setup system (1 Viewer)

[eb075]

Hey guys,
I've never posted here before but was wondering if anyone can offer some advise. Just bought a new AV setup comprising Samsung 46" FHD LCD; Yamaha 5.1 surround sound, TiVo and a Samsung Blue Ray (coming by redemption).
Question is, what is best way to set all this up to take full advantage but still be easy to use (for family). I'm sick of systems where you had to pick 5 different options to do 1 simple thing.
Salesman said he would put DVD, TiVo and anything else into TV, then send sound back out to amp. Certainly allows for only 1 choice on amp, but have just found it won't play DTS 5.1 option on a music DVD I'm listening to (older DVD player, not blue ray yet).
Any thoughts on best way – should I put all devices into amp first and then send video to TV or follow his advice.
BTW, we also got a Harmony remote which looks like being easy way to choose various bits of gear for a task.
In case anyone needs to know, TV has AV x 2, composite x 2, HDMI x 4; TiVo has composite and HDMI; not sure yet on Blue Ray but certain it will have similar including optical audio; amp has component, optical, HDMI all in/out etc.
I'm pretty good at tech and pc's etc but a lot of this has gone past me - eg what is optical audio and when should I use it? Should I use component video or HDMI etc etc.

Suggestions please,
Thanks,
Barry

 

[Ed Moxley]

We need to know the model number of the Yamaha, to know if it decodes the HD audio formats of blu ray, to advise best connection for it. Going through the receiver first makes switching much easier, but that's no big deal since you have a Harmony remote. It will do everything for you......

 

[Jeff Gatie]

The first rule is: Never listen to a salesman. Of all the TV's we've ever heard of here at HTF, only one (and I'm still suspicious of that one ) ever passed 5.1 digital audio from HDMI in to optical out on the TV. Optical out on the TV is only passes Dolby Digital from the TV's internal tuner for 99.9% of the sets out there. All other sources pass stereo PCM.

As Ed said, list your model numbers and we can get a better idea of the capabilities of your components (especially your Yamaha system).

 

[eb075]

Thanks guys,
The TV is a Samsung 46" FHD LCD with a BIG long model number I can't find here (but that probably isn't important) and the Yamaha is an RX-V363 AV Receiver.

Barry

 

[Ed Moxley]

Your receiver is HDMI pass through, so you'll need to use a separate cable for audio. Since it just has two HDMI inputs, here's what I'd do. I'm guessing you're on cable or sat, for HD channels? I'd connect cable/sat box, and blu ray player to receiver, with HDMI for video. Then connect cable/sat box to receiver with digital coax for audio. Your blu ray player really needs to have 5.1/7.1 multi-channel outputs, and connect them to receiver for HD audio. If player doesn't have 5.1/7.1 multi-channel outputs, you'll need to use optical output from player for audio, and it's not possible to get the HD audio over optical cable. If Tivo has HDMI output, go straight to tv with it for video, and use optical for audio. It will be easy enough doing the switching, since you'll be using a Harmony remote, as long as you program it right.

Optical (Toslink) cable, is a fiber optic cable, used in digital connections, to get 5.1/6.1 surround sound. Be gentle with it. It breaks kinda easy. Don't turn any sharp corners with it.

You said it won't play DTS 5.1 on music dvd.
Go into the dvd player's setup menus, and set the audio output to "Bitstream", not PCM. You may also have to turn on DTS, while you're in there. Sometimes, it's a separate thing to turn on.

 

[eb075]

Ed,
Thanks for the extensive reply, it's great. I think I understand most of it
I haven't got the blu ray yet as it's coming from Samsung by redemption as a bonus for the TV, so I'll have to wait to check it's inputs/outputs.

I'll give your suggestions a try though and yell if probs, if that's ok

Again,
Thanks-I love forums, people are great and always helpful,
Barry