Connecting sony home cinema

[steve1]

Guys,
Have just recieved the home cinema system to go with the tv and blue ray, ( back log at factory ). I notice that they say to connect the blue-ray/sattelite to the home cinema, then connect the tv to the home cinema with both hdmi and optical cable, is this right.
I know this may sound like a stupid question, but I'm just making sure before I order the different size cables.
Another question, the optical cable, is there a max length for these, in other words is there a max distance for the home cinema to be away from the tv.
Thanx.

[Tiggsy]

Dont see why they would say that? Assuming you are going BR to home cinema amp with HDMI why cant you go on with HDMI to the TV? Seems unlikley that the amp can have audio in via HDMI but cant send it out without an optical cable????

An you can get some long HDMI cables, saw one at the weekend that was 15m i think (was about £100 though!)

T (far from expert)

[steve1]

I already had the blue-ray and sat. connected to the tv via HDMI cables, and when the home cinema arrived thought it would just be a case of running the optical cable from the tv, connecting up all the speaker cables, power up and away we go.
But when I looked at the destructions it was as above.
Anyway, whilst awaiting any replies I have simply wired up all the speakers, connected the optical, as above, powered up and all is fine.
Just wondering if it's shown differently in the book so as you can use the home cinema remote to control more items, ( or is this bks I'm talking ).
Can someone let me know about the optical cable length question I asked
Thanx.

[headcase]

Its so you can use the home cinima r/c for source selection thats all . For opticals i regularly use 4m lengths and they work fine, the longer you go the better quality lead you need to get.

[steve1]

I would want a 5 metre length, can you recc. a certain make.
Thanx.

[steve1]

Are the Vivanco ones alright, or a bit over the top.