Don't laugh... I'm an audiophyte

[Moonraker]

Hello all,

I'm definitely an audiophyte.. I admit it... after much research and budgetary concerns, I just purchased my Denon AVR-2805. This is my first receiver, and I'm very excited about it.

Now I want to hook up everything to it...

I have a CD changer (sony) DVD player, cable box, VCR and PC.

My first question is...

Should I be looking at hooking everything up with the RCA cables? or should I be looking at S-Video or Composite video connections? (I said don't laugh)

My cable box has a black RCA plug on the back for "Digital Audio" ... what's up with that? where does that go? it's not optical.

I've read the FAQs on connecting stuff, I just want to get the most out of my receiver and other equipment.

I appreciate everyone's help!!

 

[bpape]

First lesson.... RCA is a connector type, not a connection type. Digital audio, composite video analog audio and component video all use RCA CONNECTORS on the cables.

Now, for hook up...

From CD/DVD - player...

Digital Audio connection from CD to Receiver (either a video grade cable (RCA end) or Toslink optical type cable) For the video, run component video (3 cables with RCA connectors on each end, red, green, and blue) from the player directly to the TV - BYPASS the receiver.

VCR - L and R analog audio (2 cables with RCA connectors - usually red and white) to the receiver. Connect the video directly to the TV

Cable box - depends on what outputs you have.

PC - depends on what outputs you have.

 

[Moonraker]

Bpape,

Thanks for the input! for some reason I always thought RCA connector types would only be analog inputs...

The cable box has S-Video output and white/red/yellow A/V outputs, plus that one black digital audio output that seems strange to me...

Thank you!!!

 

[MDS]

That one black audio out would be the coax digital output. It is supposed to be color coded Orange, but obviously the color doesn't matter. You will want to use that to get digital audio to the receiver from the cable box (assuming you have digital cable).

Any single cable with RCA connectors on each end will do but to be in spec and avoid possible problems, make sure the cable you use is 75 ohm - either a composite video cable or one specifically labeled 'digital coax'.

 

[Moonraker]

MDS,

Sweet, now I know what the hell that thing is... although my receiver doesn't have an RCA input for digital audio... it only has L and R red/white RCA connectors for audio and optical dig audio inputs...

Anyway... I'll be asking a bunch more neophyte questions in the future, so bare with me...


Thanks to everyone.

 

[mtrycrafts]

MDS,

Sweet, now I know what the hell that thing is... although my receiver doesn't have an RCA input for digital audio... it only has L and R red/white RCA connectors for audio and optical dig audio inputs...

Anyway... I'll be asking a bunch more neophyte questions in the future, so bare with me...


Thanks to everyone.

Are you sure you don't have an RCA type for digital audio? May want to read the manual? But for some reason it doesn't, your DVD player may have one optical cable output. Use that for digital audio signals.

 

[jaxvon]

Your receiver definitely does have a coax digital input. The two orange RCA jacks in the very lower left corner (when you're looking at the back panel) are the coax digital inputs. I've attached a pic of what they look like.

 

[Audioholics]

Congrats on your purchase! I only wish my first big audio purchase had been a Denon receiver!

Be aware that, even if you have digital cable TV, you will still need to hook up BOTH the analogue RCAs (red and white) as well as the digital coax RCA (black connector) to get audio reliably from the cable box to the receiver.

Also, the AVR-2805 has video switching and upconversion to component video, so if you want to buy a couple more cables, you may enjoy using the Denon to merely select an input and route the correct video to the TV.

This means you could feed everything and anything video into the 2805 and then merely send a single component video cable to the TV... Then , select an input and BAM - it's on the TV without having to switch TV inputs.

 

[Moonraker]

Your receiver definitely does have a coax digital input. The two orange RCA jacks in the very lower left corner (when you're looking at the back panel) are the coax digital inputs. I've attached a pic of what they look like.

Found them... wow, it's so helpful to talk to people that know what the hell they're talking about!!

and Clint, I think I will connect the component video inputs to the Denon and switch from there. I'm confused about connecting both the digital audio and the analog audio to the receiver, shouldn't one be in lieu of the other??

Here's another rethorical question: Optical or coax? I have both options on the receiver, as well as the DVD player...

Thank you!

 

[jaxvon]

It doesn't matter. Use whatever you like. Just make sure to use a good quality 75-ohm cable if you go the coax route. Any quality cable made for composite video or one marked as "Digital Audio" will work fine.

BTW, what kind of speakers are you running?

 

[Moonraker]

I'm not running any yet...

I'm anxiously waiting for the shipment to arrive!! I purchased a set of 5.1 athena Micra 6 (I read good reviews here on Audioholics). I live in a small apartment and they seemed to fit the sapce pretty well. My only concern about them is running 100Hz frequencies through the Sub... but it's a good start.

Having my receiver and using my old crappy speakers is torture!!


My next 2 purchases are a CD megachanger and a plasma TV (until august when my bonus comes in!)

 

[Audioholics]

I'm confused about connecting both the digital audio and the analog audio to the receiver, shouldn't one be in lieu of the other?

Unfortunately, digital cable TV only provides digital audio on the higher, digital, channels... so to make sure you don't hear silence on the lower, analogue, channels you need to connect the analogue red/white RCAs as well to the receiver. The receiver is smart enough to "autoswitch" and jump to the digital when it is active.

 

[Moonraker]

An update

I just finished connecting my Sony Megachanger!! It's so cool to see the dolby digital input lights come on when I play a dvd!!

I just wish it wasn't such a pain in the neck to label all my CDs and DVDs... but hey, it's a small price to pay!

Thanks everyone once again for your help!!

ps. I connected the digital audio from my cable box and tested all the channels, and they all of them but one seem to work with the digital input... the one that doesn't work is the home shopping network, so I'll play stupid there... hehe