controltestguy

Newbie to Home Theater

Hi Everyone,

This is my first attempt at Home Theater and I would appreciate some cabling/connections/opinions, etc. I've already purchased the components described below. I'm starting with the sound/DVD system. When that's up and running, we'll be purchasing a Samsung 5088W 1080P DLP.

At present the sound system/DVD will be connected to a Samsung 27" Tantus 2792 flat screen. It's about 5 years old.

Here's the components:

Onkyo TSXR804 HT Receiver
Polk Audio CSI5 Center Speaker
Polk Audio RTI6 Front Speakers (2)
Polk Audio RTI4 Rear Speakers (2)
Polk Audio PSW12 100W Sub-Woofer
Sanus NF30B RTI4 stands.
Denon 1930CI Single Disc DVD

I have Direct TV with TIVO but not High-Def. Right now I'm interested in watching movies. I will be contacting DTV for Hi-Def. in the Spring.

My question is this: What's the best cabling for the price to get the most out of what I have right now and how should I be connected?

It looks like the TV/TIVO supports S-Video. They do not support HDMI. The TIVO has optical audio digital out. The DVD supports HDMI/component out.

Here's what I'm thinking: Connect the TIVO audio digital optical out to the Onkyo. Connect the S-Video from the TIVO to the present TV. Connect the DVD component out to the TV component in. Connect the receiver to the speakers per the instructions. Does this sound okay? Is there anything else I should be doing?

It looks like I need to buy an optical digital audio cable. Any recommendations as to quality, manufacturer, etc. How about speaker wire. 14 Ga should be okay? Any particular brand?

Any help appreciated.

Thanks,

CTG

Robert_J

Re: Newbie to Home Theater

How about checking out the sponsers of this site? Blue Jeans Cables. Other alternatives are Dayton line from PE. AR makes some quality cables. Monoprice has good stuff as well. Monster or anything more expensive is just a waste of money.

14ga is fine. Brand? Copper is good. Basic lamp cord from Home Depot works just fine.

And your connection ideas sound good as well. Almost like you read an owner's manual. If you did, you far ahead of most people who ask questions here.

-Robert

SherardP

Re: Newbie to Home Theater

if the tivo supports component video then go that route instead, nice to see you a polkie also, head over to the polk forum sometimes bud. You can find the rest of them @ http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/. Good group people there also. As for speaker cable I would build my own using 12ga as I did with my own setup. Welcome to HT world though, soon you'll be adding power amps and more.

Charles_M

Re: Newbie to Home Theater

I highly recommend Bluejeans Cable. I just setup my first HT and purchased cable from Bluejeans. I purchased 200' of 12ga speaker wire, a DVI-HDMI cable (that I didn't end up needing), optical cables, and I think some component cables. Their prices are much better than the Monster stuff from the big box stores. Plus, you can custom order lengths which I found to really help keep things clean.

I like bluejean's bundled speaker wire ("white"). I had some in wall and basement runs and the sheathing felt solid but still flexible enough to fish through the walls.

John Garcia

Re: Newbie to Home Theater

I highly recommend Blue Jeans as well. Great stuff.

"The trouble with the world is not that people know too little, but that they know so many things that ain't so." - Mark Twain

HT: Marantz SR-8300, MA500 monoblocks x 2, 5X GR Research A/V-2s, Adire Audio Tempest sub, Denon 2900, Oppo 980H, Toshiba HD-A2, RC2000MkII remote, Panamax 5100, Panamax Max2 sub, Slim PS2, PS3 60G + 320G USB

Bedroom: Marantz PM-7200 Integrated, GR Research A/V-1s, Sony 222ES SACD, RC3200 remote, Panamax M8EX

Audio: Audioquest * Video: Bluejeans

My DVDs My HT