Basic hookup question

[tmiller]

Hi all. I'm new here and new to home theater. I have what is probably a simple question. I just bought a new plasma that has two hdmi inputs, a bunch of other inputs, and an optical output. I have a dvd player and HD directv box, both of which have hdmi outputs. My problem (I think) is that my receiver has no hdmi inputs, but it does have an optical input.

I'm not sure the best way to hook things up. Can I run the sat box and dvd player right to the tv via hdmi, and then run optical out from the tv to the receiver? That doesn't seem quite right to me.
The receiver is a Sony STR-DE597. It's only about 3 years old. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks very much.

 

[MDS]

I'm not sure the best way to hook things up. Can I run the sat box and dvd player right to the tv via hdmi, and then run optical out from the tv to the receiver? That doesn't seem quite right to me.
The receiver is a Sony STR-DE597.

The digital out on a TV can be used if the signal arrived via the antenna input but many TVs will also pass the digital signal to the digital output if it arrived via a digital input like HDMI. If your TV can, you can hook it up that way.

An alternative is to run HDMI from each device to the TV for Video and optical or coax digital to the receiver for audio. You may have to make changes in the setup menus for the sat box and dvd player to inform them to send audio via the digital output and only video thru HDMI.

 

[markw]

You're on the right track.

You can't count on the TV transferring the digital audio to the receiver.

Yes, you should run the two video sources directly to the TV. You'll need to select your video with the TV.

Yes, run the audio from the sources (either coax or Toslink) directly from the sources to the receiver itself. You'll need to select your audio via the receiver.

 

[tmiller]

thanks

thanks for the help fellas. That helps a lot.

So if I have hdmi for the video, and digital connections to the receiver for audio, how much of a difference would there be if I had an hdmi capable receiver? I get the impression that for someone like me, I'd never know the difference. I just don't really want to go out and buy a new receiver just for the hdmi capability unless it's really worth it.

 

[markw]

You seem to think like I do.

Price increases generaly reflect more features as opposed to "true" performance improvements. By separating the features you really need as opposd to what they can throw at you, you can get some pretty decent performance at bargain prices.

Unless you intend to use your receiver for all switching functions (which would require all sources to be up-converted to HDMI), you gain nothing from paying more for upconversion features in a receiver.

As an additional benefit of using the separate audio/video selection methods, along with the digital outs to the receiver, you can run the red/white analog outputs to the corresponding (to the video inputs) red/white audio inputs on the TV. This allows you to play the source and the TV, using the TV's internal speakers when you wish. You don't even have to turn the receiver on here. Just turn the TV volume down when you want to use the receiver.

Personally, I don't always want to use the big system for most shows. Who needs the news or sitcoms in 5.1? ...not to mention the kid's stuff.

 

[tmiller]

thanks again

I got my tv today and have it partially hooked up. The HD won't be hooked up til tomorrow, but I was trying to get some of the other things figured out today. I have an issue you might be able to give me some direction with. I hooked up my dvd player directly to the tv via hdmi, and I get absolutely nothing. The tv is set to the correct input, the cables are connected properly etc, but I still get the no signal error.

I was reading the dvd player manual and it does say that I have to set it to hdmi output when using the hdmi connection. Unfortunately, if I can't get the signal to the tv I can't see the menu to change the player to hdmi output. Am I missing something here?

 

[markw]

Sounds like a Catch 22 situation

I was reading the dvd player manual and it does say that I have to set it to hdmi output when using the hdmi connection. Unfortunately, if I can't get the signal to the tv I can't see the menu to change the player to hdmi output. Am I missing something here?

You might try connecting the DVDS up to the TV with a composite cable for a few minutes. Perhaps this will alllow you access to it's menu. Then, once it's set, replace the HDMI cable.

Are you sure this isn't covered somewhere in the manual?

 

[Pwner_2130]

Hi all. I'm new here and new to home theater. I have what is probably a simple question. I just bought a new plasma that has two hdmi inputs, a bunch of other inputs, and an optical output. I have a dvd player and HD directv box, both of which have hdmi outputs. My problem (I think) is that my receiver has no hdmi inputs, but it does have an optical input.

I'm not sure the best way to hook things up. Can I run the sat box and dvd player right to the tv via hdmi, and then run optical out from the tv to the receiver? That doesn't seem quite right to me.
The receiver is a Sony STR-DE597. It's only about 3 years old. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks very much.

What DVD player are you using?

 

[tmiller]

figured it out

thanks again. I was able to figure it out. The manual actually did a decent job explaining how to use the menus to configure the player for hdmi output. Unfortunately, step one was to "connect the player to the tv with the hdmi cable", essentially rendering the thing useless since the output wasn't yet configured.

As you suggested, I plugged in a composite video cable, and walked through the steps. As soon as I selected hdmi output the screen went black. I then had to switch to the hdmi cable.

brilliant manual writers.