Thread: Home Theater Question

Originally Posted by Consultant

Originally Posted by Veovis

Originally Posted by Consultant

So then - if I'm reading you right, I need to run component from the DVD player to the receiver, then component from the receiver to the TV? Basically - no RCA cables anywhere?

Yes, that should work. I was a bit confused by your original post but to me it sounded like you are currently using composite video (single yellow RCA plug carrying video) between your DVD and receiver. No, you do not want to use composite video anywhere. It's crap quality, compared to component (3 RCA plugs carrying R,G,B video) or HDMI (which are both pretty close in quality in most cases).

Although it's not necessary to run video through your receiver, unless you need your receiver to convert it somehow, or you want to use your receiver for switching (which is not necessary if you get a good Logitech universal remote ). I run video straight from every source device to my display and bypass the receiver. I only process audio in the receiver.

Hope this helps.

Cool, so Video straight to the TV, Component - what about audio? Do I do Audio out from the DVD and into the receiver? What cable should I use for that?

red/white composite is what I have most readily available.

red/white RCA will work,but what kind of reciever do you have.....does it have fiber optic inputs? if it does,GO WITH THAT!! that will make a HUGE difference.

Originally Posted by chroniccough

weellllllllllllll not actually

if u buy a top of the line reciever it will upconvert a composite or component signal to HDMI BUT it doesnt upgrade the picture quality ofcourse due to the composite from the DVDor what have you

I'm trying to remember how I had to hook things up with my old dvd player.....my new one has an HDMI out on it(although its not a blu-ray,just a regular cd/dvd changer) and my reciever has HDMI switching on it,so its easy now,but I'm pretty sure it wouldn't output the analog signal on the HDMI....I could be wrong and I'm certainly not gonna argue with someone who does it for a living!

Originally Posted by Consultant

what about audio? Do I do Audio out from the DVD and into the receiver? What cable should I use for that?

red/white composite is what I have most readily available.

Depends on your receiver, DVD player, and most importantly how many speakers you have. If you just have two speakers, then use red/white RCA plugs to send stereo audio from the DVD player straight to the receiver. If you have more speakers, use digital coax or optical, whichever works with your hardware.

P.S. Any cables you need to buy (especially HDMI) you should do so from monoprice.com. I fully endorse them, dirt cheap prices and great quality and service. If you didn't know already, HDMI prices are a scam at 95% of retailers. I wired my whole home theater (TV+DVR+Receiver+DVD+PS3+Wii+5.1) for probably less than $100, and it would have cost 5x that easily from Best Buy or something.

Originally Posted by chroniccough

well it is rare

most receivers that will do that run close to 1000 or more sooo most ppl dont spend that much. depends on how much u like ur electronics

I was able to get my reciever wholesale....it was less than half the retail price. More and more of the new recievers are coming with HDMI switching now.Even the lower end of the market is starting to put a couple HDMI ins in the back now.


Cablesdirect.com is also a great place to get cables of any type.I have had nothing but good experiences with them as well.

Originally Posted by dex71

I was able to get my reciever wholesale....it was less than half the retail price. More and more of the new recievers are coming with HDMI switching now.Even the lower end of the market is starting to put a couple HDMI ins in the back now.

Same here, Pioneer VSX-816, it was over $400 retail and I got it manufacturer refurbished with 90-day warranty for $150 on eBay. Basically somebody bought it from Best Buy and returned it probably, but it was still brand new basically. Even for $400 it's got really good sound for the price. Competes against a lot higher end units. No HDMI but that didn't really matter to me.

Originally Posted by RhysJD3

I'd just be careful of any of the less expensive receivers that do "upscaling". Passthrough is probably going to the safer bet with the less expensive ones.

Yeh, the only thing you need to upscale is DVD and Sony makes an incredible upscaling DVD player for under $100.