these things need CABLES???????

[whikx250]

Im brand new to the plasma/HT revolution...Just bought a panasonic th-50pz85u plasma, onkyo 605 receiver, and kef kht3005 speakers...

If im using directv what is the best way to wire all of this and how many cables do i need?

Also, does it matter if i buy the cheap hdmi cable?

Thanks for any help!
Lost

 

[BMXTRIX]

The speakers get hooked up using speaker cable - probably be fine with 14 gauge.

If you have HD DirecTV with HDMI output, then take that to the receiver (if it has it) and onto the TV.

I'm not familiar with the Onkyo and if it processes audio. If it does, then that's it.

If the Onkyo does not, then you will need to run digital coaxial or digital optical for your audio as well to the receiver.

I would STRONGLY recommend www.monoprice.com for all your cabling needs. Don't buy cheap cables - get inexpensive ones!

 

[Alex2507]

I recently bought 2 15' HDMI cables from Bluejeanscable. $38 each for their second most expensive offering of Made in the USA cable. Seems pretty inexpensive for a top quality product. Here's their HDMI offerings.

http://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/hdmi-cables/index.htm

Lightening quick shipping and they have taken the time to answer my questions. They also have a bunch of informative articles.

http://www.bluejeanscable.com/articles/index.htm

 

[Nomo]

I'll second the monoprice suggestion.
Best prices around and I usually get my order within 3 days or less.

 

[Midcow2]

HDMI and 14 gauge

Assuming Onkyo supports HDMI 1.3 connect single cable from DVD to AVR, singel cable from DirecTV to AVR and single HDMI cable from AVR to TV. HDMI1.1 only passes viceo, HDMI 1.3 will pass video and audio.

Use 12 or 14 gauge to connect your speakers. You do not need any larger cable (smaller number) and 14 gauge is fine if your wire runs are less than 25 ft.

There is not al lot of difference in HDMI cables. BlueJeanCacle and monocable are good but a little pricey. You can get very good HDMI cables online from B&H photo. Remember about cables and wiring. the resistance of copper wire is a physical property and the electrons moving along the wire don't know whether the wire is inexpensive or expensive. Qulaity cable includes some sheilding from EMF and well contructed connectors. About the only variable is the resistance on speaker wire which is measured by gauge, the lower the number the larger the wire diameter. Bascially wire and HDMI cables are a commodity product.

 

[trnqk7]

http://www.hdmi.org/learningcenter/faq.aspx#12

Midcow2, look on this page and search around...HDMI 1.1 does pass audio-it added support for DVD-Audio. I have HDMI 1.1 on my Denon 2807, and I get audio over HDMI, be it DD from the satellite receiver or LPCM from my friends PS3 when he brings it over and we watch Bluray...HDMI 1.2 added support for SACD and some other stuff, then HDMI 1.3 allowed bitstreaming of high-def audio and expanded color support (plus a little more stuff again). I don't mean to pick on you, but we just told you about this a week or so ago.

 

[GlocksRock]

I use 16 guage wire for my sytems and it sounds great, not sure I would notice any difference in sound quality by using 14 or 12 guage. But if I had it to do all over again, I would use larger guage wire.

 

[Midcow2]

That was the goal of HDMI, but that is not how it is actually implemented.

http://www.hdmi.org/learningcenter/faq.aspx#12

Midcow2, look on this page and search around...HDMI 1.1 does pass audio-it added support for DVD-Audio. I have HDMI 1.1 on my Denon 2807, and I get audio over HDMI, be it DD from the satellite receiver or LPCM from my friends PS3 when he brings it over and we watch Bluray...HDMI 1.2 added support for SACD and some other stuff, then HDMI 1.3 allowed bitstreaming of high-def audio and expanded color support (plus a little more stuff again). I don't mean to pick on you, but we just told you about this a week or so ago.

Trnqk7, the HDMI information you are referring to was how it was it was originally planned but that is not how HDMI is actually implemented on all devices. And some vendors follow this completely and others do not is my point! Most HDMI 1.1 devices do not pass audio!

 

[obscbyclouds]

Most HDMI 1.1 devices do not pass audio!

Is there a specific device (I assume you mean reciever or pre/pro here) that you are talking about? HDMI 1.1 is designed to process LPCM and from my experience those devices do that just fine.

 

[whikx250]

thanks for all the answers...now ill see if i wasted my money. thanks again!!!

 

[trnqk7]

obscbyclouds-that has been my experience as well. I admit it's only my experience, but since my experience supports it and the standards are in place to support it as well, I also wonder where his information is coming from and what it is based upon. Some clarification would be nice so we could help others with specifics of the situation.

 

[Midcow2]

There are different terminologies that the vendors use ...

Is there a specific device (I assume you mean reciever or pre/pro here) that you are talking about? HDMI 1.1 is designed to process LPCM and from my experience those devices do that just fine.

to actually say what they are really doing:

HDMI repeater : both audio and video
HDMI passthru : just video

Upscaling:480i to 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p
Upconversion: component, S-=video to HDMI
Passthru: no upscaling, no conversion

 

[MDS]

I don't exactly keep up with all the changes between one version of the HDMI spec and the next but this is how specifications work (I work in software standards, in other words implementing specifications):

The spec defines the interface (in the HDMI case both the physical hardware interface and the software interface) and which features should be supported. Specs generally contain should, may, and must when defining certain features or interfaces. Must is self-explanatory. Should is optional but a strong recommendation whereas May is totally optional.

So a given implementation of said spec may not be the same as another. You cannot say HDMI 1.1 means this and HDMI 1.2 means that. The spec defines the gamut of what must, may, and should be implemented. One vendor's HDMI 1.1 implementation may or may not implement the same feature in the same way or implement it all - as long as the implementation falls within the 'rules' of the spec it is compliant. Why do you think interoperability often falls short of the ideal?

 

[Hi Ho]

There are some inexpensive receivers that cannot process audio from HDMI. It has absolutely nothing to do with whether it's HDMI 1.1, 1.2, or 1.3. Receivers like that are in the minority. As far as I know, all Yamaha receivers with HDMI (regardless of what HDMI version) can process audio. I know there is at least one very inexpensive Denon that cannot and several Sony receivers.

The fact is that HDMI 1.1 does carry audio on most devices. HDMI without audio is basically a DVI cable.