Help me figure out this connection setup (1 Viewer)

[JJR512]

Here's what I have, or will be getting soon:
Sony DVP-S9000ES DVD player
Pioneer Elite CLD-79 LD player
Sony SDP-EP9ES digital surround processor (for decoding AC-3 RF)
Sony STR-DA4ES receiver
JVC HR-S5901U S-VHS VCR
...plus, digital cable with an as-yet unknown coverter box (Comcast, Baltimore County, MD, if that helps).
TV: Make/model still yet to be determined.
I need a little bit of help figuring out how to connect some of this together.
I think the DVD player is easy: Component video and coaxial digital audio to the receiver.
The LD player is more complex but I think I've figured it out: S-video to the receiver; analog stereo pair to the same input (for analog tracks); coaxial digital on the AC-3 RF out to the AC-3 RF decoder, and from the decoder, analog audio 5.1 (three pairs of stereo cables) to the multichannel input on the receiver.
Connecting the TV to the receiver also seems fairly straightforward: Component and S-video from receiver to TV. Also, standard analog stereo pair for times when multichannel is too much, to use TV speakers.
Where I start getting a bit confused is with the VCR and the cable box. Do I just connect the VCR to the receiver? It seems to have a dedicated VCR input, with S-video and composite (RCA) and stereo audio inputs and outputs as a matched set (there are actually two of these complete in/out sets on the STR-DA4ES). What about the cable box? Direct to the receiver as well, or to the TV or VCR first? I can't figure this part out.
I still have yet to purchase the receiver and the TV. I know I'm going to get the STR-DA4ES, but haven't fully decided on any TV yet. Whatever I get should have a full complement of the necessary connections (hopefully!). But I'm trying to plan out the connections now, so I can go ahead and order the cables, all of them all at once.
Thanks!

 

[JJR512]

OK, I've been looking at pictures of the back panel of the STR-DA4ES, and also of the Sony KV-32HS500, one of the TVs I'm strongly considering. I've also found Sony's manual for this model on their website, which I think is helping me. This TV has a cable input and loop out. Looks like this means I can connect the incoming cable (from the wall) directly to the TV, and from this, using only the TV, with the rest of the system off or not involved, I can watch unscrambled cable on the TV. But with the loop-out, the incoming cable signal also goes directly out, and I can connect that to the cable box. It's like using a splitter, the manual says. OK, so if I connect in this way...I'm assuming the digital cable box will have a stereo audio output matched with either a composite (RCA) or S-video output. Now, should I connect this output on the cable box to the receiver? Then connect VCR only to the receiver as well? Or should I connect the cable box to the VCR first, then the VCR to the receiver...or to the TV? I'm obviously still confused.

 

[JJR512]

Also, I've been trying to find this info online somehow, and from what I can find, it looks like the digital cable converter box should have an S-vid output with stereo audio. That should make this easier.

 

[Jim J]

does the Sony SDP-EP9ES digital surround processor (for decoding AC-3 RF) have a digital output? If I know sony probably an optical. Most likely it is demodulated and can be fed into a digital input on your receiver.

At least, that is what I'm doing with my Denon AVD-2000