MRubenzahl
01-03-08, 01:14 AM
New to HD. I need advice on how to hook up my HDTV gear.
Specifically: How do I hook up multiple HD and non-HD devices so I am using the best quality signals and getting Dolby 5.1 digital sound wherever possible? Am hoping to do that without a new receiver but will buy a receiver if I must.
Sources:
- DirectTV HD DVR (arrives Jan 11)
- I will probably get a second HD DVR later
- HD DVD player (Toshiba HD-A3)
- Laptop computer with DVI out. I am ordering a DVI-HDMI cable
- Two older DirecTiVO DVRs (S-video out) and other S-video devices.
Monitor:
- JVC HD-ILA television, model HD-52G886
- Pioneer A/V receiver with Dolby 5.1. The receiver has video switching but it's 11 years old and pre-HD (S-video, no HDMI of course). It has both an optical and coax digital audio input.
OK, so here is what I am looking at.
1. TV has just one HDMI input so I ordered an HDMI switch (5-in). Just $60. Will address remote control issues separately -- hope my Harmony will handle the switch but if not, will get a new remote.
2. Older devices (VCR, DirecTiVo units) now connect to my receiver and it feeds the TV's S-video input. Quality is OK, not a concern.
3. Audio: This is my biggest concern. I can connect an optical audio cable from my HD DVD to the receiver -- but what about the DirecTV DVR (and a second one if I decide to)? I don't know of a way to switch digital-optical-audio so how do I allow either of the devices to feed my receiver's Dolby 5.1 decoder?
The TV has a digital audio out -- what does that do? Any chance that the 5.1 digital audio comes down the HDMI wire and if I connect the TV's digital optical out to the receiver, that it will feed the right signal to the receiver? And if so, how do I tell the receiver, "hey, use the optical connector."
Specifically: How do I hook up multiple HD and non-HD devices so I am using the best quality signals and getting Dolby 5.1 digital sound wherever possible? Am hoping to do that without a new receiver but will buy a receiver if I must.
Sources:
- DirectTV HD DVR (arrives Jan 11)
- I will probably get a second HD DVR later
- HD DVD player (Toshiba HD-A3)
- Laptop computer with DVI out. I am ordering a DVI-HDMI cable
- Two older DirecTiVO DVRs (S-video out) and other S-video devices.
Monitor:
- JVC HD-ILA television, model HD-52G886
- Pioneer A/V receiver with Dolby 5.1. The receiver has video switching but it's 11 years old and pre-HD (S-video, no HDMI of course). It has both an optical and coax digital audio input.
OK, so here is what I am looking at.
1. TV has just one HDMI input so I ordered an HDMI switch (5-in). Just $60. Will address remote control issues separately -- hope my Harmony will handle the switch but if not, will get a new remote.
2. Older devices (VCR, DirecTiVo units) now connect to my receiver and it feeds the TV's S-video input. Quality is OK, not a concern.
3. Audio: This is my biggest concern. I can connect an optical audio cable from my HD DVD to the receiver -- but what about the DirecTV DVR (and a second one if I decide to)? I don't know of a way to switch digital-optical-audio so how do I allow either of the devices to feed my receiver's Dolby 5.1 decoder?
The TV has a digital audio out -- what does that do? Any chance that the 5.1 digital audio comes down the HDMI wire and if I connect the TV's digital optical out to the receiver, that it will feed the right signal to the receiver? And if so, how do I tell the receiver, "hey, use the optical connector."