Assistance Needed with connections

[hallandoates]

OK...I'm looking for the best way to connect my devices. I can't follow my receiver manual, and it's too confusing to try and cross-reference all the manuals to get it right so I'm hoping someone can help me. Let me start by outlining all of my devices and their connections:

-Sony Wega TV (not HD)-no optical, 1 Component, 2 Composite
-Harmon Kardon AVR 140 Receiver
-Motorola MOXI DVR cable box-1 component, 1 optical, and I think 2 composite
-DVD player-no optical, 1 component, 2 composite
-Ipod w/video-Component video connection device

Here is how I'm currently connected:

-Component video from TV to cable box
-Optical from cable box to receiver
-Composite audio from DVD player to receiver
-Composite video from DVD player to TV
-Component video and composite audio from Ipod to receiver (however, I just got this device and am getting no video playback from my ipod for some reason)

My issues are:

1. I want to plug my DVD player into a Component video connection on my receiver, but this isn't working. That is why I have it rigged up the way I do. I also can't get the Ipod to play video.

I am looking for any advice anyone may be able to provide to help me with the best way I could set this up. I greatly appreciate the assistance.

 

[highfigh]

Find out if the H-K receiver up-converts the video from composite to component. That way, you don't need to have all of the connections from the sources to the display and it simplifies changing sources.

You may need to go into the menu and look for "Input Select", which should let you work with the Audio and video selections separately. Once an input is selected, you can save the settings and it's just a matter of changing your sources.

Have you contacted the dealer or H-K?

If the DVD player is new, you may need to go into the Top Menu and set up the output and audio. If you can connect it directly to the display and see/hear what's on the disc, refer to the manual. If it's more a matter of looking at all of the cables, narrow it down to one at a time, or one device at a time. Once that device has been connected, bundle the cables and move on to the next device.

I looked at the manual for the AVR 146, since the 140 isn't current and it looks well-written and laid out. Relax and you'll get it done.

 

[BMXTRIX]

This receiver is many years out of date, but should be able to handle component video from up to two of your sources.

http://manuals.harman.com/HK/HOM/Owner's Manual/AVR 140 OM (web) 3-29-06.pdf

I would connect the cable box to the component 1 input on the receiver (video).
Connect the DVD player to the component 2 input on the receiver (video).

The iPod, if you have a 'component' video cable, then you will need to return it and get one with composite video, or you will have to get a new receiver. Please note, many non-Apple genuine component cables do NOT work with iPods. My composite cable for my iPod is 'spotty' at best.

For audio, use either coaxial or optical digital audio inputs on the AVR-140 receiver for your DVD player and cable box.

For the iPod, just use the analog audio inputs. (red & white audio connectors)

You will have to go into the setup most likely of the receiver to assign the component video inputs to sources. So that when you go to 'DVD' it actually uses component 1 instead of just the composite input. Likewise, when you go to TV or Cable, it will use component 2 instead of composite.

NOTE: If your TV is old enough, it may not even accept 480p video over component video, which means that you have to leave it set to 480i output on your DVD player... almost negating any benefit of using component video.

 

[Adam]

I'm guessing that the OP is gone now, but I gotta say that I dig the screen name. I was a big Hall and Oats fan when I was kid. Good stuff!

 

[hallandoates]

Thank you, Adam. I am still finding time to go in and try the different ideas reccomended here...probably sometime this week. I have decided though that I am going to return my component video ipod connection and get a composite. I will advise of my results.