Sean, a weird thing for me, since HDMI is supposed to also send sound, is that with my TV and receiver, I still need to run a separate audio line (digital optical cable). I have no idea why, but it works fine once I have it in. So try that?

I have an optical cable I can use, but the point of an Audio Return Channel on both the TV and receiver is that I shouldn't have to do that. The TV is supposed to be able to send sound back down the one cable, and the receiver is supposed to be able to hear it.

And both of my devices claim to do the ARC thing. I'm inclined to believe them, I'm just doing something wrong.

Of course, the Sony manual is so poorly written that it makes me want to go kick people who work for Sony.

Voice Control on the iPhone 4, I don't use it. Yet it activates almost everytime I get up from a smoke on the patio. I'll be reading something on the phone, get ready to head inside and lock it, get up, click the button to illuminate my walk to the door, step up the stoop, and boom, it's calling somebody at midnight as I frantically try to shut it down. Can I deactivate this function completely? And any clues as to why it does this in total silence?

Instead of TiVo →TV →Receiver, can't you go TiVo → Receiver →TV?

I don't have a Tivo, either. All I have is SmartTV and receiver. What I'm trying to get working is:

SmartTV ← → Receiver with a single cable. I can do it with two cables (HDMI & optical), but I'd like to (and should be able to) do it with a single HDMI cable.

Right. Like I said, I KNOW they're *supposed* to work with just HDMI, but it doesn't. I guess I don't understand why using two cords if if works is a problem.

I guess I don't understand why using two cords if if works is a problem.

My HDMI cable is 10' long, while my optical cable is only 3' long. This considerably limits my choices of placement.

ETA: This is WAAAAAY WAAAAAAY up there on the list of First World Problems, I know. Believe, I'm really not shedding a lot of tears or losing any sleep over it. I just want to kick people who work for Sony. And possibly Vizio (their onboard manual just says, "I'm ARC ready, if your receiver is ARC capable, just plug us together with an HDMI cable we'll work!)

A (small) part of what was appealing about the new equipment was the possibility to place things in more convenient and aesthetically pleasing arrangements. Unless I go out and buy a new cable, I don't have that option currently.

Have you RTFM'd? Maybe there is a setting. A button you need to push. Like "monitor" or only plug into HDMI #2 or something wacky.