Need help w/ HT hook-up & HDMI brand selection

maiqui18 · 03-04-2007, 08:39 PM

Need help! I just bought a new Mitsubishi DLP 57" WD-57831 HDTV and I'm trying to figure out how to optimize video and sound from my other HT sources. Here is the list of equipment I would like to hook up:

1. Receiver Onkyo TX-SR604 with HDMI inputs
2. Panasonic progressive scan DVD Recorder and VHS combo: no HDMI input, but has Optical connection.
3. I'm in the process of getting HD service, not sure whether satellite or cable, however the DVR box should be a newer model with HDMI inputs, etc.
4. Klipsch Cinema 6 system

My TV and receiver instructions differ in some aspects so I'm kind of confused as to what instructions should take precedence. I've read in some threads that everything should go through the receiver. Any thoughts, comments, suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

On another note, I am also bewildered with the HDMI cable prices. My equipment will all be close together, so I don't envision more than a 6ft run. Any recommendation on a quality HDMI cable at a reasonable price would also be helpful.

Thanks a bunch!

Marcus

Neal_C · 03-04-2007, 11:07 PM

Going through the receiver can be beneficial in that you may be able to just run one cable for all your video sources to the tv. This can come in handy if you have long runs of cable or if you have limited inputs on the tv.

You can buy HDMI cables for under $10 that will get the job done just fine.

Ed Moxley · 03-05-2007, 09:21 AM

Going through the receiver also makes switching sources a little easier too. But, with that being said, your receiver does not upconvert everything else to HDMI output, so if you go to receiver first, with HDMI, you'll need to output from receiver with HDMI AND s-video. It DOES upconvert to component, so if you use component cables, instead of HDMI, you can have just one set of cables, going from receiver to the tv. I've read that you won't notice much difference, if any, between HDMI and component video.

maiqui18 · 03-05-2007, 12:06 PM

Neal and Ed, thanks a bunch.

Ed,

If I connect the DVD player to the receiver with component cables and the receiver output through HDMI/S-Video to the TV, will that produce the optimal solution. Or...will component video from the receiver to the TV be a better approach.

Thanks,

Marcus

Ed Moxley · 03-05-2007, 01:55 PM

If you connect the dvd player with component cables, to the receiver, you'll need to go from the receiver to the tv, with component cables.
The vcr side of your combo player, will probably have to hookup with composite cables (red, white, and yellow rca cables), to the receiver. The receiver will upconvert, and send to tv through the component cables. Here is the page, with your receiver's features listed:
http://www.us.onkyo.com/model.cfm?m=...class=Receiver

For HD cable box, you can use component cables also, go through the receiver, and have easier switching between sources. Then, if you finish watching a dvd, and want to watch tv, you just push the TV button on the receiver or the remote. You CAN go from cable box to tv, with HDMI for video, and from cable box to receiver with digital coax or optical, for audio. But, when you want to watch tv, you'll need to change input on tv (to input you used for cable box), PLUS change input on receiver, to TV, to hear the tv.

I hope this helps. Good luck!

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maiqui18 · 03-05-2007, 11:25 PM

Ed...thanks again. Now I have a couple more questions...please bare with me.

1. I'm thinking of buying a new HD upconverting DVD player Oppo DV-981HD which obviously has the HDMI input and upconverts to my TVs 1080p capabilities. This way I have all my components with HDMI inputs. Now...here is the question. Earlier you mentioned I needed to output from receiver with HDMI AND s-video. What is the reason for the S-Video? Second, If I have to connect S-Video as well, should I also connect composite cables for analog audio. Thoughts???

2. Second, I looked at my TVs product features and it mentions it has 1080p processing. Does this mean the TV will upconvert the video to 1080p anyway, regardless of HDMI/component connections. If such, do I even need an HD upconverting DVD player?

Sorry for all the questions, and thanks a bunch!

Ed Moxley · 03-06-2007, 07:45 AM

I was thinking about your dvd recorder/vcr combo for s-video from vcr? If using component from receiver to tv, anything that's not HDMI, or component, could use s-video, and be upconverted through component cables. I'm not sure how the combo units connect. Does the vcr have separate connection, than recorder? Your receiver does not upconvert non-HDMI stuff, to output through HDMI. But it will upconvert s-video and composite connections, to output through component cables. So........maybe your vcr has s-video output? If not, and it connects separate from recorder's output, you'll need to connect it with composite connections. If you use component from receiver to tv, that's all you'll need to do with vcr. If you use HDMI from receiver to tv, you'll also need to make composite connections from receiver to tv, in order to use the vcr. I guess I shouldn't have mentioned s-video at all.

About the tv...........
Here is a quote from their site:
All 1080p DVI-I, HDMI™, IEEE 1394 and 1080p Broadcast signals are passed through with no down conversions.

You probably do need the upconverting dvd player. It doesn't say the tv will upconvert to a 1080p signal. It just says that it won't downconvert from a 1080p signal.

IF you have something to connect, that's not HDMI, and not component, but does have s-video, and you connect it that way.........yes, you'll also have to connect analog audio also. S-video is video only.

I'm sorry if I'm confusing you even worse. I'm a very slow typist, and it's hard to explain this stuff in detail, without taking all day to type it.

Did this help at all? If not, bring on the questions..........

maiqui18 · 03-06-2007, 12:41 PM

Yes...helped alot. Now, I'm still uncertain if I want to buy a new DVD player rather than wait until the format war between HDDVD and Blue-Ray is over and a the technology matures. What's your view...should I fork out the 200 for new DVD with 1080p upconverting capability, or should I stick to my current DVD (component video), and wait for Blue-ray or HD-DVD. As always, thanks for your insight!

Neal_C · 03-06-2007, 01:04 PM

I think the dvd player is really up to you and your budget. If you like your current one, maybe stick it out for a little while and wait for prices to start to fall some more on HD players. I think Toshiba just announced a $100 price cut for HD-DVD players, Sony is releasing a $599 Blu-Ray player pretty soon which should carry a street price less than that and I just read an article with a quote from a Sony exec saying they could see Blu-Ray prices reaching $299 by Christmas. EDIT...looks like the article misquoted the Sony exec. He was actually saying that $299 would be the tipping point for average consumers to buy Blu-Ray. I can't say I really agree, but nonetheless, maybe Blu-Ray won't hit that level this year. But we should see it sub-$500 in the next few months.

As with all technology, its just a matter of time before things get much cheaper. But you have to weigh the options...would you rather spend a couple hundred extra and enjoy HD movies now or would you rather wait 8 or 10 months to enjoy HD movies and save a couple hundred bucks.

I spent the $199 and got the HD-DVD add on for my 360. A small investment really considering I had the 360 since launch. I'm contemplating getting a PS3, but if the new Sony player hits the street under $500, I might go for that instead.