[baker8]

Hi all,


I am very new to this stuff so if I sound dumb please forgive me. I just bought a Sony TV and would like to buy a receiver/home theater system to better the viewing experience. I have $500 to spend and am looking for some suggestions.


However, my main question has to do with actually connecting the TV, cable set-top box, and DVD player to the receiver. I see that most receivers have video inputs. If my TV is already connected to the set-top box and DVD player by component cables, do I still have to connect the TV/DVD/and/or cable box to the receiver by more video cables?


In other words, if I connect the TV alone to the receiver/speakers by an optical audio cable and the TV is already connected to the DVD player/cable box, will I be able to hear the surround sound the receiver provides when watching DVD/cable?


Man, I hope that made sense. I am just concerned about how much I will have to purchase in the way of accessories/cables if I spring for a $500 receiver.


Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[galois427]

yes, you can do that. but everytime you want to watch something you have to change the video on the tv and the audio on the receiver. you can eliminate that hassle by purchasing a receiver with component upconversion. the yamaha htr-5790, for example, will convert your composite and s-video signals to component, so you only have a single component cable running from your receiver to your tv.

 

[jcapellman]

The Pioneer VSX-1014TX-K also converts compsite and s-video signals to component.

 

[Brian B]

You should leave the video cables alone as the best connection is always the simplest--direct to the TV.


Using different inputs on the television also gives you the opportunity to adjust picture parameters (color, brightness, etc) based on source so you can get the best picture on each source.


Also, introducing a high bandwidth video signal into a "noisy" audio device is usually detrimental to the signal in terms of purity/quality.


If you need an on-screen display in order to set up your receiver you can always use a cheap video cable from the monitor out of the receiver into the set. You can leave it in or take it out after the receiver is adjusted.


For sound you should hook the DVD player direct into the receiver with a digital cable (so as to get digital surround) or via analog cables if you have a DVD-A or SACD 'universal' type DVD player to take advantage of those formats.


I'll assume you use your cable box to watch TV. If it has an optical output you can connect that directly to the receiver, otherwise use analog audio cables. Looping the sound through the TV itself oftens results in higher noise levels and I would avoid it if possible.


If you use the TV for PIP sound then you can run a second set to the receiver (of analog cables) for second source sound.


B.

 

[hdshark]

It is not clear from your post how much budget you have for speakers. Assuming your speaker budget is limited, you may want to go with a lower cost receiver (like the Panasonic SA-XR50) and allocate a bit more money on decent quality speakers and a subwoofer.