Let's start with audio. If you can get sound when playing a CD, but not when playing a laserdisc, there is likely a setting in the LD Player that needs to be changed. Can you confirm that this is the case?

 

I'm backchecking my manual and have noticed a couple of items which might apply to the audio situation. I'll have to test this out later today when I get home. I will report back later. Thanks.

 

I re-checked my owner’s guide to see if there was a ‘setting’ per your suggestion. Nothing obvious, except the remote does have a button which toggles digital and analog audio from the rear panel output terminals. [The guide does mention that when the power to unit is activated, the player is in auto digital mode.]

I have the optical cable connected between the Optical Out on the Pioneer and Optical 2 (TV/CD) on the Onkyo. I tried two different laser discs and a cd. The Pioneer displays when digital audio is active and the toggle seems to work OK. Still no sound emanating from the Onkyo.

I’m beginning to think I was wrong about getting audio prior since I can not duplicate it. I’ll have to try some other setups later.

At the moment, the Onkyo is connected via HDMI OUT to the Sony HDMI 1(ACR). The Comcast cable set is connected via HDMI to the Sony HDMI 4, both on the rear panel of the Sony. I can access the Setup screen via the Onkyo (HDMI 1) and cable TV signals on (HDMI 4). No video is displayed from the laser disk player via any of the front panel buttons or the remote. The Onkyo FM tuner passes signals thru the speaker system.

Does the Digital IN (Optical/Coaxial) pass their signals thru the HDMI OUT or do they pass their signals via another connection (i.e. Component Video Out or Video Audio Monitor OUT). In other words, the current connection between the Onkyo and the Sony is via the HDMI OUT on the Onkyo with no other cables between the two. I’m now wondering if I need additional cables between the Onkyo and the Sony.

I’m also thinking that I need to connect the Pioneer video out directly to the Sony via either a Coax or RCA Video cable.

I’m also thinking that the Onkyo only passes signals from the HDMI INs thru the HDMI OUT and since I presently don’t have any other HDMI device connections, nothing but the Onkyo setup is passing thru to the Sony.

By the way, Onkyo support is almost non-existent, while I sent them an email inquiry a week ago, I have not heard back from them as of yet. The first time I emailed them, it took over two weeks to receive a reply, which only partially addressed the question. Too bad their quality of support doesn’t match up the supposed quality of their products. I’m grateful that there is a source such as HTS to access. Thanks!

I'm attaching PDFs of the rear panels of both the Pioneer and the Onkyo for your information.