I am concerned that I have configured my home theatre inefficiently or incorrectly. I am running HDMI from my samsung plasma to a dishnetwork HD receiver. Running optical out and Component out to my Denon receiver. I have the same setup for the DVD and BlueRay. I am assuming that I need video AND audio running through the Denon. If I were to run optical only from each component to the Denon I would then need to switch inputs on the tv correct? Am I sacrificing video quality by running them through the denon due to the lack of HDMI inputs on the receiver? Thanks!

"If I were to run optical only from each component to the Denon I would then need to switch inputs on the tv correct?"

Correct.

"Am I sacrificing video quality by running them through the denon due to the lack of HDMI inputs on the receiver?"

I'm confused, you state you have HDMI directly from your STB to your TV and component to the AV receiver. Which are you using to pass video to the TV?

If you have both methods hooked up, which looks better to you?

If anything I'd have the Blu-Ray player attached via HDMI directly to the set.

I have HDMI from tv to satellite box and then component from sat. box to receiver. I'm running all through receiver for ease of switching inputs (audio and video) via receiver. I guess I'm wondering if I am losing picture quality due to the component connection through the receiver rather than running through seperate inputs on the tv and running audio only through the receiver (assuming that would work). Does optical audio work through receiver if video (component) is not connected to receiver? Per your suggestion....running HDMI from blue ray to tv direct. I would still need audio through receiver. Thanks for your input.

Samsung TV manual has very comprehensive graphical connection presentation that show how to best connect your home theater components. Try to read it very carefully that would be your best source of information.

volleb91,

I have my Denon connected much like yours. You can run the audio and video seperately as you have done with no problem. I do it for flexibility. It gives me the option of watching TV via DVI without powering up the whole sound system. I donn't need surround sound for the morning news for example. You will not lose video quality by using the component connections through the receiver.

I went through this about two months ago. Almost bought a new rec. They way I have it hooked up is optical to rec(HDDVD, Dish 622, and PS3). They are all hooked up through HDMI to my Sony 55A3000. I then hooked up one set of component for the OSD for the Denon Rec. This seems to work well for me. I have a Harmony 880 set to change the inputs when I change from device to device. I tried just running HDMI to the tv then on optical out from the tv to the rec, but had trouble with my local OTA rec Dolby Digital. So basically I just use my rec to process the audio. Depending on the TV there may be more options going through HDMI(upconverting and 1080P)
good luck
steve

If you have them both hooked up I think the dish rec has HDMI and Component active at the same time so you should be able to switch an see if there is any diff in PQ

"Does optical audio work through receiver if video (component) is not connected to receiver?"

Yes

"Per your suggestion....running HDMI from blue ray to tv direct. I would still need audio through receiver."

Continue to use the optical connection for audio.

As Stoner suggested, a good remote comes in handy, the Harmony's are good models, with the push of one button on mine, it turns on my AV receiver and TV and sets all the inputs correctly.