Home Theater help

[lordofdavipers]

Haha I guess in my eyes, 700 bux is expensive in home theater but looking from the overview of 3000 for bose that leaves about a 2000 area to get more/better features.

Before I connect it the way you stated, Adam, what about the 2nd optical cable? Should I have the 2nd optical port on the av rcvr go to the optical on the dvd rcvr?

Elsewise, everythign else makes sense.

 

[Adam]

You can certainly connect the digital audio directly from the DVD player to the A/V receiver, either using the second optical cable that you have or using any cable with RCA connectors (using the digital coax output on the DVD player and one of the digital coax inputs on the A/V receiver). There's no harm in that at all. There may or may not be an advantage to that - read below.

You can certainly route video and audio through the TV, and only run the one audio cable from the TV to the A/V receiver. However, based on the TV's owners manual, I'm not sure if you'll get full 5.1 surround sound from all of your sources if you do it that way. For that reason only, I'll hold off on saying that's the best way to go. If you connect everything up through the TV and find that you're only getting stereo sound when you should be getting surround sound, then we'll need to reassess how things are set-up. You have the ability to route all of the audio straight into your receiver - you'd just need to get that optical-to-coax adapter in order to connect all four sources (PS3, Xbox, TV, and DVD) over digital connections. If you route the audio straight into the A/V receiver, then you can certainly get surround sound from all sources once they are set up correctly.

 

[lordofdavipers]

Yeah I just tried your setup and IT WORKS. audio and video for everything with optonal ability to turn on/off the SS for the TV, and consoles (doesn't allow it on the dvd rcvr and thats ok. if i wanna watch a dvd w/ no ss i use a console).

And i did need the other optical cable, i have eliminated one hdmi cable so that's a few bux in my wallet.

 

[lordofdavipers]

Hmm. how do i know if i'm getting 5.1 or stereo?

 

[Phil Taylor]

Hmm. how do i know if i'm getting 5.1 or stereo?

Wellllll - you'll hear sound coming from the surround speakers and usually there will be a Dolby icon lit on your receiver's display. It may say Dolby Digital on DVDs or Dolby Pro-Logic for TV.

 

[lordofdavipers]

PCM DSP and Adyssey is all that's lit up. Adyssey automatically setup my av rcvr w/ a setup mic thing. I hear sound out of each and every speaker and the subwoofer is booming.

I'll go back and check the post again but i may need a refresher on the coax and stuff.

 

[lordofdavipers]

I have a coaxial cable w/ the bnc turnable connectors. Is that not hte same as a coax rca?

 

[Adam]

I have a coaxial cable w/ the bnc turnable connectors. Is that not hte same as a coax rca?

I'm not familiar enough with BNC connectors to answer that, but I don't think so. However, I can say this - the RCA connectors that are used with the digital coax input/outputs look like the RCA connectors on the component video cable that you mentioned for your DVD player.

 

[lordofdavipers]

I'm not familiar enough with BNC connectors to answer that, but I don't think so. However, I can say this - the RCA connectors that are used with the digital coax input/outputs look like the RCA connectors on the component video cable that you mentioned for your DVD player.

So basically RCA cables are ones w/ the rounded tip instead of the needle-tip-that-can-hurt-if-poked kind of tip?

I re-read that post and didn't understand the layout for how to connect everything. My consoles don't have coax. Just optical and hdmi. I know I'm beginning to be a pain, my apology. Would you mind explaining how i'd connect this using coax and hdmi/optical if SS wasn't working (which it sounds like it is, though).

 

[Adam]

So basically RCA cables are ones w/ the rounded tip instead of the needle-tip-that-can-hurt-if-poked kind of tip?

Yep, that's right.

I re-read that post and didn't understand the layout for how to connect everything. My consoles don't have coax. Just optical and hdmi. I know I'm beginning to be a pain, my apology. Would you mind explaining how i'd connect this using coax and all the stuff if i'm not getting the SS stuff (it sounds like I am, though).

No problem. If you are getting the SS like you want, then you are all set and don't need to worry about this.

I'll try to explain it in more detail:

1. Connect the HDMI output from the DVD player to one of the HDMI inputs on the TV
2. Connect the HDMI output from the PS3 to one of the HDMI inputs on the TV
3. Connect the HDMI output from the Xbox to one of the HDMI inputs on the TV
4. Connect the TV optical digital output to one of the optical digital inputs on the Onkyo receiver
5. Connect the coax digital output from the DVD player to one of the coax digital inputs on the Onkyo receiver
6. Connect the PS3 (or Xbox) optical digital output to the second optical digital input on the Onkyo receiver
7. [When you can, if you want] Connect the Xbox (or PS3) optical digital output to an optical-to-coax adapter and connect the adapter to the second coax digital input on the Onkyo receiver

I believe that you have already done steps #1-#4 (at least, that's what we discussed tonight), and perhaps have already done #5. The final two steps would just provide direct audio connections from the gaming consoles to the A/V receiver. All video would still be sent directly to the TV.

 

[Phil Taylor]

For a digital RCA/coaxial cable you could use one side of a red & white audio cable. The connector's name is an "RCA" phono plug. The male gender has an inner probe and an outer divided ring and it merely is pushed into place over the female connector which has a hole surrounded by plastic with a metal sleeve. The connectors that "look like they could hurt" are probably 1/4 phono plugs or mini-phono plugs - they are commonly found on headphones,.

A BNC connector is a professional grade video connector - the male gender has a rotating outer ring with two notches on the inner part of the ring and an inner tiny probe encased in white rubber with a slotted metal ring - the notches slip over two "ears" on a female connector and it's seated with a half-turn.

Edit - Adam's signal routing will get you what you want. Lemme add one more #8 - when you save up a few more bucks get you a Harmony H-659 remote for about $80 and you can macro-program it to control your TV and receiver to switch to the right inputs with one button-push.

 

[lordofdavipers]

Yes, sir, 1-4 is done. I don't have a coax rca cable, that i know of.

I'd have to use the opt/coax adapter/converter because my 360 doesn't have optical w/out plugging in the component cables (and hacking the casing on it).

So this would guarantee SS? It doesn't seem too bad. I definitely can return the other HDMI cable I have and get two coax cables and a converter and then I can do it this way.

EDIT: Mr. Taylor, I'll add that step to my notes. So far though, I'm getting what appears to be SS from all 4 devices. I have drawn out your secondary option and will consider it but I dont know how much better the sound will get when it already sounds good.

Edit Edit. Mr. Taylor, you're saying I can use the old-fashion "grandaddy cables" (red, white, yellow)? Just maybe one, either red or white, and it do the same thing? I thought one was left audio and the other was right audio?

 

[Phil Taylor]

Edit Edit. Mr. Taylor, you're saying I can use the old-fashion "grandaddy cables" (red, white, yellow)? Just maybe one, either red or white, and it do the same thing? I thought one was left audio and the other was right audio?

Yes a yellow/red/white cable would work - I would use the yellow as sometimes the shielding is better on such cables since it is normally used for video. Just strip the yellow off of the "three-fer" - usually a firm tug will separate those cables (if yours has a "band" holding them together at each end just clip it - carefully so as to not nick the conductors). And yes they are normally yellow for video and red and white for audio - but digital coax only needs one RCA cable and the receiver's circuitry decodes the digital mix into the respective discrete channels.

 

[lordofdavipers]

SWEET then i have about 5000 rca coax cables lying around here. Any suggestion for a CHEAP[er] opt/coax converter that i can find instore perhaps?

 

[Phil Taylor]

Here's a converter at Amazon - maybe you can find something similar at a local store ---
http://www.amazon.com/Cables-Go-Optical-Coaxial-Converter/dp/B0002GV876/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1216706853&sr=1-1

EDIT - oops - copied wrong link - fixed it to go optical to coaxial... DOH!

 

[Adam]

SWEET then i have about 5000 rca coax cables lying around here. Any suggestion for a CHEAP[er] opt/coax converter that i can find instore perhaps?

And you didn't think that you had one.

I linked to one that is about $20 in a previous thread. If you Google "optical coax adapter" or "toslink coax adapter", you'll find some. You can also get this one at Radio Shack and have it shipped to your local store. Some reviews of these aren't very positive, so I'd say make sure that you can take it back if it doesn't work out for you.

EDIT: The one at Radio Shack is the same one that Phil linked to at Amazon.

EDIT 2: Man, I jacked up the link, too. I wasn't paying close enough attention to the adapter. I don't know if RS sells the optical-to-coax adapter.

 

[lordofdavipers]

And you didn't think that you had one.

I linked to one that is about $20 in a previous thread. If you Google "optical coax adapter" or "toslink coax adapter", you'll find some. You can also get this one at Radio Shack and have it shipped to your local store. Some reviews of these aren't very positive, so I'd say make sure that you can take it back if it doesn't work out for you.

EDIT: The one at Radio Shack is the same one that Phil linked to at Amazon.

Here's a converter at Amazon - maybe you can find something similar at a local store ---
http://www.amazon.com/Cables-Go-Optical-Coaxial-Converter/dp/B0002GV876/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1216706853&sr=1-1

EDIT - oops - copied wrong link - fixed it to go optical to coaxial... DOH!

I'm testing now to see if this cable will pull all the SS like my optical did. My manuals all show that optical and coax rca sound the same -or do the same thing-so that's good. I'll try to get that converter and hack the 360's casing and hook it up.

For now everything 'sounds' like it has surround sound so I'll get the converter at a later date.

Right now here's what I've got. Please double check my setup. I almost sure it's to the setup u guys provided.

HDMI
DVD rcvr, Ps3 and 360 all in the 3 tv's ports.

OPTICAL
tv to av rcvr
ps3 to av rcvr

COAX RCA
dvd rcvr to av rcvr

right now the 360's using the tv's optical for sound so i'll try to get that converter

 

[Adam]

Andrew, your connections look great.

Now, you've worked hard at setting this up, and it's time to enjoy your new system! I'll bet that it adds quite a bit to the gaming experience.

 

[lordofdavipers]

Yes sir you're correct on that one! haha This is our slowest month at work so I have 3 days off so I will definitely take up that offer. I'm gonna print out this conversation and keep it for future reference. I'll check back with you guys if anything goes wrong, doubtfully but possible.

You guys have been nothing but helpful and patient with me. I will remember your kindness and will assist you guys if you ever need anything [being that it's something i know how to help with] haha.

Andrew C.

 

[lordofdavipers]

oh boy. When Im on auxillary from the av rcvr (for tv, and games) Sadly I have to manually choose the optical 1 and 2 [and coax 1]. Coax 2 is set for the dvd 'port' or what not. not a big deal but i figured it could auto sense or something. otherwise i can always revert to the other settings.

EDIT. also that opt/coax thing isnt what i need, i think. it says "Converts from Coaxial Digital to Toslink digital"

I need one for the vise-versa.