Hookup Advice for new components please.

[orangeman]

Good Evening -

I would like to ask for some help with some recommendations on how to connect my all new components for best performance. This in turn will help me with what cables I need to go purchase. Right now they are still in the boxes waiting for me to get the cables and hook them up

Components:
- Panasonic TX-42PX50U Plasma w/ HDMI & Cable Card Slot
- Panasonic DVD S97S Player w/ HDMI
- Panaconic SA-XR55S Receiver
- Athena Surround Speakers w/ Sub

Note - I plan to use the cable card slot in the Plasma for this setup v.s. the set top box.

Any help anyone can provide would be appreciated.
Thanks!
Jason

 

[MUDSHARK]

Check out BlueJean Cables.com. I consider Monster overpriced. I have bought belden audio cables for my pre-amp/power amp and for the dvd-audio from them at reasonable prices. I cannot comment on the HDMI as I use component connectons. I 'm not real familiar with Athena but 12-14 gauge wire if the walls are not pre-wired should suffice. I used 12 gauge wire from Lowes in the family room for the Infinity TSS-750 speakers with sucess. Sounds like you have a killer T.V. and average electronics. However, I do not know much about Panasonic audio equipment. Enjoy.

 

[Frugal]

Check out page 49 of the forums. This guy has great advice.
09-04-2002 12:09 PM by Clint DeBoer

 

[Leprkon]

Components:
- Panasonic TX-42PX50U Plasma w/ HDMI & Cable Card Slot
- Panasonic DVD S97S Player w/ HDMI
- Panaconic SA-XR55S Receiver
- Athena Surround Speakers w/ Sub

Jason

Let's look at the connections:

obviously you'll need an HDMI cable from the DVD player to the TV
(assuming a 12 footer for for a wall-mounted plasma)
http://www.thetwistergroup.com/product/AP-086 D21455.html

or maybe

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062047&cp=&kw=hdmi&parentPage=search

you'll also need a cable for the audio from the DVD player to the receiver. your receiver will (if I found the right specs), take a fiber-optic input
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=131961-578-M62794

or this
http://www.thetwistergroup.com/product/PR-180 D16211.html


you'll need wire to go to the speakers from the receiver. this would be a good start
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=214940-578-PM62122&lpage=none
or this
http://www.thetwistergroup.com/product/255-514 D06549.html


you'll need a sub cable...
http://www.thetwistergroup.com/product/AV20500-15 D16553.html

but any decently-shielded cable with RCA connectors on both ends will work. remember that the signal to the sub is still very low voltage, so good shielding keeps it from picking up strays

and one of these... plugging input for the subwoofer into both left and right seems to make them work a little better
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103861&cp=&pg=2&kwCatId=2032058&kw=y&parentPage=search

this would be a decent package that would set you back about $ 75. It can be cheaper or it can be ungodly expensive, depending on what you are looking for. stay away from Monster, as you would pay at least 50 % more for each item I listed.