new set up, what's wrong?

[Heartdog]

Hi, I'm new to this forum, and have read a lot of threads trying to see if I can figure out how to optimally set up my new stuff.
I got a 40" Samsung LCD 720p tv, already have had (a few years) a Denon AVR-1403, and just got cox cable's DVR HD, and a Klipsch III 5.1 surround system.
OK, I hooked up the DVR via the HDMI, but I'm disappointed in the PQ..lots of pixelizing around edges, especially letters. Even on HD channels. I notice there is "Air3-stereo", and "cable" (no picture, just snow), and HDMI, which yields a cloudy picture, but louder sound. I had trouble with the receiver at first, getting only analog sound, til I used the optical cable, and assigned it. Now it's in digital, but, I can't turn it up very loud. For normal sound, it's already jacked up to 20 (it starts at 55 I think, so that's really jacked up high), and higher than that, it sounds like it's straining and more hollow. So something is wrong. My old tv I barely had to turn it up for it to be loud. The optical is going to the tv..should it go to the cable box??
So that's my two remaining issues, the PQ being not the best, and the sound. I looked at all the tv set up functions, and can't figure out how to make the "cable" setting work, to see if that's the issue. There are so many choices...
Thanks!

 

[MDS]

What's the purpose of the receiver if you are running everything to the TV?

The 'cable' and 'air3' inputs on the TV sound like the inputs for the RF cable from the wall. You don't need either of them if you are using a cable box. Run the cable from the wall to the cable box, HDMI from the cable box to the TV (for video), and optical cable from the cable box to the receiver (for audio).

 

[Heartdog]

What's the purpose of the receiver if you are running everything to the TV?

The 'cable' and 'air3' inputs on the TV sound like the inputs for the RF cable from the wall. You don't need either of them if you are using a cable box. Run the cable from the wall to the cable box, HDMI from the cable box to the TV (for video), and optical cable from the cable box to the receiver (for audio).

Thanks Kind of a duh, huh? LOL. I guess I just thought the receiver would get the audio from the tv. Might explain why the sound is bad, too.
I do have the cable from the wall to the cable box, and the HDMI from that to the tv. What explains the pixelization around edges? Is it because the tv is 720p? I changed the cable box from 1080i to that.

 

[Davemcc]

I have a Samsung 4092 with an HD DVR and I get those pixilated edges on everything but HD channels. I've had two cable techs in my house and neither could explain or fix the poor quality of non-HD channels. The non-DVR HD box I have gave a better picture on most channels when hooked to the 40", but still had the problem to some extent. It's not noticable at all on the 26" LCD the non-DVR box now is hooked to, but I'd bet that if I looked real close, I'd see the pixilation, but because the picture is so much smaller, I don't notice it.

Dave.