surround sound from non hdmi receiver

[jpep13]

I have a denon 1802 with 2 polk r40 speakers and center speaker.
I also have a non hdmi sony dvd player.
I plan on purchasing a LCD Toshiba xf series.
As of now I get my so called surround sound through my dinosaur vcr.
When I get my HDTV LCd directv box how would I hook it up to get my surround sound? I am thinking of disconnecting the vcr
Any suggestions that would be helpful please. Thanks

 

[MDS]

The only role a VCR plays with regard to surround sound is tuning in cable channels if you don't have a cable box. I too will be purchasing a Toshiba XF550 in the near future. If you don't use a cable box, the TV can tune the cable channels directly. You can use the digital audio out to send the signal to a receiver to turn 2 channel audio into surround.

The VCR should be used soley for playing VHS tapes.

 

[jpep13]

The only role a VCR plays with regard to surround sound is tuning in cable channels if you don't have a cable box. I too will be purchasing a Toshiba XF550 in the near future. If you don't use a cable box, the TV can tune the cable channels directly. You can use the digital audio out to send the signal to a receiver to turn 2 channel audio into surround.

The VCR should be used soley for playing VHS tapes.

I turn my vcr on when I want to listen to surround sound. I do have a directv box that is not hdtv yet. When I get the new tv with the hdtv directv box how should i go about this. My stereo reciever is not hdmi. do I need any special cables? I will get 1 hdmi cable with the directv box. For audio?

 

[cyfman]

does your receiver have either coax or optical inputs? if it does your in business. run a coax or optical cable from your box to the receiver and there you go.

 

[gliz]

your denon 1802 does have a optical (toslink) in and a digital (coax) in. if you DVD player has either output you are in the game!!. HDMI is not required for surround sound. All you need is the correct cable for the output of the DVD player. If the DVD player does not have the digital outs, see if it has analogue outs. If that is the case your Denon 1802 has analogue is so you can still do surround sound. your VCR (with dolby surrond encoded vhs tapes) if it is stereo will indeed do Dolby surround (old school with the mono back channel

 

[Exit]

If you get an HDTV, you probably won't be using the VCR to watch tapes anymore. The standard VCR picture looks awful in high definition. It is best just to hook the VCR up to another standard TV in a secondary room.

 

[gliz]

If you get an HDTV, you probably won't be using the VCR to watch tapes anymore. The standard VCR picture looks awful in high definition. It is best just to hook the VCR up to another standard TV in a secondary room.

so VERY true

 

[jpep13]

your denon 1802 does have a optical (toslink) in and a digital (coax) in. if you DVD player has either output you are in the game!!. HDMI is not required for surround sound. All you need is the correct cable for the output of the DVD player. If the DVD player does not have the digital outs, see if it has analogue outs. If that is the case your Denon 1802 has analogue is so you can still do surround sound. your VCR (with dolby surrond encoded vhs tapes) if it is stereo will indeed do Dolby surround (old school with the mono back channel

Im not to sure on the dvd player yet on having the outputs. So then if the receiver has the optical is that better then the digital coax? Run the optical from the directv hdtvdvr box to receiver for surround sound??
Obviously I dont have the tv yet jyst trying to figure this all out. Thanks

 

[gliz]

neither digital input is better than the other. Check your box (dvd and direct TV) and see what is ther they will be labeled

 

[jpep13]

does your receiver have either coax or optical inputs? if it does your in business. run a coax or optical cable from your box to the receiver and there you go.

What channel input I put on my receiver? tv/dbs or v aux? It has optical .
Then V aux is analog?

 

[BMXTRIX]

Your digital inputs are likely assignable to whatever input you want to use, at least that is standard with current Denon receivers.

Instead of just stabbing in the dark, why not give us a full run down of all the gear and equipment you have and are trying to hook up. That way you can get a comprehensive response to your issues. There's no doubt you are just starting down a path to learn some of the terms here, so don't get to frustrated, but it's always good to give complete information on everything you're hooking up so you can get a complete answer.

ie: Don't say 'dvd player' - first say my DVD player is a Sony DVP-NS725P so we know what you are talking about when you say 'my DVD player' in the future.

There is typically no real designation, just default inputs for things. Just because it says "SATELLITE" doens't mean you can't hook up your Nintendo Wii to it if you wanted to. It just doesn't matter. What matters is hooking it up with a digital connection for audio to get proper surround sound utilizing either coaxial digital audio OR optical digital audio.

Don't go running out getting hosed on Monster Cable either! If you spend more than about 10 bucks a cable, you are paying to much.

 

[jpep13]

My setup as of now:

My dvd player Sony DVP ns 315
Denon Receiver 1802
Toshiba 32 crt tube
Technics cd player SL PD 887
Mitsu vcr
Polk r40 2 front towers
Polk center


I want to bypass using the vcr for surround sound.
When I turn on my tv 2 get sound out of the 2 polk speakers
I turn on my vcr and Denon receiver input on Video1.
I want to bypass all of this.

 

[BMXTRIX]

Okay...

DVD player use composite (yellow RCA) out from player to receiver's DVD input (top one)
DVD player use coaxial digital audio (RCA output) from plaeyr to receiver's digital coaxial input (orange connector)

CD player use analog left/right audio connections (red/white RCA cables) to the CD/Tape input on the receiver.

VCR - use composite video out from VCR to VCR input on receiver
VCR - use analog L/R audio connection to the VCR input on the receiver.

New DirecTV HD box - Use composite (for now) video connector from box to TV connector on receiver.
DirectTV box - Use optical digital audio connector from DirecTV to receiver's optical digital audio connection.

Receiver: Composite video out of receiver's 'MONITOR' output (yellow) to input on back of TV.

Connect your surround speakers to the outputs as they should already be connected.

When you upgrade to the HDTV, you will want to run component video from the DVD player straight to the TV and you will want to run HDMI out of the DirecTV box to the TV directly. You will NOT disconnect the audio feed to the receiver at any point! Heck, you can even leave the composite cables in place!

If you follow this step by step, you likely will still need to refer to your owners manual for the receiver to ensure that the digital audio is set correctly for the inputs.

When you turn the TV on, put it on the Video 1 input or whatever 'composite video' is.

Then turn the receiver to the input you want to use. If you want DVD, put it on DVD. If you want the VCR, put it on VCR... etc.

This is where a good universal remote comes in very handy.

 

[jpep13]

Wow,
ok my directv box non hdmi as of now, I would use the optical out
to the optical in on the denon receiver for surround??

 

[BMXTRIX]

That's correct! You'll see patterns of using audio as things move forward. Likewise with video. Basically, you always want to use the best available for things when it can make a difference worth having.

S-Video is an option, but because you are upgrading the TV shortly, you will want to go to component video & hdmi at that point (for video!) and there's no real point in going down that road at this time.

If you haven't gone to www.monoprice.com yet, don't get suckered into high priced (overpriced!) cables. You can pick up a few extra cables from Monoprice and be mostly covered for your setup needs.

 

[jpep13]

That's correct! You'll see patterns of using audio as things move forward. Likewise with video. Basically, you always want to use the best available for things when it can make a difference worth having.

S-Video is an option, but because you are upgrading the TV shortly, you will want to go to component video & hdmi at that point (for video!) and there's no real point in going down that road at this time.

If you haven't gone to www.monoprice.com yet, don't get suckered into high priced (overpriced!) cables. You can pick up a few extra cables from Monoprice and be mostly covered for your setup needs.

So technically I can undo my audio as I have it setuo now the vcr surround and just use the optical (1) and that will work the dvd player as well. I don't know what cables I would need at monoprice besides the optical and 1 hdmi.
My problem might just be hooking it up. If I am 2 months away from the new lcd hdtv then for now I just want to undo the surround from the vcr and use the optical. I'm still a bit confused.

 

[BMXTRIX]

If you're confused, go back and look at the list I provided above. It lists exactly what cables connect to what. Exactly which input to use as well.

Count the cables you have, then count the cables you need, then subtract. That's what you will need.

Since the 'premium' optical cable is just a few bucks, buy it and a coaxial audio cable, and hook it up.

Remember - the DVD player is hooked up digital coaxial, not digital optical.

 

[jpep13]

Okay...

DVD player use composite (yellow RCA) out from player to receiver's DVD input (top one)
DVD player use coaxial digital audio (RCA output) from plaeyr to receiver's digital coaxial input (orange connector)

CD player use analog left/right audio connections (red/white RCA cables) to the CD/Tape input on the receiver.

VCR - use composite video out from VCR to VCR input on receiver
VCR - use analog L/R audio connection to the VCR input on the receiver.

New DirecTV HD box - Use composite (for now) video connector from box to TV connector on receiver.
DirectTV box - Use optical digital audio connector from DirecTV to receiver's optical digital audio connection.

Receiver: Composite video out of receiver's 'MONITOR' output (yellow) to input on back of TV.

Connect your surround speakers to the outputs as they should already be connected.

When you upgrade to the HDTV, you will want to run component video from the DVD player straight to the TV and you will want to run HDMI out of the DirecTV box to the TV directly. You will NOT disconnect the audio feed to the receiver at any point! Heck, you can even leave the composite cables in place!

If you follow this step by step, you likely will still need to refer to your owners manual for the receiver to ensure that the digital audio is set correctly for the inputs.

When you turn the TV on, put it on the Video 1 input or whatever 'composite video' is.

Then turn the receiver to the input you want to use. If you want DVD, put it on DVD. If you want the VCR, put it on VCR... etc.

This is where a good universal remote comes in very handy.

I need composite and coaxial for the dvd and vcr analog and composite??

 

[BMXTRIX]

I need composite and coaxial for the dvd and vcr analog and composite??

Yes, but first...

Cable is cable is cable is cable. Composite video cables and coaxial audio cables aren't different cables. Just get decent cables and you are fine.

Coaxial audio cable - which could be used as composite video if you wanted to... (and I would, because these are decent cables)
http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10236

Composite video cables with included L/R analog audio... (not as good as cable listed above)
http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10241

Analog audio cables (L/R) - which could work as composite video cables (2 of them) or coaxial digital audio cables (two of them) and are of decent quality...
http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10218
This is a long page, so a specific 6' example is here...
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10218&cs_id=1021803&p_id=2864&seq=1&format=2

It will run you under 20 bucks to get all the cables you need. If you have 30 or 40 bucks, pick up some extras, and maybe that digital optical cable you will want/need later...
http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10229

 

[jpep13]

Which Hdmi cable would I need? Do I need DVi-Hdmi or just hdmi?
Thanks