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Will My Older Gear Work Well With The HD-XA2?

post #1 of 26
3/29/07 at 12:53pm
Thread Starter 
I will be purchasing the HD-XA2 soon. I have the following equipment:
Display: Sony RPTV model KF-50XBR800 (1080i DVI only)
Receiver: Harman Kardon model HK635

Both display and receiver have no HDMI connectors. The display only has DVI. Currently have the Sony DVP-NC85H/B upconverting DVD changer connected using HDMI-DVI cable and optical cable for audio.

Should my current display and receiver work well with the HD-XA2? What is the best way to connect the HD-XA2 to my equipment?

Here is a link to my receiver's rear-panel connection if it helps.

Thanks,
alinski...
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post #2 of 26
3/29/07 at 1:06pm
im using a monster cable HDMI to DVI cable which works just wonderfully, and i would use a digital coaxial cable for the audio, and you should be fine
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post #3 of 26
3/29/07 at 1:33pm
The 635 has 5.1 analog ins, use them.
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post #4 of 26
3/29/07 at 2:01pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Damnationdoormat View Post

The 635 has 5.1 analog ins, use them.

Is that the "6 Channel Direct Input" on the middle left of this picture (#48) above the antenna connectors? Will this 5-RCA Component cable work for this purpose?

What advantage does using the 5.1 analog have over the coax/optical cable?

Thanks,
alinski...
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post #5 of 26
3/29/07 at 2:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by alinski View Post

What advantage does using the 5.1 analog have over the coax/optical cable?

You will be able to listen to the TrueHD and Dolby Digital Plus soundtracks in their full form.
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post #6 of 26
3/29/07 at 2:19pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by spunky721 View Post

You will be able to listen to the TrueHD and Dolby Digital Plus soundtracks in their full form.

Per the manual: "All popular digital and matrix surround modes, including Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital EX, Dolby Pro Logic IIx, DTS, DTS-ES Discrete and Matrix, DTS Neo:6 and DTS 96/24."

TrueHD or DD+ is not among those listed. If my receiver cannot decode(?) these two, which mode will give me the best audio? I have a 5.1 speaker setup.

Thanks,
Alan.
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post #7 of 26
3/29/07 at 2:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by alinski View Post

Per the manual: "All popular digital and matrix surround modes, including Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital EX, Dolby Pro Logic IIx, DTS, DTS-ES Discrete and Matrix, DTS Neo:6 and DTS 96/24."

TrueHD or DD+ is not among those listed. If my receiver cannot decode(?) these two, which mode will give me the best audio? I have a 5.1 speaker setup.

Thanks,
Alan.

Your receiver doesn't decode them, the XA2 does. The XA2 will provide the HD audio, and the 5.1a simply passed the signal straight through (to the internal amplifiers).

5.1a is the way to go! Now buy yourself a decent pair of 5.1a cables: I can highly recommend these for $35
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post #8 of 26
3/29/07 at 2:42pm
Thread Starter 
Got it! The receiver just passes the audio signal from the HD-XA2 to the speakers.

For cables, will these 5-RCA Component cable work along with the subwoofer cable I am currently using? I'd prefer to use Monoprice since they are only 4 miles away and I can order and pick-up within the hour if I need to, no waiting and no shipping charges.

Thanks for everyone's help!
alinski...
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post #9 of 26
3/29/07 at 3:25pm
no those are the wrong cables. you need 6 rca audio cables(5 speakers and a woofer). your link is for component video cables with 2 rca plugs
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post #10 of 26
3/29/07 at 4:13pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by nickelplayer6 View Post

no those are the wrong cables. you need 6 rca audio cables(5 speakers and a woofer). your link is for component video cables with 2 rca plugs

The link I had was for a 5-RCA Component A/V RG-6 18AWG cable. I was thinking of using this and a single coax audio cable I have instead of buying this 6-RCA cable that someone else recommended earlier in the thread. Doesn't this work to connect the HD-XA2 to the receiver?

Thanks,
alinski...
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post #11 of 26
3/30/07 at 9:24am
Quote:
Originally Posted by alinski View Post

The link I had was for a 5-RCA Component A/V RG-6 18AWG cable. I was thinking of using this and a single coax audio cable I have instead of buying this 6-RCA cable that someone else recommended earlier in the thread. Doesn't this work to connect the HD-XA2 to the receiver?

Thanks,
alinski...

If you want to use monoprices, you could be getting 3 pairs (6 cables) of these
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post #12 of 26
4/2/07 at 3:38am
I was under the impression that an RCA cable was just an RCA cable, despite the color it was. That is, if the source and the receiving end were compatible with one another (as in this case, 5.1 analog outs ---> 5.1 analog ins).

Heck, another poster even mentioned in another thread using two sets of the Red, White, and Yellow cables (typically known as plain composite cables) for the connection.

Is this mistaken?
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post #13 of 26
4/2/07 at 5:07am
I say go for it!
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post #14 of 26
4/2/07 at 9:19am
Quote:
Originally Posted by KMR View Post

I was under the impression that an RCA cable was just an RCA cable, despite the color it was. That is, if the source and the receiving end were compatible with one another (as in this case, 5.1 analog outs ---> 5.1 analog ins).

Heck, another poster even mentioned in another thread using two sets of the Red, White, and Yellow cables (typically known as plain composite cables) for the connection.

Is this mistaken?

The red and whites are fine, the yellow one isn't. Use the link above to order cables at monoprice (if you want to save money). They are really cheap and guarenteed to work.
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post #15 of 26
4/2/07 at 9:26am
You think two sets of component cables won't work in place either?
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post #16 of 26
4/2/07 at 9:32am
i believe i read in the april issue of 'sound and vision' magazine that the xa-2 going into a dvi input on a display would only yield a 480i image and that it was letter and pillarboxed. maybe its been fixed. id love to know that for sure.
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post #17 of 26
4/2/07 at 10:36am
Quote:
Originally Posted by exm View Post

If you want to use monoprices, you could be getting 3 pairs (6 cables) of these


^that's the same setup i use for my HK's analog inputs (from an HD-A1). Good cables and I have NO complaints.
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post #18 of 26
4/2/07 at 11:11am
Better make sure your display is HDCP compliant if you're going to use HDMI to DVI cables. If not, just use component.
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post #19 of 26
4/2/07 at 11:23am
Quote:
Originally Posted by MOrlando View Post

You think two sets of component cables won't work in place either?

That should work, but you'd be paying a lot of money for the cables.
Component video cables usually cost a lot more than a simple audio cable. 3 sets of audio cables should be cheaper than 2 component video cables. An audio cable (red white) can be used as a component video cable (you'd need another wire though), I've never tried it the other way around like you want to do, but I think it should work.
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post #20 of 26
4/2/07 at 11:35am
Quote:
Originally Posted by westgate View Post

i believe i read in the april issue of 'sound and vision' magazine that the xa-2 going into a dvi input on a display would only yield a 480i image and that it was letter and pillarboxed. maybe its been fixed. id love to know that for sure.

Can anyone confirm this? I read the Sound & Vision review and they didn't hook the player up to anything via DVI. I am just curious 'cause I am getting the XA2 tomorrow and was planning on hooking it up to my PJ via an HDMI to DVI cable. My PJ is HDCP compliant and can accept 1080p/60.
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post #21 of 26
4/2/07 at 4:26pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Audio Authority View Post

Better make sure your display is HDCP compliant if you're going to use HDMI to DVI cables. If not, just use component.

I am sure it is HDCP compliant since I am using an upconverting DVD player with the HDMI - DVI cable.

alinski...
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post #22 of 26
4/2/07 at 4:29pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by squeeks View Post

im using a monster cable HDMI to DVI cable which works just wonderfully, and i would use a digital coaxial cable for the audio, and you should be fine

Can you or someone please confirm that there are no issues using the HDMI - DVI cable? Some people have read that using an HDMI - DVI cable only yields a 480i image and that it was letter and pillow boxed. See replies posted above.

Thanks,
alinski...
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post #23 of 26
4/2/07 at 5:19pm
The yellow cable will work just fine. Coat hangers would work, if you could connect them. This is audio, not high RF.
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post #24 of 26
4/3/07 at 1:05am
Quote:
Originally Posted by alinski View Post

Can you or someone please confirm that there are no issues using the HDMI - DVI cable? Some people have read that using an HDMI - DVI cable only yields a 480i image and that it was letter and pillow boxed. See replies posted above.

Thanks,
alinski...

I doubt that it would be the case, but you can call your TV's manufacturer and ask that question. Be sure to mention that the Toshiba use HDMI 1.3.
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post #25 of 26
4/5/07 at 6:31pm
Thread Starter 
Could not resist the CC deal so finally took the plunge and purchased the HD-A2 today. A2 + Happy Feet + Good Shepherd + King Kong + The Departed = $363.64 out the door (with AAA 10% discount). Price of the A2 on the receipt was $216.03 before tax.

Getting The Chronicles of Riddick, Constantine, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, The Rundown & U-571 from the Toshiba 5 free HD-DVD offer. Not really exciting selections but free is free.

Ordered Batman Begins, The Complete Matrix Trilogy, Phantom of the Opera, Planet Earth & Superman Returns from Warner Bros online with the ~30% discount.

I'm gonna be busy for a while.

alinski...
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post #26 of 26
4/6/07 at 11:39am
Thread Starter 
Decided to post here instead of creating a new thread.

Connected the HD-A2 via optical cable to the HK 635 (non-HDMI) receiver and HDMI - DVI cable to my display. Here are the settings on the A2 with firmware v1.2 out of the box:

Picture settings:
* Enhanced Black Level - Off
* Picture Mode - Auto
* Resolution Setting - Up to 1080i

Audio settings:
* Digital Out SPDIF - Bitstream
* Digital Out HDMI - Downmixed PCM
* Dynamic Range Control - Off
* Dialog Enhancement - Off

Are these setting optimum for my setup? Any input is welcome.

Thanks,
alinski...

Edit:
*Changed Dynamic Range Control from Auto to Off
*Changed Digital Out HDMI from Auto to Downmixed PCM
*Added Firmware version
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