Surround Sound Help Needed- Semi Know what Im doing

[hucks]

I have and LG 1080p 50" plasma
Dennon AVR 985 (No HDMI)
Denon DVD (No HDMI or Upconversion)
Directv HD DVR
What is the best method of hooking up surround sound? I currently have a HDMI cable from the HD Direct tv box directly into the HD LG plasma. Works great but no surround. I have 4 polk audio in ceiling speakers, center speaker, and MTX subwoofer. I have all these wired into the Denon receiver but dont know if I should tie the denon into the tv or directtv box? Should I hook the optical or coax from the denon to the directv box, Or the optical from the denon directly into the TV? I am considering buying a receiver with HDMI for simplicity but want be able to afford another denon right now. Is the 985 obselete? I am only looking for surround no video. Any help appreciated. Thanks

 

[Midcow2]

No HDMI then use component.

You can run component from DirectTV to your receiver as well as audio. Then you can run component to your TV. You should get the same resolution as HDMI.

If you have S-video it will work equally as well.

As you are awre, Compisite would give you a much lower PQ and should not be used.

Good luck.

 

[jaysonbarnett]

optical

Run out and get an optical cable for the sound and i agree about the component cable will give you about the same resolution. Then you will not have to change the input on the tv each time. The optical will give you the surround you are looking for. If you have any more question let me know.

 

[j_garcia]

Then you will not have to change the input on the tv each time.

Yes, but you will have to have the receiver ON to watch anything then...

 

[jaysonbarnett]

yes you will but if you always use the receiver then that should not be a problem. If you sometimes want to just use the tv for sound then run a cable from your receivers audio output to the tv. That will just use the receiver as a passthrough. It should be like this -device video and audio to receiver-audio and video from receiver -to tv (plus audio so you can use tv speakers. Hope this makes sense if not i will explain better when i get home from work. My boss hovers over me and i have to type fast.

 

[j_garcia]

You can't use a receiver as a pass through - if it is off, nothing passes through. If you want audio for the TV without the receiver on, connect the cable box via analog to the TV as well as digital to the receiver. That way you can use either or both. None of my media players have audio connected to the TV because I always use the receiver with them, but for TV, I just use the TV speakers 99% of the time because it is plenty loud (actually has 30wpc).

 

[jaysonbarnett]

thanx garcia

Thats good to know i thought it would just pass through without the receiver on. I always have mine on for everything.