3D or no 3D passthrough on Receiver

[megapixels83]

I bought a new TV this weekend, a Samsung 48inch LED, that happens to be 3D ready. my Sky, PC and Xbox One go to a Sony STRDH800 receiver by HDMI and then one HDMI to the TV. Looking around the net tells my my receiver cannot pass through 3D but going to the Sky 3D channel and changing my TV to the side by side 3D mode (not 2d to 3D) I get the 3D image.

Is this whole not passing through 3D rubbish?

One other thing if I want to watch 3D do I always have to go to the TV menu and choose the correct 3D mode i.e side by side or up and down because if I don't do this I just get two images say side by side. Seems a bit of a pain (not that I will be watching much in 3D.

[megapixels83]

Thanks I do not have any other 3D media to try so will borrow a 3D blu ray and try via the Xbox One and see whats what.