Don't know if i need a reciever or not...

ckzzz · 11-13-2007, 04:23 AM

Hello everyone~~

I don't know much about home theater things and i figure i should come to this forum for an honest answer since those retail guys are hard to trust now a days...anyway...

Question

I am planning to get a HDTV, cable and a ninento wii....I have a Panasonic home theater in a box already which is HDMI compatible...So my question is do i need a receiver ? so that when i play Wii or watch cable, the sounds will be produce through the speakers from the Home theater in a box instead of the TV speaker. How do i connect all the stuff together so that the HTIB can produce all the sound... Can HDMI splitter do the work? or i need a receiver? cuz it would reli nice if i don't need a receiver so i can save some $$....

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! ^___^

BrianStone · 11-13-2007, 05:29 AM

Which Panasonic HTIB do you have? Does it have video and audio inputs and outputs in the back? If so, then it is a receiver, and you already have everything you need.

The Nintendo Wii doesn't support HDMI (or, at least, mine doesn't). It only supports S-Video and RGB-Component out with separate stereo RCA outputs for audio. So, as long as you have a free S-Video or Component port free on your HTIB, then you're good to go.

Shannon W · 11-13-2007, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianStone

Which Panasonic HTIB do you have? Does it have video and audio inputs and outputs in the back? If so, then it is a receiver, and you already have everything you need.

The Nintendo Wii doesn't support HDMI (or, at least, mine doesn't). It only supports S-Video and RGB-Component out with separate stereo RCA outputs for audio. So, as long as you have a free S-Video or Component port free on your HTIB, then you're good to go.

X2! Thats some good Info for ya!

Shannon

ckzzz · 11-13-2007, 11:47 PM

Hello

I own the panasonic HT740...they have a spec page on CNET....i can't post the URL cuz the site said i might post spam...haha...anyway

This is the Connection Type

1 x Composite video output ( RCA phono ) - Rear, 1 x Component video output ( RCA phono x 3 ) - Rear, 1 x S-Video output ( 4 pin mini-DIN ) - Rear, 1 x Audio line-in ( RCA phono x 2 ) - Rear, 1 x HDMI output ( 19 pin HDMI Type A ) - Rear, 1 x Headphones ( Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm ) - Front, 1 x Audio line-in ( Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm ) - Front

can you check and let me know if i need a receiver? if not...how do i connect everything so that the speaker can produce all the sounds no matter what i am watching/playing...

Thank you so much!!!

Jeff Gatie · 11-14-2007, 07:46 AM

That HTiB is an all-in-one system. It includes the AM/FM tuner, amplifier, and DVD player all in one box, in place of a separate DVD player and receiver. So, no receiver needed. To hook it up:

DVD video (audio handled internally) - HDMI out on HTiB to one of the TV's HDMI ins.
HD cable box video - HDMI or component to HDMI or component in on TV
HD cable box audio - Optical/Coax on cable box to optical/coax on HTiB
Wii Video - Component out on Wii to component in on TV
Wii audio (if digital available) - Optical/Coax on Wii to optical/coax on HTiB
Wii audio (if digital unavailable) - Analog L/R on Wii to analog R/L HTiB

**HTF Ads**

Al.Anderson · 11-14-2007, 07:55 AM

Well, you have a receiver, but it seems from your list of connections that it doesn't provide input connections* (other than the 2 RCA inputs). I've never heard of this, but I guess they took the in-a-box concept to the extreme and figured anyone using this piece of equipment wanted to be completely self contained.

If you have the money I'd get rid of this HTIB and move up a notch.

If you're going to use it you'd have to connect the cable and wii to the the TV first and then run a cable from the TV's audio out to your receiver's audio in. You won't be getting any high end audio this way (no digital audio connection) but it'll play stereo through your receiver. The receiver *probably* has a setting that enhances the stereo through all speakers; but it won't be true 5.1.

(*I tried to get the manual from Panasonic's web site, but they don't list this model anymore. So I'm going by the input/output description you gave.)

ckzzz · 11-14-2007, 10:38 PM

Hey guys!!

Thank you so much for the answer!! Hmm...Does my HTIB have enough room to support another Dvd player? cuz i want to get a dvd recorder too....

Is there any other HTIB or speaker system that is around 500 bucks that can support all the things i want to connect and it connects digitally if that is the right term? if not thats okay cuz i do understand 500 is a low budget compare to the new technologies... Thank you so much!!

JVC TH-L1 <-- is this a goodie? or not...my room is small so no need for powerful system...but do enjoy surround sound..but is the connection type enough..? i have no idea lol...so thank you for helping me out!!

JeremyErwin · 11-15-2007, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ckzzz

Is there any other HTIB or speaker system that is around 500 bucks that can support all the things i want to connect and it connects digitally if that is the right term? if not thats okay cuz i do understand 500 is a low budget compare to the new technologies... Thank you so much!!

Onkyo HT-SR800

about $420 with free ground shipping

It doesn't support hdmi audio, but if you can live with that omission (hdmi audio is useful for Bluray, HDDVD, and possibly DVD-Audio/SACD) it might make a good starter system. You'll need to supply your own DVD player.

BrianStone · 11-15-2007, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeremyErwin

Onkyo HT-SR800

That's the system I own, and I love it. Thumbs up!

Al.Anderson · 11-15-2007, 06:42 AM

Jeff, unless you know something that's not in the posted connection information, she doesn't have either an HDMI or a digital audio connection.

Weird, I was going to suggest the SR-800 also - it must be meant to be.