Getting HDTV and want best hookup possible

[laxjester]

I have a KV32HS420 HDTV Monitor, STR-DE945 A/V Receiver, DVP-NC600 DVD/CD player, an HDTV Cable box (from Comcast), and a VCR. I have done different setups on paper and am trying to figure out what the best way to do this would be. I have read the simpler the setup the better, and to also use the highest possible connections as possible. First off my Rec'r does not have component I/O. It has composite in, S-Video I (O for monitor) and digital audio connections (optical and coaxial).

Would it work best if...
(1) I connected all of my video sources directly to the HDTV since that has 2 component inputs (for HD box & DVD) and use the Composite I/O for the VCR and then run the compisite audio out from the HDTV to the Rec'r?

Or (2) should I run all of the video to the HDTV and all of the Audio to the A/V rec'r? If I use setup (2) I could use the best video connections available for the DVD and HD box and then use the digital audio into the A/V rec'r?

Option (1) would be a much neater hookup but I'm trying to get the best possible hookup, not necassarily the neatest.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[j_garcia]

Composite refers to video only, not audio. Standard RCA is referred to simply as analog.

YES, run all the video directly to the TV, OR buy a new receiver (which I would do regardless). Component for the HD box and DVD. Use digital connections from both of these to the receiver and if you want to be able to watch TV without the receiver on, you'll also want to connect the analog connections from the HD box to the TV as well.

 

[laxjester]

Thanks...I guess I was using composite because they are connected to the composite video cables (A/V cables).

As for the new rec'r, that won't be happening anytime soon. I'll just have to deal with switching back and forth from tv sources and a/v soursec for now.

 

[j_garcia]

I don't run any video through my receiver either. I also have a Sony TV and 4 devices hooked to it, and it doesn't bother me at all to switch video on the TV, because that way I can calibrate specifically for each of them. To me, there really isn't any benefit to running video through the receiver anyway.