I am a complete noob so appreciate simple explanations if at all possible. I will have the following equipment (already on order):

Speakers
NHT Classic 4 X 2
NHT 3C3 centre
NHT C3 X 2

Source
PS3
OPPO DVD w HDMI
Cambridge Audio V2 CDP

Electronics
Cambridge Audio 640R surround amp (has pre-outs) but HDMI pass through only
Cambridge Audio 840A stereo amp

Projector
Panasonic AE 1000u (1080p)

I want to drive the 2 floorstanding NHT4's for stereo music from my CDP via the stereo CA 840A amp. I will use the AV amp 640R to power the surrounds and centre for movies still using the 840A to drive the NHT4's for Left and Right fronts.

In addition, to minimise the length of the HDMI cables, I will keep the projector and electronics close together and behind my seating position.

I will use separate HDMI cables from PS3 and OPPO to my projector.

I know I need HDMI cables from the video sources to the projector but how to get sound from these units to the AV reciever? Could you please tell me additionally the best way to connect up all my system components, i.e. what cables (and terminations I need) and what electronics connect to what. I can't specify room layout as we will be moving but at least I will know the correct cable types I need to plan for and the arrangement of my electronics.

Finally my reciever has no auto setup. I have read the threads on using a SPL meter for manual set up and have purchased one but have one question. Is the distance to be input (Speaker set up) into the reciever the distance of the speakers to the reciever or the distance from the speakers to the listening position?

Thanks for helping out as what started out as a simple system idea has somewhat grown in concept while in the store :o and I don't want to make a mistake with the connections and cables. Thanks for helping a noob move from HTIB to a better experience. :D

Cheers
Roy

Bump....please :)

The distance is that from the speaker to the listening position.

You will need cabling from the pre-outs of the 640 into the input of the 840 (this is probably stereo RCA).

I don't know whether the OPPO has separate TOSlink or S/PDIF digital audio out, but I would assume it does. If so, you should connect that digital audio to your pre/pro (assuming it can decode). Which leaves the PS/3.

The PS/3 plays Blu-Ray Disc material. Such material may need decoding and mixing in the device. The problem is that, after decoding and mixing in the device, you end up with a discrete surround signal that can get re-encoded into HDMI only, or perhaps output using multi-channel analog out. Given that the PS/3 doesn't have a slew of RCAs on the back, I think that you really have to hook the HDMI through the pre/pro to the projector for the PS/3. This is assuming your pre/pro can decode HDMI audio. If it can't, you'll have to live with stereo audio out from the PS/3, which would be a shame.

Thank you for responding. Does the PS3 have any optical out or digital out for sound?
1) Could I connect it this way to my surround reciever? How do most people get surround sound out of the PS3 from their recievers when they play BR discs?

2) Re the CDP/840A/640R I know I need to use RCA cables to connect these but do I connect from the CDP -> 840A -> 640R or CDP -> 640R -> 840A. Sorry about the dumb questions but I am a little lost here.

Thanks

From the specs on the Sony site the PS3 has one optical digital out. You can use it with your Cambridge Audio 640R.

The 840 does not appear to have a preamp- in (by passing the onboard preamp) so its volume control is in the circuit no matter what. You are going to have to deal with two volume controls.

You could connect all sources to the 640, and use the pre-outs on the 640 to drive the 840. You would then use the SPL meter to find the volume control setting on the 840 that brings the left and right speakers into balance with the surround speakers, and the use the 640's volume control as a master control after that.

One way to set the levels would be to use FM inter station hiss (white noise) on the 640 as a test tone. Set the gain on the 840 to minimum. Then from the listening position, using one surround speaker at a time adjust the volume on the 640 until each surround speaker is at the same level. 75 dB is the Dolby reference level but you could do at at a lower level if you find 75 dB a bit loud.

Once the surrounds are connect one of the mains to the 840 and raise the gain until it is the same as you used for the surrounds. Do the same for the other. Now all speakers should be matched in level, and raising and lowering the gain on the 640 should work for both stereo CDs and surround sources.

White noise is not usually used to set subwoofer levels. You will have to use your ears or find one of the many downloadable sets of test tones.

Thanks guys for the kind advice and patience to answer what has possibly been asked in a different way many times before. As a noob it's reassuring to hear it stated for your own personal setup as there is always the fear you fry something by doing something dumb :p . Once again thanks for the help.
Cheers
Roy :D