"Do find the digital output on the back of your DVD player before you connect any other cables to your equipment. It will be labeled "Optical" or "Coaxial" (your DVD player may have both or just one). An optical digital output uses a fiber-optic cable with a square plastic connector (Toslink) on each end. A coaxial digital output uses a standard shielded RCA cable that plugs into the female RCA jack labeled "Coaxial Digital". Both sound the same. Use only one. An optical cable sometimes helps to avoid "ground loops" (see below). This single digital cable, optical or coaxial, carries all six channels of sound from a Dolby Digital 5.1 or dts movie soundtrack. It will also carry 2-channel digital PCM stereo (that's what the data stream from a CD is called, should you use your DVD player to play your CDs). This digital cable does NOT carry video, only audio. Connect it to a digital audio input on the rear of your receiver."A helpful, to-the-point article about the things to consider when setting up your home theatre system. Worth the read if you're setting up your first one!