Please help a newbie (HT set-up issues) Thanks!

[pblum1970]

I need some advice. Thanks in advance for helping a newbie.

I have the following components:

1. TV - Toshiba 40RV525R (HD LCD)
2. Blu-ray - Samsung (I forget the model).
3. Gaming - Wii (component connection).
4. Cable - HD cable box

I would like to get this all set up through a surround sound system. I am looking at the Yamaha HTR 6230 (HTIB -- I know, seperate components may be better, but I am trying to keep it simple).

Per the HTR 6230 specs, the audio and video signals are handled seperately, so if I were to run the HD cable box and Blu-ray into the reciever with HDMIs, I would also need to run digital coax or opticals to carry the audio. So here are the questions:

1. Am I losing any quality by setting it up as described above? Would optical be better than coax?
2. As an alternative, I suppose I could connect the Blu-ray and cable box directly to the TV with HDMIs, and then run an optical audio line out from the TV to the receiver. Does the TV allow this signal to be run through it such that the receiver will properly decode it into dolby, etc? (right now, I have an old, old, dvd/surround sound system that won't decode audio in so my optical audio line from the tv to the old system gets put out in 2 channel --- and i don;t want that to happen again).
3. If I run it as described in number 2, I assume that if I wanted to use the receiver's audio, I would mute the TV and then turn on the reciever? And if I were to run it as suggested (number 1), then I would have to have the reciever on whenever I wanted to use the TV.

Does this sound right? Am I missing anything? Thanks so much.

 

[fightinkraut]

First off, welcome to audioholics!

To answer your questions:

1. You will loss some quality as coax/optical digital cannot carry HD audio such as DTS-HD, which you will find on your bluray discs.
2. I would not recommend this option, same reason as #1.
3. If you run everything through the receiver you will need to have it on, unless you run multiple connects, like cable box --> hdmi --> receiver and cable box --> coax --> tv. Wouldn't recommend it, but it's an option!

Looking at the model number you provided all I see is a receiver, no speakers or HTIB. I would strongly suggest you look at some stand alone speakers, perhaps a 5.0 set of Energy speakers like this.

Combine those speakers with another receiver, perhaps something like this. It would ensure you will get all the HD audio that your bluray player can produce.

If you want a sub I would recommend this this.

The above setup will sound significantly better than a HTIB, is still very easy to setup, especially if you follow some of the wonderful guides available here at Audioholics!

 

[ljaggers]

I would recommend spending a little extra money and buying the next step up with is the Yamaha 6240 which will process audio & video through one HDMI cable. This will greatly reduce the cable jungle behind your entertainment center. Everything can be run to the yamaha with HDMI cables and then a single HDMI cable can go to the TV. And you will be able to decode the high-def. audio codecs (Dolby True HD & DTS MA) For $100 extra dollars, this sounds like a great deal to me.

As far as the difference between coaxial and optical cables goes, I have always heard that at distances of 6 ft and shorter, there is no difference. If, however, you need say a 25-ft audio cable, optical would probably be a better bet. This is because optical cables are not susceptible to EMF interference like coaxial cables are. Hope this helped!

 

[pblum1970]

Thanks guys! You've convinced me. I'll spend a bit more and get a *real* reciever. I'll check out the Yamaha.