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How do I connect my Home Theater?!

#1
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4/23/09 at 11:43am
  • Joined: April 2009
  • Post Count: 3
Hey,
I just bought a used Pioneer HT (VSX-D414) from my friend for $80, came with 3 speakers, 1 wireless rear speaker, subwoofer, and receiver. good deal? I dunno I'm pretty new to this stuff.

Anyways, didnt come with any cables and I have no idea how to make it work with my TV. so heres what I need connected, i'll break it down for you:

1. Panasonic 46' HDTV
2. Rogers HD Digtal Cable Box
3. Pioneer HT Receiver
4. Plus PS3 and Wii consoles

Now the receiver only has composite connections on the back as far as I can tell (red,white,yellow are the only colours for each input). Right now I have the cable box hooked up to the TV via component cables. I also went out and bought a digital fiber optic cable but I dunno where it goes. So yes the receiver, my TV, and the cable box all have optical ports. PS3 is connected to TV with HDMI and the Wii via component. I'm looking to get the best sound and picture with the devices i've got, of course I will go and get any cables that are needed to get this. so what cables go where?!
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#2
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4/23/09 at 8:13pm
  • Joined: October 2003
  • Post Count: 350

Re: How do I connect my Home Theater?!

Please list each component and all the inputs/outputs that it has.

\"the dream never dies, just the dreamer\"

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#3
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4/24/09 at 4:49am
  • Joined: July 2002
  • Post Count: 731

Re: How do I connect my Home Theater?!

Inputs/Outputs would be helpful, but it looks like you have the idea already. Because the receiver only has composite input you'll be wanting to stay away from that for all but the Wii. Not a big deal, it just means more remote control juggling when you switch devices.

Connect the PS3 and HD box video inputs to the TV directly using HDMI or component. Connect the audio from these devices to the receiver using optical or digital coax. (You didn't mention digital coax, but you may have it; and if you do it's every bit as good as the optiical.) The receiver will likely have to be set to take audio from the optical and/or coax inputs. I couldn't find a manual for the receiver, so I can't be more specific.
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#4
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4/24/09 at 6:53am
  • Joined: April 2009
  • Post Count: 27

Re: How do I connect my Home Theater?!

Find the manual here >>> Consumer Electronics Reviews, Product Manuals, Guides and Deals: Retrevo

btw, $80 good deal, but your missing a rear speaker! There should be 2 (left and right)

Maybe spend a little money or if you have some speakers from a previous stereo use these wired to your receiver.

Is there is a Hdmi ouput from your HD cable box, I think there should be? If so get a Hdmi cable to go from this to your HDTV. It does not need to be expensive, maybe $20 each (<6 feet you won't notice any improvement compared to expensive cables)

Then if there is a optical output from your Panasonic (you didn't mention the model, this would be helpful) you can use the optical cable you have to run to the receiver. If it is a wired digital output type then buy an in-expensive digital audio cable and run this from your HDTV to the receiver. I checked the Panasonic web site for all 46" HDTV's and they say they have a digital audio output but not what type.

I already checked the instruction manual as well for your receiver and it has both optical and digital audio inputs.

Then all you need to do is leave the receiver on one input and when you switch inputs from your source units the audio should change as well.

Very easy!

Hope this helps...

cheers...
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#5
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4/24/09 at 10:57am
  • Joined: April 2009
  • Post Count: 3

Re: How do I connect my Home Theater?!

Hey thanks so much for the tips here are my input/outputs:

1. Panasonic 46' HDTV (TH46PZ80U)
-Component in
-Video in
-S-video
-Prog out
-HDMI

2. Rogers HD Digtal Cable Box
-Component
-Video out
-Digital audio out/optical out
-S-video out
-DVI

3. Pioneer HT Receiver
-(Tv/sat, dvd/vcr) red and white in, yellow in
-optical in/digital coax

So one of you said connect the optical cable from the cable box to the reciever and another said from the TV to the reciever. I tryed connecting the optical cable from the reciever to the TV but sound still came out from the TV. So there is a setting from the reciever that I have to program?! how would I do this?
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#6
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4/24/09 at 7:56pm
  • Joined: July 2002
  • Post Count: 731

Re: How do I connect my Home Theater?!

On almost all TVs the optical/digital out only provides full sound capabilities (5.1/7.1) for the broadcast connection (e.g., the TV channels). It only provides stereo for the other inputs (DVD, games). So,you really want to run the audio inputs to the receiver.

You didn't provide the outputs from the PS3. (Phillies won, I had lots of drinks, so I'm not looking up the manual.) But I'm guessing it has an optical. Since the cable box has a digital connection, use that and the optical for the PS3.

Quote:
I tryed connecting the optical cable from the reciever to the TV but sound still came out from the TV

Whatever choice you make, connecting the optical from the receiver to the TV is not a good choice. (If anything it's from the TV to the receiver; but as as I mentioned above, that's not ideal.)
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#7
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4/24/09 at 8:30pm
  • Joined: April 2009
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Re: How do I connect my Home Theater?!

Alright well I played around with it today and connected the optical from the TV to the receiver (receiver to the TV, same deal) and pressed some buttons on the receiver and it worked! Turns out the centre speaker I had plugged in needed to be re-stripped (thats why it didnt work before).

Now your saying I should have separate connections for each device: digital coax for cable box and optical for PS3. Is it really needed? what makes the way I have it now (optical: TV to receiver) "not ideal"? I wont get the best surround sound? Explain as simple as you can please.
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#8
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4/25/09 at 4:04am
  • Joined: April 2009
  • Post Count: 27

Re: How do I connect my Home Theater?!

Al.Anderson is right the optical output from the TV is only 2 channel audio, so connect as he suggested.

You may get sound from all speakers, but it won't be full Dolby Digital or DTS which gives you independent sound from each speaker, plus better bass.

So to get the very best from what you have connect it the way he suggests.

Sorry for the confusion and good luck
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