Two-channel guy gets a media room: Some fundamentals needed

[roll - gybe]

Hey guys, first post here. I looked around and searched a bit and I could still use a little help.

I like music. I have a nice 2 channel system and a squeezebox set up that I love. Now I have just moved into a new house and it has a media room that is pre-wired, and the old guy left behind some gear!

Nothing fancy here, but it's ok I guess. Toshiba 53 inch 4:3, Yamaha 5940 6.1, 4 bose satellites. I've got a menu of scrap parts here too from old systems, eg: an old powered sony sub... various speakers...

My uses will probably be DVDs, NFL, MLB, playing music (it's not my listening room and I'm ok with audio being so-so.) Although I do like concert DVDs...

1) This is a 6.1 receiver. How does the audio get into the channels? The receiver has inputs for all these channels and an optical input for the DVD (no coax). Do I need to get a DVD player with 6 outputs to take advantage of this feature or can I just use the optical?

2) What if I just use RCA for the audio? Does this forego the home theater?

3) There is no audio out to the TV on the receiver. So the speakers on the TV are just not used??? My wife sometime thinks all the audio stuff is overwhelming. I know she isn't going to want to fire up all the speakers to watch a movie when I'm not watching. Is there a way to take the audio to the TV and the TV only?

I figure it is possible to sent the video directly to the TV and the RCAs to the TV with the optical going to the receiver. Does this mitigate the system at all? Is there a better way to approach this?

4) Should I add a 5th center speaker? Can the TV speakers fulfill this role (I doubt they are very good).

What do you guys recommend as far a DVD player? I'm not looking to go crazy, just meet the home media functions. I don't play individual CDs - I'll just hook up another Squeezebox to this system.

5) All this stuff isn't all that incredibly valuable... Am I better off for my buck starting over to some extent? I mean the fact that I got a $250 receiver for free shouldn't make me waste too time trying to pair stuff up that doesn't work.


Thanks in advance for all your help. It's amazing that I haven't ever learned about home theater systems depite being a music lover and somthing of a 2 channel gear head.

Much appreciated!

 

[mazersteven]

What do you guys recommend as far a DVD player? I'm not looking to go crazy, just meet the home media functions. I don't play individual CDs - I'll just hook up another Squeezebox to this system.

http://www.oppodigital.com/dv981hd/dv981hd_index.html

 

[Haoleb]

In answer to your questions..

1) Use the Optical connection from your DVD player to the reciever. If you have a cable box and more than one optical connection you can also connect it up this way.

2) If you use the rca's for audio (from the dvd player i am assuming) you will need to have a dvd player with a full 5.1 set of analog outputs. If you use the just the left and right you will not have true surround. The reciever will only fabricate surround sound from the two channels.

3) For sound to the TV only, connect the analog left and right channels from your DVD player to the inputs on the tv. that way she can watch dvd with just the tv, and when you want surround just kick on the reciever and the optical cable will take care of that department.

4) the tv speakers could act as a center channel but you will probably benefit from a real center channel. Also, the way to hookup the tv speakers to perform as a center channel is a bit more complicated. You will need preamp outputs on the reciever, and will have to adjust the tv volume every time you watch a movie if it has been changed since the last time. The Oppo dvd players get good press around here, But if you just need something to play dvd's on the cheap pretty much anything at costco or a local store will be sufficient.

5) Not sure what you mean here, You already have all the stuff for free and dont really need to buy anything so unless you want to start buying all kinds of stuff then no, Dont start over.

 

[roll - gybe]

Thanks guys, that's some great info.

If I were to just hook up the optical to the receiver, would I get the 6 channel output?

Also does an MX/Universal remote support Oppo? I can probably dig that up somewhere, but if you guys are familiar with the product maybe you are already using it.

 

[mazersteven]

Also does an MX/Universal remote support Oppo? I can probably dig that up somewhere, but if you guys are familiar with the product maybe you are already using it.

Discrete ON/OFF remote control IR code for programmable universal remote controls.

http://www.oppodigital.com/dv981hd/dv981hd_features.html

 

[Haoleb]

Thanks guys, that's some great info.

If I were to just hook up the optical to the receiver, would I get the 6 channel output?

Yes. Keep in mind you will probably have to assign the input in the receivers setup menu before it will work though.

 

[MDS]

Also does an MX/Universal remote support Oppo? I can probably dig that up somewhere, but if you guys are familiar with the product maybe you are already using it.

The MX series remotes from Universal Remote support any device that uses a well known protocol (there are dozens of them) and standard frequencies between 38 kHz and 100 kHz.

If you are asking if it has the codes built-in so you can use it in the pre-programmed mode, you'd have to download the manual and check. If you program it yourself by learning from the original remote it can support just about anything.

 

[Davemcc]

What about TV. Are you using a cable/sat. box that will neet to be hooked up as well?