Hey all,
I'm new to the forums here and I need some help connecting my home theater, TV and cable box, before I choke someone. REALLY!
I have a LG LFD790 home theater system(HTS) (my wife bought it for me for our anniversary. would not have bee my first choice), Scientific Atlanta Explorer 4200 Cable Box (BC) and a Sharp Aquos LC52D64U TV (THAT was MY choice). I trying to get everything se up so that the HT can be used while watching regular TV AS WELL AS when watching a DVD. I'm just thinking that the cable box is old and not compatible.
For those not familiar with the LG set up on this model, the majority of the hook ups are on the back of the sub woofer. The main unit only has one HDMI port, which I have hooked up to the TV, and the system connector which hooks up to the sub. Everything else is on the sub. I have an optical cable hooked up from the sub to the TV. The RCA component video out(red yellow white) hooked up from the back of the sub to the back of the cable box. There is no HDMI port on the back of the cable box. This a post with an image of the back of the sub that was posted in a review here on AH. audioholics.com/reviews/htib/lg-lfd790
On the back of the TV there are two sets of AV connections and one on the side. ultimateavmag.com/flatpaneldisplays/1007sharplc52d64/ I'm starting to think that I have to hook the input from the sub into the TV, but I don't know.
Whatever help can be offered up will be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks for looking.
Unfortunately it is much harder to sort out poor systems with limited functionality than more sophisticated systems.
Really you would be much better off with a receiver.
You are right, your cable box is just about useless. You need to have it switched out for an HD model. You can only use the lowest definition composite video connection with that box.
Here is your only option.
Connect HDMI out on your LG unit to an HDMI input on your TV.
Now connect the composite video out on your cable box (jack 8) to the composite video in on terminal block 3 right rear side on the TV.
Now take an audio RCA cable and connect it from the right and left audio outs of your cable box (jacks 7) of your cable box, to the right and left audio in on your sub. They are labeled Aux in.
That should do it. If not get something else.
Change your cable box for one that is HD and has component video out and an optical audio out. Connect the component out to a component in on your TV.
Connect the optical out from the cable box to the optical in on the sub.
That will allow your rig to work optimally, but compared to what is available won't be handy.
I'm going to be brutally honest, units like your LG are basically a total waste of space.
We get more requests for help with down market units like that, and since they are non standard and don't follow accepted conventions they are a nightmare. I'm pretty much done answering requests for help on those bottom end units.
You have a nice TV. I would upgrade the rest of the equipment to match.
