New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

best way to connect system

post #1 of 3
11/22/09 at 10:07am
Thread Starter 
I have a samsung LN40A550P3F TV   (HDMI capable)
            samsung home theater HT-P38 (non HDMI capable)
            scientific explorer 8300 HDC cable box (HDMI capable)
what is the best way to connect these three components for best viewing and listening.  Must use comcast remote to utilize DVR and other options for cable, don't really use dvd or cd carousel very much, occasionally, still want all to work.  I have HDMI cables , also 5 bundle video/audio cables,cable wire etc.  Tv has component  In #1  R & L audio Pr PB and Y  and  receiver has these connections also.
                                                                 Thank you,
                                                                 Johnnytino
Reply
post #2 of 3
11/23/09 at 10:23am

Save you lunch money an purchase a HDMI capable receiver.   Use it as the hub to connect your HDMI components.  SE 8300 HDMI out to new receiver HDMI in.  New Receiver HDMI out to Samsung TV HDMI in.   Your other components such as DVD and CD will be connected to your new receiver using the best connection device they have. 

Until you get a new receiver you have a few options which will be about the same as far as sound quality.  SE8300 HDMI out to Samsung TV HDMI in.  For audio you can either connect the Samsung TV to your Samsung HT or use the audio out on the SE8300 to your Samsung HT.   

Reply
post #3 of 3
11/23/09 at 11:11am
One minor correction to what Bill suggested:

You should connect the digital audio out from the cable box to the Samsung home theater if you want any digital surround sound.  Routing the audio via HDMI into the TV and then back out to the home theater will only give you 2.0 stereo.  The 5.1 information will be lost.  Digital surround is only sent out from a TV if the signal originated on the TV's built-in tuner.

Hopefully, your cable box allows HDMI for video and digital coax for audio at the same time - some older cable boxes disabled the digital audio out when the HDMI was used.  If this turns out to be the case for you, you may have to use comoponent video out from the cable box instead.  This should still carry a 1080i signal just fine, which is the highest resolution carried by digital cable, anyway.

Also, keep in mind that with the audio going through the home theater, and the video to the TV, you need to switch inputs on both the home theater AND the TV when switching from DVD to Cable.
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home