Help ordering cables.

[techigirl78]

So, I got a Panasonic 42" TH-42PZ80U 1080p for my bedroom for Christmas. I'm working on getting a stero setup. I was going to go with the Marantz SR4002 due to the 3 HDMI inputs, but now I'm leaning towards the Yamaha 663. Anyhow, I plan to keep the components (HD DVR, PS3, and AVR) in the closet and go with some lifestyle or in walls for a nice clean look. I ordered a URC RF remote as well.

I need to order a 25' HDMI cable to go from the closet to the TV. However, as the TV provides multiple HDMI inputs, I would like to be able to hook up my laptop via HDMI to the TV while still using the AVR/speakers for audio from the laptop. As the TV has audio out, would it be correct to assume I could run an optical from the TV to the receiver for sound when using my laptop? Am I thinking stupid and is there a better way to provide this option? As the cables will require a little work to run, I really want to get this right the first time. Thanks in advance for the help!

 

[Pyrrho]

You should be able to get sound that way, if all you need from the computer is 2 channel sound. Many TVs will not pass a multichannel sound out its digital output if it is input via HDMI, even if it will pass multichannel sound that it gets via broadcast. (I know, that sounds stupid, but that is the way many TVs are.) You will need to consult the manual for your TV to see what it says about this.

On the other hand, if you need more inputs on the receiver, you can get an HDMI switch box, such as the one from Oppo:

http://www.oppodigital.com/hm31/

But I would advise you to consult your manual for your TV before you buy anything. And if you only need 2 channel sound from your computer, it should work (though, again, I recommend that you consult your TV manual before assuming anything).

As for where to order cables, I recommend looking at one of the following:

http://www.monoprice.com/

http://www.parts-express.com/

Most places charge way too much for HDMI cables, though you can buy overpriced cables at the links above, too, if you prefer to waste money over their less expensive cables.


If the sound from your computer will be 2 channel PCM, Dolby Digital and dts, if you have the right outputs on the computer, you could run a digital connection (either coaxial or optical) from the computer to the receiver for the sound, and that should cost less than adding an HDMI switch box. You then would be using the HDMI from the computer to the TV just for video.


As for the "Lifestyle" speakers, if you do some searching at this site, you will find many people who hate Bose speakers. Some are more rabid than others about this. I do not recommend them, but you should listen to them, and listen to other types of speakers, and decide what you want, not what I or anyone else would have. After all, you will live with the results, not me or anyone else.

 

[techigirl78]

Thanks for all the feedback. When I checked, the manual indicates output via digital audio out is converted to two channel. However, it does mention that when using output via HDMI to an AV amp you can enjoy higher sound quality. I think I'll just go with using the HDMI to TV and Optical to Receiver as you mentioned for now and if that is a big inconvience I'll get the switch box since the 2 HDMI inputs on the Receiver will be in use.

Thanks for the links for places to order cables. I'll get them from there.

When I said lifestyle, I meant lifestyle type speakers, not bose. The ones I was considering are the paradigm cinema and monitor radius speakers. I also want to look more into the axiom wall versions of their bookshelfs. I just want thin fronts and center (5" or less) that look good and sound good given my room constraints. I know this is harder and may result in me not getting the best sound for the money, but I want something that is functional that I don't run into when I wake up in the middle of the night.

 

[Pyrrho]

Thanks for all the feedback. When I checked, the manual indicates output via digital audio out is converted to two channel. However, it does mention that when using output via HDMI to an AV amp you can enjoy higher sound quality. I think I'll just go with using the HDMI to TV and Optical to Receiver as you mentioned for now and if that is a big inconvience I'll get the switch box since the 2 HDMI inputs on the Receiver will be in use.

Thanks for the links for places to order cables. I'll get them from there.

When I said lifestyle, I meant lifestyle type speakers, not bose. The ones I was considering are the paradigm cinema and monitor radius speakers. I also want to look more into the axiom wall versions of their bookshelfs. I just want thin fronts and center (5" or less) that look good and sound good given my room constraints. I know this is harder and may result in me not getting the best sound for the money, but I want something that is functional that I don't run into when I wake up in the middle of the night.

Because frequencies become increasingly easy to localize by sound as one moves up from deep bass, I recommend getting speakers that go solidly down to at least 80 Hz, so that you can set the bass management to send only frequencies at 80 Hz or below to the subwoofer. Typically, this means a woofer in the main speakers (including center and surround) of 5" or larger, but I recommend going by the frequency response, not the size of the woofer. A -3 dB point of around 60 Hz would be great for the main speakers.

If you set the bass management too high, you will be able to hear things and recognize that they are coming from the subwoofer, not the channel that it is supposed to be coming from. What frequency that will be where you will notice will depend on many things, such as what other frequencies are being played at the particular moment in question. But you are generally pretty safe with 80 Hz or lower to not be able to hear where the subwoofer is (unless, of course, the subwoofer is distorting horribly, so it is producing significant sounds at higher frequencies).

Again, it is your system, and you must decide what matters most to you.