AV sound system problem - help?
 

I have a 3 year old LG flat screen tv and a 10 year old Onkyo receiver.
Ethernet from my router to the TV for input.
An optical cable from the TV to the receiver for sound out.

The sound stopped working a few days ago. It was working Friday night and Saturday morning it wasn't. I checked all the settings and figured there are only 3 components and the cheapest is the cable, so I got a new cable. It didn't help immediately, but we were watching TV (using the TV's internal speakers) a couple of nights ago and it spontaneously started working. The next day it was dead again. So it's down to the TV or the receiver. I don't know how to determine which it is. When I unplug the optical cable from the receiver I see a red light. I don't know if that's actually a sound signal or something else.
Anybody have any advice on how to get this thing working again?

Does your LG have rca outputs for sound also?
If so..try those instead of the optical.

On some receivers you can dictate which output (vid 1, vid 2, CD, and others) are linked to the optical input. See if you can reconfigure and use another output.

The light in the optical cable is it working. Or at least being on

Possible dirt/lint in the optical cable input or same in the selector switches. Power off> clean connections > contact cleaner into selector switches > air dry > retest.

Had a similar problem on a tv recently no sound. Couldn't figure it out. Ended up unplugging
the tv let it sit for a few minutes and plugged it back in. Solved the problem,it must have
reset some internal configuration.

I like Steve's RCA out idea if the LG has rca in for audio. One other thing is, does the Onkyo any HDMI's where you could put your firestick or whatever streaming device you're using through the Onkyo and then out to the TV HDMI?

The LG doesn't have RCA jacks, just the optical. I'm not using a streaming device, it's just ethernet from the router to the TV.
I'll check for dirt in the optical ports. The thing about it not working, then suddenly coming on and then not working the next time I turn it on sounds like it could be dirt somewhere.

This is prob a long shot...any chance your LG and Onkyo both have HDMI ports?

They do. When I had Direct TV the DTV box fed the Onkyo through HDMI, which then went to the TV. I think it just passed through.

Use that....the hdmi carries audio and video.
You'll prob have to change the input choice on the LG

If he is using the Ethernet cable as his "tuner" that won't work.

^^^ switch that to the Onkyo?

You'd need HDMI out on the TV to feed the Onkyo.

I'm taking it that he has a smart TV with Hulu, Sling... whatever so no need for the streaming device that he could otherwise run through the Onkyo first.

If you can’t get the optical to work and your tv has an HDMI(ARC) port then it will be able to send audio to the receiver through a HDMI cable, even if you dont need or care about the video part of it.

If the Onkyo receiver & speakers are only used for better sound from the TV, consider swapping for a soundbar......

Even my samsung soundbar integrates well with a TCL TV. Volume, on/off all automatic with TV remote.

Now yer talkin! Ditch that old crap and buy a good center channel and two bluetooth towers for the rear channel!
I should take your advice. What number should my wife call to thank you? :D

I will take a proper set of speakers and sub any day over a soundbar.

I concluded that the receiver is toast. I blew out the optical ports and went through the TV out settings and the AV in settings and everything is set up fine. Nothing I do seemed to work. I ordered a new receiver and we'll use the existing 5 + woofer speaker system. The new receiver has ARC sound (our busted one doesn't) and the TV has an ARC HDMI port, so one less wire in the rat's nest behind the TV. Plus, the LG "Magic Remote" is compatible with the new Onkyo receiver, so I can ditch a remote.
Thanks for the suggestions all. You guys are a treasure.

Receiver doesn't need the ARC. Just the HDMI in If I'm not mistaken.

Just looked. I am mistaken! ARC to ARC= good ARC to non ARC hdmi = no bueno