New here! Just purchased Pioneer VSX-820 Receiver - HDMI & Optical Cable Questions!?

[danthefitman]

Hello, I'm new to this Electronic town! How do. Here's the background overview to my questions below...

I just purchased the Pioneer Receiver, the VSX-820. It has several HDMI inputs, Optical inputs and plenty of RCA jacks as well.

I purchased my last Pioneer Receiver in 1991 - the VSX-4700. It's worked flawlessly for 19 years, but way outdated.

My TV is the LG Super Slim CRT, 30FS4D - purchased in 2006. It has one HDMI jack. The TV also has an Optical output jack and Optical Input as well and plenty of RCA jacks.

My DVD player is the Pioneer DV-444. It has one Optical Output jack and one Digital Out Coaxial Jack and component Video out jacks, Audio jackis, S-Video Jack, Video Jack.

I know I need at least one HDMI cable.

Questions.

1. Do I need one or two Optical cables?
2. Do I run the Optical cable from the receiver to the TV?
3. Do I need to use the Optical Output on the DVD or just the Audio Out jacks?

I'm sure I'm missing more here - but won't over ask initially! Thanks in advance for your assistance. I have limited knowledge of A/V - big time. Though if you need help with your MGB sports car - now that's a different story! I have learned my share - and love that hobby!

Thanks again, Dan

 

[MDS]

You don't need to get audio to the TV because if you have a receiver then presumably you have speakers attached to it.

You didn't mention if you have a cable/sat/dvr box for television programming; if you don't and cable (or antenna) is connected directly to the TV then you need an optical cable from the TV out to the receiver.

You could use HDMI from the receiver to the TV but there is no real point to it unless you were using the TV speakers. You could use it to get the video to the TV but you'd still need an optical or coax digital from the DVD player to the receiver. If the TV has component video inputs then use them plus the optical for audio; if it doesn't have component video then you have to use the HDMI but it will only be for video so you still need the audio connection.

You should prefer the optical or coax digital audio outs from the DVD to the receiver (and set the DVD player to 'bitstream'). You can certainly use the analog audio jacks but then the player will be doing the decoding and the receiver will only see two channel PCM.

 

[danthefitman]

You don't need to get audio to the TV because if you have a receiver then presumably you have speakers attached to it.

You didn't mention if you have a cable/sat/dvr box for television programming; if you don't and cable (or antenna) is connected directly to the TV then you need an optical cable from the TV out to the receiver.

You could use HDMI from the receiver to the TV but there is no real point to it unless you were using the TV speakers. You could use it to get the video to the TV but you'd still need an optical or coax digital from the DVD player to the receiver. If the TV has component video inputs then use them plus the optical for audio; if it doesn't have component video then you have to use the HDMI but it will only be for video so you still need the audio connection.

You should prefer the optical or coax digital audio outs from the DVD to the receiver (and set the DVD player to 'bitstream'). You can certainly use the analog audio jacks but then the player will be doing the decoding and the receiver will only see two channel PCM.

Thanks for your insights, knowledge. I'll forge ahead with my A/V project. While I'm at it - I've noticed pricing on HDMI and Optical Cable range from ridiculously high pricing to very low. I found a place in Portland here that sells them for under $10 each. At Best buy, their cheapest HDMI / Optical Cables run $25 a piece! What say you?

 

[MDS]

I have two HDMI cables that are practically identical. One was free with the TV stand I bought and the other is an Amazon Basics cable that cost me $6. I haven't had a single issue with either of them.

Monoprice.com is a good source for inexpensive cables but I'd go for the local one for under $10. As long as it isn't flimsy and doesn't have a poor connector, it will likely work perfectly. No need for big dollar cables.