Connecting Toshiba HD-A1 DVD Player To Yamaha 6140 (1 Viewer)

[ronsweet2]

I went out and bought all the cables I think I will need. But I see now that my AD1 has only ONE HDMI port, which is currently plugged into my HDTV. In my manual, it shows an alternative connection if the HDMI port on the DVD player is occupied:

1) First, it says use the green/red/blue “component” cables for the “video out” from the AD1 to “component video input” on the receiver.
2) Second, it says use the red/white/yellow cables for audio/video out
3) Third, use a “coaxial” connection (which is an orange port on the back of the receiver).

I am pretty sure that all of these ports are available on my AD1. My questions are:

A) Should I keep the AD1’s HDMI port plugged into the HD TV and use the component ports as described above? From what I understand, the HDMI port on the AD1 is better served going to the TV?

B) I am not sure what kind of cable needs to be used for the “coaxial” connection. I thought it was a “coax cable” (round cable with needle in the middle) but that’s not it. Nor does it appear to be one of the component cables. What is needed for the “coaxial” connection (assuming it is required)?

C) I have a special component cable that I actually bought by accident: “component video plus stereo audio” which is the red/green/blue component cables along with a pair of red/white cables. I would assume that I could use this cable for the #1 and #2 connections listed above, but there is no yellow cable which is also needed, nor is there an S video port on the receiver.

 

[JeremyErwin]

You will need two hdmi cables.

Connect one hdmi cable from the hd-a1 to the Yamaha 6140's DVD in. Connect the other from the Yamaha 6140's hdmi-out to the tv. Should give you the best possible sound and video, assuming that you have any hd-dvds to spin.

 

[ronsweet2]

I checked on this but, unfortunately, the AD1 has only one HDMI port and that is going to the HD TV. Here is my question:

My manual provides the suggestion listed above for an alternative connection (ie: use “component” cables for "video out” from the AD1, use the red/white/yellow cables for audio/video out, and use a “coaxial” connection from the AD1 to the receiver.)

From what I gather, a coaxial cable is a single pronged cable, which is the same type as a component or composite A/V cable. Someone told me recently that I could in fact use "any RCA cable, it doesn't need to be yellow" to make the coax connection from the digital audio output to the receiver. Is it correct that I can use either kind of cable, and just plug one of them into the coaxial port? If so, does it matter which of the two cable types (component or composite) I use and does it matter what color I use to plug into the coaxial port?

Or should I go to Radio Shack and buy a "single pronged coaxial cable" (if there is such a thing)?

And as a third alternative, I have a special component cable that I actually bought by accident: “component video plus stereo audio” which is the red/green/blue component cables along with a pair of red/white cables all in one. I had thought that I could use this cable for the #1 and #2 connections listed in my original post, however there is no yellow cable which is also needed, nor is there an S video port on the receiver. But could I use this cable to make the component connection and one of the red or white cables to make the coaxial connection?? If so, what exactly would the connection(s) be?

Thanks, Ron

 

[JeremyErwin]

First off, you don't need to mess with composite video or s-video. That I can say right off the bat. Don't waste your time. Don't add to the rats nest of cables if you don't need to. It's not as if you can record "King Kong" on to a VCR tape, anyway.


And yes, technically SPDIF coaxial cables and video cables are one and the same-- 75 ohms and all that. Technically most consumer video cables would have a hard time meeting spec anyway-- something about it being impossible to design a 75 ohm phono plug. But unless you have a very long run, and/or you home's electrical environment is noisy, it won't make any difference. Use yellow capped cables if you prefer. A single stranded coaxial cable just makes things neater and reduce the chance of ..

...oh I don't know. Maybe a loose unconnected wire will come and contact with something it shouldn't and cause noise problems, or a short. Probably an irrational fear.

Assuming that the Yamaha-6140 works as it should-- it should be able to read the audio portion of hdmi, and pass the video portion onto the TV. Simple, and it will allow you to enjoy both high definition soundtracks on HD-DVDs (which cannot "fit" down a SPDIF connection) and upconverted video on regular dvds (something about DRM prohibiting upconverted video over composite.)



The only "problem" is that in order to watch a disc, you'll have to turn on the receiver.



Note that the HTR-6140 has three hdmi ports-- two inputs (DVD and DTV/CBL) and one output. the output connects to the tv. That's why the DVD player doesn't need two hdmi outputs.



I think monoprice.com has decent prices on hdmi cables if you need an extra one. No need to pay five to ten times more for monster.

 

[ronsweet2]

This makes perfect sense, Jeremy! Okay, stupid question: why does the Yamaha receiver even have component inputs?? In the manual, it goes as far as to say "Be sure to make the same type of video connections as those made for your TV."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"You just need to connect the digital audio out to the receiver. You can connect the 6 audio RCAs if your receiver has the inputs for them but you don't need to."

Okay, so if I don't need the component cable connections, I should only need the coaxial connection and the audio connections between the AD1 and the receiver?

This is what I have done:

1) Used a composite red/white/yellow cable to connect the DVD "video out" and "audio out" to the DVD "video in" and "audio in" on the receiver.

2) Used a composite red/white/yellow cable to connect the Left/Right front speakers of the "Multi Channel Input" (red and white), AND used the yellow to connect the coaxial connection.

3) Used two pairs of red/white RCA cables to connect the Left and Right surrounds AND the center/subwoofer* on the "Multi Channel Input". Is that all I need to do?

*Note: The receiver's input ports on the "center" and "subwoofer" are not color coded like the other four are. I'm assuming this is because it does not matter which goes where since there is no "left" and "right", which have to match (white for left and red for right).

Am I all good to go now?? Thanks for all your help everyone!

 

[Phil Iturralde]

OPTIONAL CONNECTIONS: Outside of your Toshiba HD-A1

Because Yamaha gives you the 'OPTION' to use your Yamaha AV Receiver as the 'Main Control Center' where All Switching ... between your Video Equipment can be handled Thru your Yamaha AV Receiver.

Think back before you bought your Yamaha AV Receiver, ... ALL your Video Equipment was connected to your Toshiba HDTV various INputs.

So, if you want your Yamaha AV Receiver to be the 'Main Control Center', ...

1) Disconnect each Video Source (DVR - like your RCA) from your Toshiba HDTV
.... a) Could be Component INputs

2) Connect the Video Source (DVR - like your RCA) into your Yamaha AV Receiver's Component #1 INputs

3) Repeat #1 & #2 for each Video Equipment you own
.... a) Remember the Yamaha AV Receiver's INput Name
.... b) i.e. Example:
........ 1. Component #1 (RCA DVR w/80GB Hard Drive)
........ 2. Component #2 (Samsung VHS/DVR Combo unit - my example)
........ 3. etc.

----------------

Or, ... you could just leave All the Other Video Equipment connect to your Toshiba HDTV, and switch between them via your Toshiba HDTV Remote.

Hope this helps, (FYI: I won't have internet access until later tonight)
Phil