Requesting Guidance on Proper Home Theater Connectivity

[ToneDeafAudioRookie]

Good Morning Everyone!

I realize what I'm about to ask might require a bit of research, since it seems unlikely anyone who reads this will have the exact same hardware as what I'm using, but I'm hoping someone might be willing to take a look at my specifications and provide some guidance on how to hook up my speakers, television, and AV Audio & Video Receiver to fully utilize the features and sound quality (without compromising video quality) of my home theater system.

Here's my hardware:

• Marantz AV Audio & Video Component Receiver Black (NR1608) [Online Manual for Receiver]
• Onkyo SKS-HT870 Home Theater Speaker System,Black [PDF Manual for 7.1 Speakers]
• Sony Bluray Player, Model BDP-S790 [PDF Manual for Bluray Player]
• TCL ROKU TV, 4K HDR 5-SERIES S525 [PDF Manual for TV]

I'm currently using the HDMI ARC from the TV to the "MONITOR ARC, HMDI OUT 4K / HDCP2.2" on the receiver. I also have two HDMI cables from the Bluray player to the receiver: HDMI Video Out from Bluray to Cable/Sat input on receiver and Audio Out from Bluray to HDMI Bluray input on receiver.

These configurations give me audio and video, but I recently heard somewhere I can only get 2 channel audio support from utilizing the HDMI ARC connection from the TV to the Receiver, which probably defeats the purpose of having the 7.1 channel home theater speaker set. In fact, I very rarely hear any sound coming out of my subwoofer or the majority of my speakers. Sound usually only comes out of 1 or 2 speakers at a time. Though this may be a limitation of the streaming source (Youtube, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Tubi, etc). I don't have cable or satellite service, so I only watch streaming services using my Roku apps.

Would anyone on these forums be willing to offer some guidance on how to get the most out of my hardware?

Thanks in advance for all your great support!

 

[Trebdp83]

The first thing anybody around here will tell you to do is to replace the speakers. Elitist pricks.

 

[ToneDeafAudioRookie]

Well I'm not looking to replace anything. I just want to know how to get the most out of what I already have available. I can buy an HDCP2.2 splitter and/or new cables if necessary, but that's about the extent of my budget here.

 

[Trebdp83]

Not sure about your TV, some output DD+/Atmos, some just DD+. That does not mean the actual app supports those codecs and may be DD 5.1, DD 2.0 or good ol' PCM. What does your Marantz display when streaming from an app on the TV?

 

[Trebdp83]

Sound from all of your speakers depends on your settings. Do you leave it on one setting? Direct? Stereo? Dolby Surround?

 

[Trebdp83]

Oh, and you only need one HDMI cable out to the receiver from the blu-ray player. They put 2 outputs on that model so a guy with a 3D capable TV could have separate audio sent to a receiver that could not handle 3D. Sony still does this with 4K players. Use the HDMI 1 output on the player to the blu-ray in on the receiver. Make sure to change the settings in the player for this setup.

 

[Trebdp83]

I see that your TV can pass DD and DTS over ARC. But again, getting DD to the receiver over ARC will depend on the apps.

 

[Trebdp83]

Have you run Audyssey EQ or did you set it up manually?

 

[stalag2005]

The first thing anybody around here will tell you to do is to replace the speakers. Elitist pricks.

Thou shalt not tempt the elites around here........1st commandment of the audioholics bible

 

[Trebdp83]

I've broken more important rules.

 

[ToneDeafAudioRookie]

I managed to get all of my speaker to emit sound by switching the Receiver to Dolby Digital + mode, but I still need to play around with the settings a bit to try and improve quality more.

Still using the HDMI ARC at the moment. Do you think this is the best connection method between TV and receiver?

 

[Trebdp83]

Joy! Keep at it.

 

[Trebdp83]

Have you set the crossovers? Set all of the speakers to small, even the fronts. Try 80hz for the for fronts, 100hz for the center and 120hz for the surrounds. 120hz on the sub LPF. That's just a suggestion to start and you can teak it for better sound if it doesn't seem right. Run Audyssey and see what it comes up with for you.

 

[ToneDeafAudioRookie]

I have not run Audyssey yet I don't think. I only did the initial setup thing that sends a tone to each speaker merely to verify each one is hooked up correctly to the receiver. I'm not sure what the Audyssey thing is but I'll definitely look into it.

 

[lovinthehd]

I have not run Audyssey yet I don't think. I only did the initial setup thing that sends a tone to each speaker merely to verify each one is hooked up correctly to the receiver. I'm not sure what the Audyssey thing is but I'll definitely look into it.

Audyssey is built into your receiver and uses the microphone and the tones to set distance (delay) and levels properly for your speakers at your listening position, sounds like you might have used it somewhat (did you use the tones by ear or with the included microphone? Did you use just one position of the mic or all of the available positions? generally you want to use them all). Download the pdf of that online manual (its more useful that way) and check out setup Audyssey on page 172. It's only the very basic version, MultEQ, in that receiver, but would likely be better than what you've done.....

 

[ToneDeafAudioRookie]

Oh, yeah. I skipped the step that required the microphone. I'll need to go back and do that.

 

[MacCali]

Good Morning Everyone!

I realize what I'm about to ask might require a bit of research, since it seems unlikely anyone who reads this will have the exact same hardware as what I'm using, but I'm hoping someone might be willing to take a look at my specifications and provide some guidance on how to hook up my speakers, television, and AV Audio & Video Receiver to fully utilize the features and sound quality (without compromising video quality) of my home theater system.

Here's my hardware:

• Marantz AV Audio & Video Component Receiver Black (NR1608) [Online Manual for Receiver]
• Onkyo SKS-HT870 Home Theater Speaker System,Black [PDF Manual for 7.1 Speakers]
• Sony Bluray Player, Model BDP-S790 [PDF Manual for Bluray Player]
• TCL ROKU TV, 4K HDR 5-SERIES S525 [PDF Manual for TV]

I'm currently using the HDMI ARC from the TV to the "MONITOR ARC, HMDI OUT 4K / HDCP2.2" on the receiver. I also have two HDMI cables from the Bluray player to the receiver: HDMI Video Out from Bluray to Cable/Sat input on receiver and Audio Out from Bluray to HDMI Bluray input on receiver.

These configurations give me audio and video, but I recently heard somewhere I can only get 2 channel audio support from utilizing the HDMI ARC connection from the TV to the Receiver, which probably defeats the purpose of having the 7.1 channel home theater speaker set. In fact, I very rarely hear any sound coming out of my subwoofer or the majority of my speakers. Sound usually only comes out of 1 or 2 speakers at a time. Though this may be a limitation of the streaming source (Youtube, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Tubi, etc). I don't have cable or satellite service, so I only watch streaming services using my Roku apps.

Would anyone on these forums be willing to offer some guidance on how to get the most out of my hardware?

Thanks in advance for all your great support!

I mean cable wise I’d just buy the mono price premium 8k 48gbs hdmi cable. It has eArc, but I notice even when I use it with a receiver or sound bar the audio performance greatly increases and visually nothing can go over 40gbps according to some research I’ve seen.

the 2.2 function is more for pc gaming and anything that is going to be crazy FPS.

It doesn’t involve most people and 8k content is extremely limited, so anything producing 4K/120 is more than enough.

I use those hdmi’s on all my equipment, I doubt the picture has changed much, but the audio becomes louder for certain. Which is what I mentioned earlier with other cables it doesn’t sound the same. However my previous cables were only 18 gbps and 1.4 I believe. So that maybe the reason why

 

[lovinthehd]

I mean cable wise I’d just buy the mono price premium 8k 48gbs hdmi cable. It has eArc, but I notice even when I use it with a receiver or sound bar the audio performance greatly increases and visually nothing can go over 40gbps according to some research I’ve seen.

the 2.2 function is more for pc gaming and anything that is going to be crazy FPS.

It doesn’t involve most people and 8k content is extremely limited, so anything producing 4K/120 is more than enough.

I use those hdmi’s on all my equipment, I doubt the picture has changed much, but the audio becomes louder for certain. Which is what I mentioned earlier with other cables it doesn’t sound the same. However my previous cables were only 18 gbps and 1.4 I believe. So that maybe the reason why

Cables won't change the audio nor the level of the digital signal. More likely just your expectation bias.