
http://www.monoprice.com/Product?p_id=5557&kpid=105557&gclid=CPPY2sLnwcYCFYIXHwodhY0FTw

 

[geotrouvetout]

Thanks. The TV does not pass through the sound, I have to connect the DVD directly to the sound system. A switch is what I was looking at indeed, the only solution I've found so far except I would go with an optical rather than HDMI.