motorola->samsung->yamaha->toshiba connectivity

[edubya]

Ok, this is my first HDTV so pardon the lack-of-lingo. I want to connect the following devices together to get the best AV experience possible. I need help on what cables to hook where. Here's what I have...

A - Cable co. converter box (Cox Cable-Macon GA) - Motorola DCH3200
B - Samsung LN-T4661F HDTV
C - Yamaha RX-V420 Receiver (I have front, center and rear speakers as well as a sub woofer attached to this receiver)
D - Toshiba SD-V291 Combo DVD/VCR

And here's where I get overwhelmed...
A>--- coax cbl ---<D>--- component cbl ---<B
A>--- hdmi cbl (and component cbl as backup???) ---<B
A>--- component cbl ---<C or B>--- component cbl ---<C or both/neither

I hope someone can help.

 

[Davemcc]

The simplest way to do this is to run HDMI from the cable box to the TV and run digital audio to the receiver. (marked as coax, digital, optical, toslink. They all send the same signal, but one uses a standard RCA, the other uses a toslink optical cable.)

Run component video from the combo player to the TV and run digital audio to the receiver.

It's fairly straightforward. One video connection from each source to the TV, one audio connection from each source to the receiver. In addition (and not to confuse things) the HDMI cable will also send audio to the TV. You can also send a second audio cable from the combo player to the TV since the combo player has both coax and toslink. This way you could watch TV using the TV's speakers for both sources if you don't feel like firing up the audio system all the time.

 

[markw]

First off, there's no technical reason you NEED HDMI. Component cable will handle the best signal any source you have.

That said, I agree with DMC's suggestion that you run component from the DVD/VCR to the TV and, to add to that, I'd also run component from the cable box to the TV as well.

Likewise, I'd run a coaxial/toslink cable from both sources to the receiver as well. This will take care of any digital audio you may have.

But, VCR's don't output a digital signal, only analog, and I don't know if all channels output a digital feed. Likewise, I'm not too sure that combo DVD/VCR player will output the VCR video on component*. You may need to run a composite video (yellow jack) cable to the TV if you want to utilize this.

In this case, I'd suggest you run a basic red/white analog interconnect from both sources to he corresponding analog inputs on the TV. This will provide an analog audio feed to the TV at all times. If you don't want to hear it, simply turn the volume all the way down.

Incidentally, this also offers you the option of not needing the receiver to be on when watching the nightly news or the kids are watching Sponge Bob.

Now, you most likely have an analog audio output on the back of the TV. I'd run this to an extra 2 channel analog (AUX) input on he receiver. This will feed whatever is on the TV (including the VCR audio) to the receiver for the times you want to utilize this. To do this you should check your TV's manual as to how to shut off the speakers and send the audio out those jacks.

* I've got a Toshiba DVD/VCR combo and it will send out both DVD and VHS video over composite but over component it only sends out the DVD video. Also, both send out audio over the red/white analog inputs but only the DVD audio goes out of the digital outs.

 

[edubya]

Hey Dave...Markw...thanks. Let me see if I understand what y'all said.

CABLE BOX:
hdmi/cmpnt out to HDTV
digital audio out to RECEIVER

HDTV:
hdmi/cmpnt in from CABLE BOX
cmpnt in from VCR/DVD

VCR/DVD:
cmpnt out to HDTV
digital audio out to RECEIVER

RECEIVER:
digital audio in from CABLE BOX
digital audio in from VCR/DVD

I started to draw a picture, but y'all would have had to shoot me.

 

[Davemcc]

Take note of what Mark said. You may have to run a yellow video and red/white audio to use the VCR part of the combo player.