smbrickner,
NOOBs are welcome, and congratulations on your wedding.
Most of the DirecTV boxes will have an optical audio out, which (using an optical audio cable) you would input directly into the HT-TZ512. The pictur will still be sent via HDMI into the television.
One note here: If you send the HDMI to the television, even though it will be 5.1 via HDMI, the television itself will transfer it to 2.0 (for the speakers). So the 5.1 will NOT pass through the television and come out the optical audio cable at 5.1. It will always trasfer to 2.0.
So to recap:
DirecTV Box > Picture > HDMI to TV
DirecTV Box > Audio > Optical from DirecTV to Receiver
You COULD do:
DirecTV Box > HDMI video and audio > Optical cable from TV to Receiver
<b>BUT</b>
You will only get 2.0 audio from any input (including HDMI) except for the digital tuner (which you won't be using if you have DirecTV). So that's probably not an optimal set-up for you.
So I hope that helps get you started. If you have any other questions, feel free to jump in. We're here to help.
--HDTech
Ok here is my situation. I just got a 1080p 46' LCD Samsung for a wedding present and promptly went to Best Buy and bought the HT-TZ512 surround sound system. I currently do not have HD Direct TV just regular but I am going to upgrade soon. When I do upgrade how do I do it to run the audio through the reciever to get surround sound. Currently I have an HDMI cable running from the reciever to the TV for the DVD player I would assume. I also have an optical cable running from the reciever to the TV.
I am hoping that when I upgrade to HD Directv that I can just run another HDMI cable from the Directv Reciever to the back of the TV and be done and it should work.
I am not a gamer so I am not worried about other sources being in surround sound. I just want those two to work.
Thanks in advance.

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