You Guys are probably tired of this @#$!

[exp1orer]

Hi everyone first post. your probably tired of newbs like me asking for help, but I did a fair amount of research before getting to this point.

Please Help Me Put Together My Dream System!

Been lurking and learning and now the time has come. I have decided on, and started buying all of my components. Now I need help with the best way to connect them to show them all off. The last decision I have to make is my dvd player.
I am going with the Pioneer Elite VSX-74TXVi reciver (on order) with 2 hdmi in and 1 out, with 2 Ilink in and 1 usb input. These are the components I need to connect.
Sony KDS-R60XBR1 SXRD 1080p RPTV 2 hdmi and 3 ilink connectors. (just received)
scientific atlanta 8300HD dual tuner cable box with hdmi out.(just received)
Axiom Audio Epic80 350 system with rear stands. (just received)
one Dell xps desktop with dvi out and Ilink (need to transmit both audio and video)
And the missing piece of the puzzle. The dvd player. Was looking at the Pioneer Elite DV-59AVi but not sure if I need all of the features/connections on this system. My receiver does a lot of the things this dvd player claims to do. Help on connecting my system (the best way) and choosing a dvd player that has what I need for great performance, but not a lot of stuff I dont need. (would like to stay with pioneer if possible) The biggest question I have with the dvd is should I use Hdmi or Ilink.

Thanks in advance for all of your help.

Exp1orer

 

[Rock&Roll Ninja]

Use an HDMI-to-DVI connector on the Dell. Then play DVDs on the dell. HD-DVD players hit store shelves in March, why buy a seperate DVD player now?

 

[exp1orer]

Concerning the Dell

what is the best way connect the sound on the computer? will the ilink on my computer connect to my receiver?

 

[jfabes]

And the missing piece of the puzzle. The dvd player. Was looking at the Pioneer Elite DV-59AVi but not sure if I need all of the features/connections on this system. My receiver does a lot of the things this dvd player claims to do. Help on connecting my system (the best way) and choosing a dvd player that has what I need for great performance, but not a lot of stuff I dont need. (would like to stay with pioneer if possible) The biggest question I have with the dvd is should I use Hdmi or Ilink.

Exp1orer

I don't understand what you mean when you say the receiver does a lot of things that the dvd player claims to do??? I sort of agree with the other guy that it doesn't make perfect sense to buy a player now, but if you want Pioneer, their hd players will probably be 2x the cost of the 59avi or 79avi. And while we are on the subject, why not get the 79avi over the 59avi? If your going for a matched system, they are perfect - even have the same round blue power light

Regarding the connection, I have the 74txvi and 79avi and use hdmi for picture and firewire (i-link) for sound. I don't think you can beat firewire, especially when it comes to dvd-a and sacd's. I'm not sure if your firewire connection on your laptop will work with the computer or if you will need to use the usb. But, I have the usb hooked up and it sounds as good as my sirius music stations on dish network. Since firewire is nationally accepted standard (IEEE1394), you won't find the hoop-la associated with hdmi, like v1.1, v1.2 or v1.3. which is still evolving. Plus, firewire produces jitterless sound that you sometimes get from hdmi.

 

[ragged]

I agree, why buy a separate dvd player when the dell will do a perfectly fine job? Unless you just like the idea of having a separate dvd player.

 

[exp1orer]

dvd video

thanks for the info. the reason I need another dvd player is because the dell is in another room and I had my house wired for connections to living room. I have a ATI (rf) remote for the comp but the program that operates it crashes and is just a pain. I will probably just buy a cheap dvd player and wait out the HD-dvd vs blueray war. one more question. assuming that the dvd player I get will have hdmi and Ilink. I think it is clear that I should run the sound via ilink to the receiver, but should I run the video to the receiver or direct to the TV?

 

[racquetman]

I disagree with those guys that said use the Dell. I don't understand the whole HTPC idea. Computers are a pain in the *** - at best. At worst, they are infuriating. You don't need to spend a lot of money to get a DVD player that performs very well and incorporates well with your setup. Unless you plan to buy a Blu-ray or HD-DVD player when they come out, a DVD player will serve you well for a long time - and the format is guaranteed to be around for decades. No one knows what will happen with the blue laser formats.

I say get yourself a DVD player and enjoy!!

 

[jfabes]

thanks for the info. the reason I need another dvd player is because the dell is in another room and I had my house wired for connections to living room. I have a ATI (rf) remote for the comp but the program that operates it crashes and is just a pain. I will probably just buy a cheap dvd player and wait out the HD-dvd vs blueray war. one more question. assuming that the dvd player I get will have hdmi and Ilink. I think it is clear that I should run the sound via ilink to the receiver, but should I run the video to the receiver or direct to the TV?

I think there is a debate both ways. Some say direct, some say use the receiver as the switch. My thoughts are that if you were using component, the quality of the switch (receiver) and cable play a role. But, with hdmi being pure digital with no analog to digital conversion (just passes 0's and 1's) I don't think there's any degredation in pic quality. Just my $.02. It seems that most people use the receiver as the switch unless a) you have a projector set-up, b) receiver doesn't have hdmi or c) receiver/player/tv are not all compatible with the hdmi version of each other.

 

[exp1orer]

Which componets should get the hdmi slots?

Again, thanks for the info.

My receiver will have 2 hdmi in ports. which componets should get them? I think the 8300hd cablebox should get one. should the other go to the dvd player or the pc? keep in mind that the tv has extra hdmi inputs as well.

thanks
john

 

[jfabes]

Again, thanks for the info.

My receiver will have 2 hdmi in ports. which componets should get them? I think the 8300hd cablebox should get one. should the other go to the dvd player or the pc? keep in mind that the tv has extra hdmi inputs as well.

thanks
john

well, if your not going to play dvd's on the computer, why tie up that hdmi on the receiver? i would use the receiver hdmi ports for satellite and dvd. the computer should run fine off of firewire or usb. it really depends on what the computer is going to be used for in the ht set-up. i use my computer hooked up to my receiver to play downloaded music files. i also used it for the room calibration output, that's about it.

 

[exp1orer]

I play divx and xvid movies from my computer as well. what would be a good cheap dvd player with hdmi to hold me over till hd-dvd or blueray get established?