Here is the list of equipment I need help setting up;

Panasonic Th-50PZ800u
Panasonic DMP-BD35 and PS3
Pioneer VSK-1018 AH-K
Motorola DTC 6412 HD DVR

I’m going to wall mount the TV and run the connecting wires in the wall; this is where I need your help.

I would like watch a movie from the Blu ray player or cable box with out turning on the receiver all the time. I want to make the connections so I can view the video and sound direct from the DVR or BR player but for those movies like the Dark knight when available I want to run the source thru the receiver to get the full effect.

I know if I run both HDMI source to the receiver and then run the HDMI out to the TV this will allow view and listen the source the thru my sound system and receiver when turned on.

But if I also run the component video and audio outputs from the DVR and Blu Ray directly to the TV will this allow me to view and listen to the source from the without turning on the receiver.

If this is he case I will have to run 1 HDMI cable from the receiver to the TV and 2 Component video and audio cables thru the wall to make this connection work.

Will this set up work and is this the best way to run the wires for this set up?

Thanks in advance for your help.

The other option is to run the two HDMI sources directly to the TV and a digital audio cable from the TV's optical output to the receiver. This is less cables to run and the video doesn't have to go through the receiver. Unless you *want* the video to go through the receiver, in which case, your method will work.

Here is the list of equipment I need help setting up;

Panasonic Th-50PZ800u
Panasonic DMP-BD35 and PS3
Pioneer VSK-1018 AH-K
Motorola DTC 6412 HD DVR

I’m going to wall mount the TV and run the connecting wires in the wall; this is where I need your help.

I would like watch a movie from the Blu ray player or cable box with out turning on the receiver all the time. I want to make the connections so I can view the video and sound direct from the DVR or BR player but for those movies like the Dark knight when available I want to run the source thru the receiver to get the full effect.

I know if I run both HDMI source to the receiver and then run the HDMI out to the TV this will allow view and listen the source the thru my sound system and receiver when turned on.

But if I also run the component video and audio outputs from the DVR and Blu Ray directly to the TV will this allow me to view and listen to the source from the without turning on the receiver.

If this is he case I will have to run 1 HDMI cable from the receiver to the TV and 2 Component video and audio cables thru the wall to make this connection work.

Will this set up work and is this the best way to run the wires for this set up?

Thanks in advance for your help.


With all the hdmi/hdcp handshake issues that can crop up, you should ALWAYS run component - *ESPECIALLY* since you are running it inside the wall. Just make sure you have enough slack to move the component cable from your DVR or BD to the AVR. This way, your AVR will have the option of sending out HDMI or component to your TV.

eskay's suggestion is good. The only reason to run HDMI to the receiver is if the blu-ray outputs the new lossless audio formats and you want to decode them in your receiver (if it also has that capability).

The lossless formats can not be sent over an optical or digital audio connection.

Thanks for your input - I'm glad all of you were able to understand my message with all my typo's - LOL.

ESKAY - I like your idea about running the DVR & BD directly to the TV with HDMI cables and then run the optical out from the TV to the AVR. Will this method still give me the losses true hd audio?

If this is the case my DVR and BD player both have optical outs can I run the audio out from the sources directly to the AVR even if I'm running HDMI to the TV?

I like the idea of only running 2 HDMI and a possible optical cable thru the wall.

Thanks again

the tv is not going to switch the audio the way you want it to (unless it is a very unusual tv)...

Your TV will most likely only send 2 channel audio back to your receiver from its optical out. No TVs that I know of actually have the capability of decoding 5.1 or 7.1 from an HDMI input and down mixing it to an optical or digital output.

And Lossless audio can only be transported over a secured HDCP link which is HDMI to HDMI only. Optical does not have the bandwidth for full Lossless.

Hook it up the proper way, HD players -> Receiver -> TV and go buy a universal remote to make everything single button pushes. I'll never understand this obsession with avoiding using receivers for their intended purposes.

Your TV will most likely only send 2 channel audio back to your receiver from its optical out. No TVs that I know of actually have the capability of decoding 5.1 or 7.1 from an HDMI input and down mixing it to an optical or digital output.

And Lossless audio can only be transported over a secured HDCP link which is HDMI to HDMI only. Optical does not have the bandwidth for full Lossless.

Hook it up the proper way, HD players -> Receiver -> TV and go buy a universal remote to make everything single button pushes. I'll never understand this obsession with avoiding using receivers for their intended purposes.
His "obsession" was simply to avoid having to power the receiver whenever the TV is on. I understand that because I dislike powering items when I don't necessarily need to myself. But your point about the TV not decoding surround sound to the optical is well taken.

One way to run the HDMI to both the receiver and TV is to use an HDMI 4:2 matrix switch (as sold by Monoprice and others) and run one HDMI cable to the receiver and one to the TV.

(newb question...sorry)
ok...so with the hdmi 4:2 matrix switch i could run only 1 hdmi thru the walls to my tv from the source???

hhgregg i came to my home today stating that i should run a 50ft hdmi cable thru the walls and also an optic cable (i am getting the 58 800u mounted - and plan on getting a ps3 for blue ray at christmas time...additionally i need to hook up dish network and i plan on getting an avr and surround sound in 3-9 months)...they're stating that the optic cable should go from the tv to my future av receiver...

are you saying that it might be "best" to run only 1 hdmi (and no optic) and then hook up the individual components to the hdmi 4:2 matrix (which inturn - 1 would go out to the tv and the other out to the receiver {whenever i turned it on})????

thank you in advance - i hope this makes sense
erpa

are you saying that it might be "best" to run only 1 hdmi (and no optic) and then hook up the individual components to the hdmi 4:2 matrix (which inturn - 1 would go out to the tv and the other out to the receiver {whenever i turned it on})????Yes, if you want full surround sound and lossless audio from your blu-ray (if the blu-ray player supports lossless audio).

thank you so much

Ok I understand the connection if I get the 4 x2 matrix switch.

But this takes me back to my original question if I run a hdmi cable the from the sources BD and DVR to the AVR and then one HDMI cable out fro the avr to the TV, this will allow me to view video and listen to the true hd lossless audio if I turn on the AVR and switch to the proper source and then set the TV input to HDMI 1 or whichever one I use.

But when I don't want to turn on the AVR for video or sound I can run component video and audio cables from the sources also, I’ll just switch the TV input component to 1 or 2 when I don't want us the AVR. Just the view the news, weather channel or TVLAND etc...

If I buy a 10ft hdmi cable and 2 Component and audio cables it will still cost less then buying the 4x2 switch I have the 3 gang wall plate so I have the room to run the additional wires in the wall, I might even run 2 addition hdmi cables to the TV just for future devices.

I just wanted to make sure this option will work if the source devices have an hdmi and component cable connected to it at the same time.

And I would like to have the option to view video from more HD source with out the need to turn on the AVR all the time.

Thanks again.

But when I don't want to turn on the AVR for video or sound I can run component video and audio cables from the sources also, I’ll just switch the TV input component to 1 or 2 when I don't want us the AVR. Just the view the news, weather channel or TVLAND etc...

I just wanted to make sure this option will work if the source devices have an hdmi and component cable connected to it at the same time.If the source outputs both HDMI and component at the same time than you can run both to your TV. Some don't. You'll have to test to make sure.

Thanks all for the feedback if all else fails it looks like I’ll need to add the 4x2 matrix switch to the mix. If that is the case I’ll have to be home to power on the set because no one else is going to want to be bothered with the entire component to TV switching devices. I can hear it now - you paid all this money for it to be difficult... Believe me, if she has to do anything else besides power on the set, it's too much. Wish me luck forum...

two words.... universal remote... :)

Universal remote - more buttons LOL... :)

Here is my little flow chart listing my connections. See attachment

The only connection I'm missing is the BLU RAY to TV direct connection. I'll research my blu ray player to see if I can add a component cable along with the HDMI connection.

I like your set up (it's similar to mine). I originally ran my HDMI from the cable box and switched to component to get rid of all the hand shake problems (that you never see with a Blue Ray or upconverting DVD player). I often watch cable without a receiver and never watch a DVD without it.

Glad it's working out.

Ed

hey guys based on your wonderful advice - i purchased some goodies from monoprice (still waiting on the 4x2 matrix switch)...can you guys critique my proposed setup? all cables are hdmi...thank you in advance

erpa

bump

...anyone??

hey ERPA I can not view the .pdf file you posted. everytime time i click on the attachment it keeps re-directing me to the login screen.... I'm still waiting for my cables and 3 gang wall plates from Monoprice also.

hopefully this will work...

hey guys based on your wonderful advice - i purchased some goodies from monoprice (still waiting on the 4x2 matrix switch)...can you guys critique my proposed setup? all cables are hdmi...thank you in advance

erpaLooks okay to me.

Yes EPRA -

Your set up looks good. I see you have your components away from the TV. I wanted to do the same because I could not vision setting my AVR 6 -8 inches from the floor.

But I broke down and grabbed the Laurier 60" TV Stand from CC. It looked pretty sturdy and is about half the price of the studiotech stand I was looking at.

Thanks all for your help with the set up connections - now it's time for me to set it all up..


Link to Laurier 60" TV Stand
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Laurier-60-TV-Stand-566361/sem/rpsm/oid/159266/catOid/-12892/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

post some pics when your thru!! :D:D

I called AT&T the other day because my Samsung LCD, which is hooked up to a Motorola DVR cable box (used for AT&T U-Verse) was having intermittent issues with the sound. AT&T technical support said there are known audio issues with the DVR boxes they use for U-Verse when using a HDMI cable to hook the TV and the DVR together. The guy then told me that using Component inputs would solve the audio problem. He also told me that the component video actually looks better than the HDMI. Has anyone ever heard of this or had the same experience and solved the problem?

He also told me that the component video actually looks better than the HDMI.Component may look as good as HDMI but it will not look better unless there's some problem with the HDMI implementation.