Pioneer Elite to TV/DVD/HDMI connect

[myke]

If I have read other posts correctly it says to route everything through the AVR then to the output source.

I have a Pioneer elite 21 & Sony BDP-460 player & a scientific atlanta cable box that does 1080, 720, 480 etc.

I only ask because I realize it will give you the best audio, but will my AVR pass the blu-ray & cable signal the same/better/worse? Trying to figure it out without a trial & error test phase what will be best.

With my Time Warner cable box I am guessing my AVR will upgrade or at least be the same with that signal.

Thanks

 

[jostenmeat]

For audio, the only signal that benefits from going thru the AVR is bluray.

For cable, I have and would run video directly to TV, and optical/coax to receiver. You can try em both ways, but there's nothing to gain by running thru AVR except two things: possible convenience, and if the AVR has video processing that is of high quality (it has to be of high quality to be better than a decent display). And that you even care to use it to begin with.

By not going thru AVR, you can calibrate video per source input. You will also not suffer HDCP issues, or lack of HDCP repeaters in certain old STBs. I guess you won't know till you try.

Oh shoot, you have a Pioneer Elite. Just run video direct to TV I say, except for bluray.

 

[popotoys]

The Elite will pass through the video signal if using HDMI as it only upconverts analog to HDMI if you want it to. The only reason to run separate video sources directly to the TV is if you want to have each input calibrated individually.

Some things to consider:

What resolution is your Scientific Atlanta cable box actually recieving. My Bell Express Vu box really only receives 720p (the option is to convert back to 1080i). I let my TV up convert as it has better video processing than the pvr. I think most would say the TV has better video processing unless it is a few years old. You need to play around with your settings to see which works best for you.

 

[myke]

The box I have is a DVR HD box and it does 1080i, 720p, 480p 480i. On the regualar channels it is usually 480. But when I flip to the HD channels, depending on what channel it is it jumps from 720p to 1080i.

So I should set it up like this:

Blu-ray through receiver. Because of the audio benefits.

Cable: HDMI straight to the TV, then just take regular RCA plugs and hook them to my AVR for surround sound?

 

[enrique]

I have a marantz sr8002 and run everything via hdmi thru the rec.One hdmi out to the display.Have toshhd,ps3,DTV HD dvr,also a lexicon dvd universal that uses component only.All is outputted via 1 hdmi out to the display.I have no degregation.Tryed direct to display and there was no difference.I like the convenience and the no diference is a plus.I'm sure you could try it both ways to see and compare.my marantz doesnt do any upscaling/conversion so what goes in goes out.

 

[selkec]

The Elite will pass through the video signal if using HDMI as it only upconverts analog to HDMI if you want it to. The only reason to run separate video sources directly to the TV is if you want to have each input calibrated individually.

Some things to consider:

What resolution is your Scientific Atlanta cable box actually recieving. My Bell Express Vu box really only receives 720p (the option is to convert back to 1080i). I let my TV up convert as it has better video processing than the pvr. I think most would say the TV has better video processing unless it is a few years old. You need to play around with your settings to see which works best for you.

Im curious about something. you say a TV does video processing? I have not bought a tv for 4 years and I may be out of the loop but TV's now do upconverting? This is something I did not know or have heard of except the occasional post ina thread on a forum.

 

[Jeepers]

Blu-ray through receiver. Because of the audio benefits.

Cable: HDMI straight to the TV, then just take regular RCA plugs and hook them to my AVR for surround sound?

Yes for both questions. Why not use optical/coax from cable box to your AVR for audio as mentioned by Jostenmeat ?

 

[Jeepers]

Im curious about something. you say a TV does video processing? I have not bought a tv for 4 years and I may be out of the loop but TV's now do upconverting? This is something I did not know or have heard of except the occasional post ina thread on a forum.

A flat panel converts input signals to the native resolution of the panel. So e.g. a 480I input signal is deinterlaced and upscaled to a 720P or 1080P signal depending on the native resolution of the TV.

 

[bandphan]

Im curious about something. you say a TV does video processing? I have not bought a tv for 4 years and I may be out of the loop but TV's now do upconverting? This is something I did not know or have heard of except the occasional post ina thread on a forum.

Any display will convert the signal to its native resolution, unless it is presented in its native resolution(has always been this way as long as the display can accept the signal). A large number of displays convert better than most all AVR/Pre Pros, and dvd players.

 

[myke]

Yes for both questions. Why not use optical/coax from cable box to your AVR for audio as mentioned by Jostenmeat ?

I can do that. So i assume the optical coax connection provides a better signal.

A flat panel converts input signals to the native resolution of the panel. So e.g. a 480I input signal is deinterlaced and upscaled to a 720P or 1080P signal depending on the native resolution of the TV.

So if this is true, why not run everything through the AVR like the poster enrique below?

I was unaware of this. You learn something new everyday I guess. Im asking all these questions because my last set was a huge DLP Projection TV but it did not have HDMI only DVI and did not display blu-ray. Only HD up to 1080i. I have the new Sony and plan to hook it up as soon as I get the stand I ordered for it and was trying to avoid all the "trial & error" connections.

 

[Jeepers]

I can do that. So i assume the optical coax connection provides a better signal.




So if this is true, why not run everything through the AVR like the poster enrique below?

I was unaware of this. You learn something new everyday I guess. Im asking all these questions because my last set was a huge DLP Projection TV but it did not have HDMI only DVI and did not display blu-ray. Only HD up to 1080i. I have the new Sony and plan to hook it up as soon as I get the stand I ordered for it and was trying to avoid all the "trial & error" connections.

RCA versus Optical/Coax : if you mean the L/R channels via RCA; what about center and surround channels ? Optical/Coax contains all channels in 1 cable.

Running everything through AVR : some cable boxes seem to have HDMI handshake issues when being connected through the AVR. A way of solving this is to connect the cable box directly to the TV. So just connect everything through the AVR and if all works well, then you're done.

 

[myke]

RCA versus Optical/Coax : if you mean the L/R channels via RCA; what about center and surround channels ? Optical/Coax contains all channels in 1 cable..

Good point. Thanks