Senior needs some(lots) of setup help

[MtLoop]

Not a total newbie but today feel like one.

New in the last two days,

Yamaha RX-V2600
Hitachi 55HDX62
Dish Sat. VIP622 with all the HD programing.

Then a couple of DVD players, VCR another sat. tuner etc. to throw into the mix

1. Hitachi install crew said only use one HDMI cable from the Yamaha to the TV. Use component from the 622 to the Yamaha. Will this give me all the bang for the buck in picture quality? They also mentioned that using two HDMI cables would not work, one from the sat. tuner to the Yamaha and one from the Yamaha to the TV.

2. Dish crew said use HDMI from the sat. tuner to the Yamaha for picture quality and use a digital cable to the Yamaha for audio since the HDMI out on the dish tuner will not carry 5.1 audio only stereo.

Just starting all of the hookup today and currently have HDMI from the sat. tuner to the Yamaha and HDMI from the Yamaha to the TV. Will get a digital cable for audio from the sat. tuner to the Yamaha

I am confused about scaling etc. I need some help on setting on each unit to get the best HD and SD possible on the Hitachi.

I assume th Yamaha should be doing most of the workload here, but not sure what the settings should be on the other two units.

I am sitting here with a pile a manuals and a table full of remotes.

Thanks goodness new speakers were not in this mix.

I have a good pair of Definitive bi-polar front towers(with a separate amp for them). Haven't quite figured out yet how to hook that to the new yamaha yet but getting all of the component hooked up first is todays project. LOL

Thanks for any hand holding.

I holpe this makes some sense.

Bob

 

[j_garcia]

1) Sounds like a plan

2) That sounds correct also.

I can't help you with the settings for the 2600 because I am not familiar with it.

To hook the separate amp to the 2600 you will simply connect the receiver's preamp outputs (RCA) for the channels in question via an analog cable (RCA) to the inputs on the amp. The only question there is how will you turn the amps on and off? That will be next...

 

[JeffD2.]

I am a firm beleiver in avoiding extra connections. I would not want to run my video source thru the Yammi and then to the display no more than than let the display handle any type of audio management (note the sub out on the back of the Hitachi)

My recommendations- Connect all video directly to the display, all audio directly to the Yammi.

The connect panel on the VIP622-

Connect an HDMI cable from this directly to the Hitachi, this will give you video and audio without the Yammi being turned on.

The connect panel on the Hitachi-

Next, connect a Toslink cable (digital audio out) from the back of the 622 to the Yammi. Now when you feel like cranking it up, mute the TV and fire up the Yammi.

For the DVD player(s) you can connect the video to the remaining HDMI on the Hitachi or use one of the two component connections. Again, I would connect the audio seperately (using digital) to the Yammi. I 'm sure you can find a connection-

The VCR(s) should be pretty simple.

A review of the Yammi is right here on Audioholics-
http://www.audioholics.com/cedia/cedia2004/YamahaRXV2600RXV1600receiv.php

Let the Hitachi do the scaling (no other choice if you follow my advice).

You're new to this, and have this AVR? ARE YOU INSANE?

 

[MtLoop]

Not "insane" just like a good challenge.

Thanks for the advice, that was the reason I was posting. I was wondering about the upscaling ability of the Hitachi or the Yamaha.

I carefully read all of the reviews I could find before making the purchase of the Yammi, and the review here sold me. I previously had an older Yammi, but from the days when things were much simpler. About 12 years ago. So it was time for the "upgrade"

It certainly makes sense that the fewer connections a signal goes through the better quality. But my problem was the upscaling ability of the Hitachi, compared to the rave review of the Yammi here and not knowing much about the ability of the Hitachi.

When this gets hooked up, I will never get the grandkids out of the house.

Just barely toghether and they watched Rave HD most of the afternoon yesterday.

Thanks for the advice, and I am certain I will be back a couple more times,
Bob

 

[j_garcia]

Does the TV have two HDMI inputs? Many do not. If not, you will be going through the receiver, which is why I felt their advice was good (and probably rare that someone installing gear for you knew what they were talking about). Another advantage in this particular case would be the fact that there would only need to be one cable between the Yammie and the display, however, as JeffD2 said, you will likely need to have the receiver on to hear programming. Normally, I wouldn't recommend routing video through the receiver either.

 

[jcPanny]

Yamaha upscaling

Keep an mind that the you can only take advantage of the upscaling feature on the Yamaha with an analog connection like component video. It will simply pass through a 480p HDMI signal from the sat box due to the copywrite limitations of HDMI.

The component video connection will also avoid the HDMI issues that are common with satelite boxes.

 

[shepsan]

My compliments to AUDIOHOLICS and to its members for providing an excellent forum. The thread “ Senior needs some(lots) of setup help”
demonstrates that contributors are able to exchange differing opinions without engaging in snide or demeaning characterizations.

The method I have traditionally followed closely parallels that presented by JeffD2. At the same time, the information provided by j garcia is equally valid.

I appreciate both of their contributions as I am about to route cables between Cox Cable and three new pieces of equipment (LG Plasma HDTV, Pioneer A/V and LG DVD player). The HDTV accepts a cable card and like the other two components has HDMI and digital audio ports.

It seems to me, after reading what these two gentlemen say my choice is whether to connect video directly from Cox Cable to the HDTV and use digital audio to and from the A/V for simpler switching of the various units.

My thanks again for this highly informative forum.

 

[Nick250]

It seems to me, after reading what these two gentlemen say my choice is whether to connect video directly from Cox Cable to the HDTV and use digital audio to and from the A/V for simpler switching of the various units.

I think sending video directly directly to the TV from the cable box is an a effective, solid and uncomplicated plan and that's what I do.

I would add two tweaks. If you don't want to use the AV system every time you watch TV (I don't) run plain analog RCA cables (from Radio Shack in my case) from the cable box to same to the same input on your TV that carries the video connection. Now when watching TV the whole AV system does not need to be fired up if you don't want to. For every day TV watching, that is my preference. One gotcha is having the AV speakers and TV speakers active at the same time sounds awful in my system. The TV "mute" is my friend in this case.

Two, buy a Harmony remote. Set up is easy using a included USB connection and a Wizard at the Harmony web site. Now you have one button video switching and you can also put the rest of your remotes in the drawer.

Enjoy, Nick

 

[shepsan]

Thanks Nick for your suggestions. I appreciate your input.