Home Theater Setup?

Zoltan72 · 10-29-2006, 06:58 PM

Hey guys, I just found this forum. It looks like there is a lot of great info on here. Hopefully I can help.

One of the biggest problems I have encountered in the past is the technology(age) differences in my components. I would really like some recommendations/ comments on my setup. Currently, I have the following:

Onkyo TX-SR701
Panasonic DVD
Sony Bravia 40" LCD
Motorola HD Converter (Cable)

This is what I have set up:

DVD Audio- to receiver via optical audio
DVD Video- to TV via component video

HD converter audio- to receiver via optical audio
HD converter video- to TV via HDMI

Receiver audio- to speakers

Does it make sense to run video through the receiver? I used to have it set up that way before going HD and I had receiver on-screen programming but not any more. Should I have the component video going from the dvd to the reciever to the TV? This is not an option with the HD tuner as my receiver does not have a HDMI connection.

Also, I have a LG DR1F9H DVD Recorder that I want to hook up instead of the Panasonic DVD player as the LG has HDMI video and optical audio. How is the best way to hook this up with what I got? I assume the audio is the same as the way I have the Panasonic hooked up now and the video going to the TV directly via HDMI but specifically, how about the cable? Do I need a splitter?

Sorry for all the questions, but I just want the best performance with what I got.

Thanks

Wayne A. Pflughaupt · 10-29-2006, 09:55 PM

Welcome to the Forum, Zoltan! I’ll try to tackle a few of your questions.

Quote:

Does it make sense to run video through the receiver?

Yes it does. IMO, it only makes the system more complicated to operate whenyou send all the video signals to the TV, because you have to switch video and audio separately for each component you want to use. Sending everything to the receiver, one button on the remote does both at the same time.

Quote:

This is not an option with the HD tuner as my receiver does not have a HDMI connection.

HDMI is a protocol that carries both digital audio and video on the same cable. It seems silly to send HDMI to the TV and optical audio to the Onkyo. I assume your cable box has component video – I’d use that instead. Send it to the receiver, along with the DVD player’s component video. That way you can have the receiver switching your video for you. From what I’ve heard from others on this Forum, component video is comparable in picture quality to HDMI, so you won’t lose anything there.

Quote:

Also, I have a LG DR1F9H DVD Recorder that I want to hook up instead of the Panasonic DVD player as the LG has HDMI video and optical audio. How is the best way to hook this up with what I got?

Again, I’d go with component video and optical or coaxial out (according to LG’s website, it has both), just to make everything in the system consistant.

Quote:

...how about the cable? Do I need a splitter?

I assume you mean for recording purposes. You’ll get a better picture recording from the connection jacks rather than the antenna signal. Unfortunately, the LG is limited on rear panel inputs – only composite video and analog audio (yellow, red and white jacks). The cable box probably has those outputs – send them to the LG’s inputs. There won’t be a problem, functionally speaking, with it recording composite video and playing back component video.

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt



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