Connection questions for a Home Theater Newbie

[Cain Highwind]

I'm getting a new 30" Widecreen HDTV. I'm getting a new DVD player with HDMI for it. I have a Satellite system, and a VCR and plan on hooking up my PS2 from my other TV to this TV.

What I'm curious about is what to look for, connections wise, in a Home theater system, since I'm kind of new to an actual home theater system (had a basic HTiaB just for a DVD player, and I have one for my PC.

I mean I was looking at this system here:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16882115047

And looking at the pictures of the back. I just wonder and am confused. Do I plug just the audio sources from my Satellite and other things that use Composite audio cables and what about the video, I only see composite and component and not HDMI (but I see the coaxial audio).

All in all, I'm just saying with my given setup, how would I plug all my devices into this thing (well and if this is a good machine for the money)

Any help appreciated.

 

[Buckle-meister]

Welcome to the Forum Cain Highwind.

Your link is not working. Can you re-post it?

Regards

 

[Cain Highwind]

Link's fixed. sorry about that.

 

[Buckle-meister]

Do I plug just the audio sources from my Satellite and other things that use Composite audio cables and what about the video, I only see composite and component and not HDMI (but I see the coaxial audio).

All in all, I'm just saying with my given setup, how would I plug all my devices into this thing (well and if this is a good machine for the money)

It all comes down to what connections the two pieces of equipment to be inter-connected have. With respect to audio, the norm is to use an optical or coaxial digital (same sound quality) cable over analogue cables. If nothing else, it saves on the number of cables (one as opposed to two). With respect to video, picture quality should successively be found to improve from a composite connection to an s-video connection to a component/HDMI connection (some folk notice an improvement with HDMI over component, others do not).

The receiver doesn't have HDMI capability, but as noted above this is not necessarily a disaster. From an upgradeability perspective though, it's arguably not ideal.

I can't help with recommendations I'm afraid, except to say that Yamaha receivers are highly regarded. I've got a feeling that others will find you something better though. Listen to their advice, but make your own decision.

Best of luck.

Regards

 

[Cain Highwind]

I'm curious, if the reciever works as both an Audio and Video switcher, would it work just to hook the DVD player's sound via Optical or Coaxial and still use the HDMI connection to the TV? And then just use all the lesser sources (Composite VCR, S-Video Satellite reciever ) to switch between each other with both video and audio connected?

 

[Buckle-meister]

...if the reciever works as both an Audio and Video switcher, would it work just to hook the DVD player's sound via Digital or Coaxial and still use the HDMI connection to the TV?

Yes, assuming the t.v. can accept an HDMI source.

And then just use all the lesser sources (Composite VCR, S-Video Satellite reciever ) to switch between each other with both video and audio?

Again yes, this would work, and it is what a lot of, perhaps even the majority of folk here do, as it requires only the selection of the applicable receiver input to obtain both the sound and picture (as opposed to selecting the input on the receiver for sound and channel on the t.v. for video).

Remember that the receiver in question does not have s-video jacks though.

Regards

 

[Cain Highwind]

Well this is the TV I ordered and is being shipped to me:
http://www.electronicsnation.com/en/products/flypage/prod_id/30PW8402

If you notice there's up to 5 AV connections

I COMPLETLY overlooked the lack of S-Video, thanks.

So basically the hookup can be as follows:

DVD Player plugged into the TV via HDMI
Audio plugged from DVD Player to Reciever via optical

Component Input on TV to Reciever's Component hookups
Playstation 2 hooked via component cable to reciever (and sound would use the other Optical input)

And I could just use composite for the satellite and the VCR or maybe not hook them up at all, this isn't the highest priority, I just want to get an idea of what I need and how to do it, so I don't rush in to buy something to find it's incompatible.

Thanks again for the help!

 

[Buckle-meister]

Well this is the TV I ordered and is being shipped to me...

Nice.

So basically the hookup can be as follows:

DVD Player plugged into the TV via HDMI
Audio plugged from DVD Player to Reciever via optical

Component Input on TV to Reciever's Component hookups

Playstation 2 hooked via component cable to reciever (and sound would use the other Optical input)

And I could just use composite for the satellite and the VCR or maybe not hook them up at all, this isn't the highest priority.

Yes, what you have written will work, but you might want to consider that by hooking up the PS2 through the 2nd optical digital jack, you will effectively have prevented yourself from using the DTV input for Cable. You might want to consider using your Cable's composite audio and video cables to the DTV input simply to be able to select DTV to watch Cable. It really depends upon how important the digital connection from your PS2 is to you.

Regards

 

[Cain Highwind]

Nice.

Thanks it's my first HDTV so I'm really excited.

Yes, what you have written will work, but you might want to consider that by hooking up the PS2 through the 2nd optical digital jack, you will effectively have prevented yourself from using the DTV input for Cable. You might want to consider using your Cable's composite audio and video cables to the DTV input simply to be able to select DTV to watch Cable. It really depends upon how important the digital connection from your PS2 is to you.

Regards

I just checked the back of my satellite reciever and there is no Optical input/output. And I'm kind of confused on what you're suggesting.

 

[Buckle-meister]

I just checked the back of my satellite reciever and there is no Optical input/output. And I'm kind of confused on what you're suggesting.

Oops! A slight error on my part. I've taken another look at things...

Normally you would expect to connect a CD player (for example) up to a receivers CD jacks. You'd do this because you'd expect to hear CDs when you select the CD input. But by using the DTV optical jack for the PS2, my thinking was that you'd prevent yourself from using the DTV jacks for DTV (i.e. Cable).

In practice, I believe there is a way around this, though it is somewhat convoluted: If you use the DTV optical digital and component jacks for the PS2, and the DTV audio and video composite jacks for Cable, you can select DTV and get both Cable and the PS2, but you will probably need to ensure that whichever one you are not using is switched off, since the receiver will more than likely automatically switch to the best input if there's more than one for the same input (i.e. it'll try to use a digital source if it detects both an analogue and digital source for the same input)

Bet you're glad you asked!

Regards

 

[Cain Highwind]

Well I think I'll either do with my satellite what I'll do to my DVD player (hook the video to the TV and just the audio to the reciever) or just use composite.

Of course I'm open to suggestions for a better 5.1 product in the $200 price range, at least 300 Watts (though this is a small 15' by 15' living room), and the DVD player not included since I'm already getting one. I'm having a hard time finding one that really suits my interests more than the Yamaha I mentioned above.

 

[Buckle-meister]

...I'm open to suggestions for a better 5.1 product in the $200 price range, at least 300 Watts...

A feature that I'd say would be good to have would be lip-sync. Without it, you might find that the picture is slightly behind the audio (in time). The lip-sync function in a receiver, if it has it, allows you to delay the audio slightly so that the two are in sync with each other. Unfortunately, I've got a feeling that this feature may only be on more expensive models. Hopefully others here can steer you the right way...

Regards

 

[Cain Highwind]

Oh I just realized something to ask. For the satellite and the VCR, couldn't I just use composite cables from the Audio Out on the TV to one of the Audio Ins on the Reciever?

 

[Buckle-meister]

For the satellite and the VCR, couldn't I just use composite cables from the Audio Out on the TV to one of the Audio Ins on the Reciever?

Can you give me list of the connections that are available from the Cable box and also from the VCR please? I know you'd be able to do what you're planning for either Cable or VCR, but at this point, I'm not sure about both.

Regards

 

[Cain Highwind]

Satellite:
Composite/SVideo Out
Coaxial Video Out
Coaxial Video In
Composite Input

VCR:
2 Composite Inputs
1 Composite Output
1 Coaxial Output.

I can probably get away with hooking the VCR via Coaxial considering I can also hook it up to the Satellite for TV recording.

 

[BMXTRIX]

...I'm open to suggestions for a better 5.1 product in the $200 price range...

http://www.buyersedge.com/Product/prodDesc.asp?XOS=3282138&pageView=1&iDZ=18

The refurb HTS-770 from Onkyo is a major step up. It includes 2 component inputs, s-video, and compsite inputs with upgraded power and more connections.

Shipped to your door for about $320.00 or so. More than your budget?

EDIT: A few available for $165.00 + shipping (expect 50-75 bucks)
http://www.ecost.com/ecost/search/search.asp?Search=hts770&NavID_Search=false&CurDSN=simple&calledfrom=1&incimage=on

 

[jcPanny]

Receiver options

I think that one of the features you would like or need is format conversion from composite video and svideo to component video. This will allow the receiver to do all the video switching (except HDMI) with a single component video cable from the receiver to the TV.

My Yamaha HTR-5860 does this and can be purchased for just over $300. For performance on par with your TV consider this receiver with Athena or BIC speakers instead of the HTIB system you linked.

 

[BMXTRIX]

I think that one of the features you would like or need is format conversion from composite video and svideo to component video. This will allow the receiver to do all the video switching (except HDMI) with a single component video cable from the receiver to the TV.

My Yamaha HTR-5860 does this and can be purchased for just over $300. For performance on par with your TV consider this receiver with Athena or BIC speakers instead of the HTIB system you linked.

No offense, but why do people talk about $500+ systems when he said he is looking closer to $200.00?

Not that I don't agree entirely that for about $700.00 you can have a really good entry level system, but it is a long jump from $200.00 to even $300.00 when money is tight - let alone $700.00 or more.

 

[Cain Highwind]

http://www.buyersedge.com/Product/prodDesc.asp?XOS=3282138&pageView=1&iDZ=18

The refurb HTS-770 from Onkyo is a major step up. It includes 2 component inputs, s-video, and compsite inputs with upgraded power and more connections.

Shipped to your door for about $320.00 or so. More than your budget?

You know, that JUST might work. Although it is overbudget just a bit (of course I was "overbudget" when I bought my 5.1 system for my computer, and I haven't regretted it). The fact that it's 6.1 and Onkyo which I at least know is a good brand might be worth it.

I was just curious though, how different is 6.1 speakers for 5.1 movies? (the only 6.1 DVD I recall seeing was Lord of the Rings) Secondly, can you guys point me to some kind of diagram showing how 6.1 speakers should be placed?

Thanks

 

[BMXTRIX]

http://www.audioholics.com/techtips/setup/loudspeakers/hometheaterspeakerlayout.php

6.1 is just like 5.1 or 7.1 except you put the rear center speaker directly behind you like a 7.1 speaker, except not to the side.

Sound isn't a huge jump overall with 6.1 vs. 5.1.

BUT: That is not really the important thing.

The speakers on the Onkyo are much larger than the Yamaha - much more significant and will result in a much better range. The Onkyo also has a much better A/V receiver at the core which gives you better power and more inputs & outputs to utilize.

Read the specs at Onkyo:
http://www.us.onkyo.com/model.cfm?m=HT-S770&p=f&class=Systems

I don't call something a great deal without meaning it. It isn't the 'best' product in the world, but I think at that price point, it is by far the best product for the money.

On the link I gave - right about $200.00 shipped which is a total steal for that much of a system.