OK, I'm an idiot

[Shadow_Ferret]

What am I doing wrong?

I have the DVD (X-Box) going into the three RCA input (YBW).

I have the the TV (YBW) going to input 2 on my TV. But there is no picture.

Got sound.

No subwoofer yet, but first things first. Why no picture?

 

[MDS]

What is YBW? If you are talking about component video (three cables: red, green, and blue) then you need to use the component video output on the receiver (not monitor out) and depending on the receiver assign the component video inputs. The TV input has to be switched to input 2 if that is the input you used on the TV.

 

[Shadow_Ferret]

I don't have any red, green, or blue cables. Do I have to buy those? I have the standard yellow, black, and white (YBW). Are the component video different from these other cords

 

[MDS]

Yellow is the color code for composite video and White and Black must be standard audio cables (although they should be Red and White to follow the convention).

It depends on what type of inputs you have on the receiver and TV and what kind of outputs you have on the XBox. If you are connecting those three cables from the XBox to the receiver and you are getting audio then you probably connected the yellow to the composite video input on the receiver and the white and black to an audio input. You'd only need to connect another single Yellow cable from the monitor out on the receiver to the TV.

Component video is higher quality and requires three cables just for video so you'd need 6 total to go from XBox to receiver and receiver to TV - assuming all the devices have component video connections.

 

[Shadow_Ferret]

The X-Box only has the three cables. And I meant red, not black, so white, yellow, and red. (Where did I get black from?)

So, I cheated. I used the monitor out, which is the red, blue, and green to the TV, yellow, white, and red. I then from the X-Box I put the white and red cables on the DVD input and then the yellow I put in the blue of the composite DVD input.

Strange, but I have picture and sound.

 

[MDS]

The colors on the RCA plugs are a color coding convention for us humans. If you look at your receiver and it follows the rules (THX rules by the way) you'd see the digital coax out is orange, the subwoofer pre-out is purple, etc.

For component video ideally you want 75 Ohm cables but practically any cable will 'work'. If those cables were bought recently it is entirely possible that they are indeed all 75 Ohm cables as it is cheaper for the manufacturer to make them all the same and just change the color coded ends (and of course charge more for the ones with magic colors that mean 'component video').

 

[zumbo]

The X-Box only has the three cables. And I meant red, not black, so white, yellow, and red. (Where did I get black from?)

So, I cheated. I used the monitor out, which is the red, blue, and green to the TV, yellow, white, and red. I then from the X-Box I put the white and red cables on the DVD input and then the yellow I put in the blue of the composite DVD input.

Strange, but I have picture and sound.

If you don't want the sound sent to the tv, there is no reason to connect the audio to the tv. (r/w)

If you have the video sent to straight to the tv, there is no reason to send it to the receiver.(y)

You need to connect the (r/w) from the x-box to the receivers (r/w) on the receivers dvd input.

You need to connect the (y) from the x-box to the (y) input of your choice on the tv.

Now, to get sound, select dvd on the receiver.

To get a picture, select the input you used on the tv menu.

Only three cables employed.

 

[zumbo]

The only reason you would want to send composite video (y) through the receiver would be if you were using other separate components that employ a composite video connection. In my previous reply, I assumed that this is your only component that employs the composite (y) connection.

 

[Shadow_Ferret]

The only reason you would want to send composite video (y) through the receiver would be if you were using other separate components that employ a composite video connection. In my previous reply, I assumed that this is your only component that employs the composite (y) connection.

Well, so far. We have cable, which is currently running directly into the TV, but the box has HDMI, so I'm thinking of running that into the receiver, but then again, how do I run that back to my TV? My TV only has the yellow, white, and red inputs and a coax cable, no other fancy inputs.

Wait. If I keep the red/white/yellow cables running directly to the TV from cable as is, and I run the HDMI, I would just use that for the sound, the cables should still supply picture, no?

I need to upgrade my TV one of these years.

 

[zumbo]

No need for HDMI without an HD tv.

You should have a couple of options for 5.1 audio from your cable box. Either an orange digital audio out, or an optical out.
Cable coax(screw in from wall) should be connected to your tv.
Digital audio (orange rca), or Optical audio(toslink) should be connected to your receiver.
Connect the x-box the way I mentioned before.
Yellow video cable from the x-box to the tv.
R/W audio cables from the x-box to the receiver.
Done.

 

[Shadow_Ferret]

I went to the setup I had with my stereo receiver. Everything into the TV, then two audio cables to the receiver. I didn't realized I'd get a 5.1 signal out of the two audio outs (since I was using a stereo receiver before), but I am. Thanks for all your help. Like I said, I'm an idiot.

 

[zumbo]

I went to the setup I had with my stereo receiver. Everything into the TV, then two audio cables to the receiver. I didn't realized I'd get a 5.1 signal out of the two audio outs (since I was using a stereo receiver before), but I am.

No, you are not. Connected your way, you are only sending 2-channel to the receiver. Your receiver is then putting those 2-channels into surround. The sound quality of this is nothing compared to a digital audio, or toslink connection. Not even close. (on 5.1 programs)

Thanks for all your help. Like I said, I'm an idiot.

If you leave it connected the way you have it, I have to 100% agree.

 

[zumbo]

Connect the x-box r/w to the receiver.
Connect the x-box y to the tv.
Connect the cable coax from wall to the cable box. Connect coax from the cable box to the tv.
Connect digital audio out from the cable box(orange rca output, or optical output) to the receiver.

Select the corresponding inputs on the tv and receiver for sound and picture.

 

[Shadow_Ferret]

If you leave it connected the way you have it, I have to 100% agree.

You don't have to agree wholeheartedly!

 

[Shadow_Ferret]

OK. More idiotude from yours truly.

I have things hooked up as above. The coax from the cable box to the TV (because it only has a coax and 3 RCA inputs) and the sound going from the cable box to the receiver.

I went and bought an HDMI cable thinking "AHa! This will give me great sound."

I plugged it in. Turned on the receiver. HDMI light came on. Great sound came out.

And the picture disappeared from the TV!

It seems if the receiver is using HDMI it sucks all the pixels out of the TV signal. If I change the receiver dial from HDMI to TV, then the picture comes back.

Why is that?