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Netflix audio through external stereo system

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I've not visited your Forum before, but post fairly often at the Vintage Asylum. Recently, I purchased a so-called powered-by-Google Sony TV, the picture quality of which is excellent. In order to play the audio portion of the cable signal through my external stereo system, I take the audio signal from my cable box, and send it to my McIntosh C34V preamp through RCAs. That way, I change channels and raise and lower the volume by means of the cable remote.

I just signed up for a trial subscription to Netflix. As things are presently configured, I am forced to listen to the audio portion through the Sony's own mediocre speakers. I need somebody to tell me how I can hear the Netflix audio through my external stereo system.

I was thinking I could perhaps take the signal from one of the Sony's HDMI or optical outputs, and send it to an input on the C34V. As I envision it, this would require some sort of HDMI- or optical output-to RCA cable or adaptor. Does anything like this exist? Is there a better way? Or am I cooked?

Follow Ups:

Surprised you can't get RCA outs to work properly - Audio Snob 06:35:15 01/19/12 (0)
I have a couple of Sony TV's. A rear projection about 5 years old and an LCD about 3-4 years old.

Each one has RCA outs and the ability to mute via a menu selection the TV's internal speakers, giving a variable volume signal to the RCA outs.

Maybe you have the "new and improved" Sony TV.
RE: Netflix audio through external stereo system - kh6idf 16:42:04 01/18/12 (0)
Check if your TV has any RCA audio out jacks, ours does. I run these to a small integrated amp and external speakers. Everything comes in on HDMI. I'm using the DAC in the TV which sounds fairly good.

Edits: 01/19/12
try this - Joe Murphy Jr 23:00:58 01/17/12 (4)
#1 Make sure that Sony's Google TV can output PCM via the optical output. By that, I mean that it will convert signals from other formats (eg, DTS, Dolby Digital) to a 2.0 PCM signal. If it can't, the $ solution goes up.

#2 Go to amazon.com and type "digital to analog converter" in the search box. You will see numerous converters which will take in a digital signal over an optical connection and convert it to an RCA analog output -- as long as it's 2.0 PCM -- for $20 - $30. That's all you need.
- RE: try this - Chef Henry 12:24:03 01/18/12 (3)
  Thanks, Joe. I called Sony technical support today, and they recommended the same thing. They also told me that there is a setting to turn off the internal speakers, but there isn't. I can turn them down so they are not audible, which is what I do when I listen to regular cable broadcasts, using the volume up/down on the cable box, with the output going into my C34V.
  
  I took a ride to Micro Center a little while ago, hoping to leave with a digital-to-analog converter. They didn't have any, but a salesman said that none was necessary - that as far as he knew, I should be able to take the audio out from the RCA audio outputs on the back of the Sony.
  
  When I tried this, I was unsurprised to find that it didn't work. Then, I became inspired to try the 3.5mm headphone output on the side of the Sony, figuring that this would disable the internal speakers, and give me a clean audio signal to feed to my C34V.
  
  Voila! It couldn't work better. The internal Sony speakers are shorted when the 3.5mm/RCA output is engaged; I set the gain with the McIntosh; and control the volume with the Sony remote. The sound quality through my Tannoy 15" Memories, crossing over via my Pioneer SF850 electronic crossover at 8kHz/6dB to big Heil AMTs, is heart stopping.
  - glad it worked out - Joe Murphy Jr 21:47:10 01/18/12 (2)
    Do you have an all-in-one setup or is this a multi-component setup with the Sony Google TV? I just looked at the one they have with a separate box, which has no analog outputs -- only digital. That's why I recommended the inexpensive DAC. I didn't try looking at the outputs on the TV they show in the pictures. I don't know if it's available online, but I didn't see anywhere I could download the manual.
    - RE: glad it worked out - Chef Henry 18:31:04 01/26/12 (1)
      Thanks Joe. Of course, this ultra high tech solution requires a 3.5mm stereo male headphone plug to an RCA stereo female adapter. The output is then fed via RCA cables to an unused "laser 3" input on the Mac. This shorts the Sony's speakers, and I control the volume with the Sony remote.
      
      Wouldn't you have thought that Sony technical support would have proposed this simple, no-cost solution?
      - techs aren't always "techies" - Joe Murphy Jr 11:12:16 01/27/12 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: glad it worked out posted by Chef Henry on January 26, 2012 at 18:31:04
        
        Often they are trained on the basics and some extra material that management and/or current supervision believe is relevant. The more involved/intricate information isn't part of that training. How often a problem comes up also plays a part on whether or not training or certain trouble shooting exercises take place. Not an excuse for the lack of knowledge, but an explanation re: the seeming cluelessness of "the next operator to take your call".

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