Home Theater Question
- Started
- Last post
- 18 Responses
- mg33
I've been busy researching all sorts of home theater stuff now that we've moved into our new condo, and keep scratching my head at something.
I have a 3 HDMI input Samsung LCD tv. Previous setup had Xbox and DVD using HDMI into the TV, and optical audio out into the receiver.
I keep reading about Yamaha receivers that have HDMI inputs, so whats' the gist here? Connect Xbox, Cable TV, and DVD HDMI to receiver? Then what to the TV? Or, do components go to TV, then a cable out from the TV to the receiver? I'm so confused and most documentation isn't very helpful.
Thanks.
- ********0
- doublespaced0
Yeah, if the A/V receiver has HDMI inputs, it will have at least one HDMI output. It treats the video signals just like audio ones, routing them to the TV accordingly. I run mine this way and never have to change the input on the TV, just on the receiver. Cheers.
- doublespaced0
Pretty much all A/V receivers now, not just Yamaha's, have HDMI throughput.
- plash_two0
i've always followed the everything goes into the receiver/ amp mind frame. but nowdays receivers are going the way of the compact disk.
so, if you're using your own speaker setup then everything goes into the receiver and receiver hdmi/audio optical output goes into tv input. this is without seeing all the components like blu-ray, xm-radio, etc. (which as well will plug into receiver ) no?
- mg330
Thanks guys, I appreciate the info. This makes sense to me now and also helps picture the way that the TV would be mounted on the wall and only have a power cable and HDMI cable going into it.
One thing though (although I bet my universal remote could be configured for this): I assume if changing the modes (xbox, video, cable, etc.) through receiver, I could still configure my TV for different viewing modes and have it change per receiver mode? Ex: a setting for movies, a setting for video games, which my TV is already configured for.
- d_rek0
Any receiver with an HDMI input you purchase will most definitely have an HDMI out. Some will even have multiple I/O (such as my Onyko).
Essentially your receiver will become a gateway for devices connected to it. So if you have an xb360 with an hdmi cable connected to your receiver you will want the receiver output to your television to be hdmi as well.
However, I will warn, hdmi cables quickly become an additional cost - but one that is well worth it if you value the fidelity of your audio and video.
As to whether you will be able to configure your receiver / television in tandem...I think you can do that - Unless your television wasn't 'smart' enough to maintain multiple viewing settings per the input it is receiving.
- The TV won't be switching inputs this way, so automatic picture settings wouldn't work the same way.doublespaced
- d_rek0
@doublespaced,
Right. I understand that. However, some televisions can detect what type of input they are receiving (hdmi, composite, s-video) and will use whatever previously used view settings when the type of input changes.
- mg330
thanks. www.monoprice.com is the place for cheap HDMI cables. Like, dollars cheap. Monster cables are a fuckin' ripoff.
- d_rek0
mg33,
The pricing of the cables themselves is an absolute fucking scam. You are going to get the same exact audio/picture quality from some cheapo radio-shack cable for $5 as you would the $50 monster cable at best buy.
- Same exact raw materials goes into each cable. The ONLY thing that makes a monster different is the amount of shielding....d_rek
- shielding. Which unless you set off an EMP if your living room the cheapo cables will be just fine.d_rek
- Then why do they price by bandwidth?doublespaced
- LOL @ EMP in living room. Hahahahahamg33
- d_rek0
They price by bandwith because some asshole looking to make a buck decided to tier the product that way.They never used to offer HDMI cables with different amounts of bandwith - they were all the same and they worked just fine.
Since companies got hip to this practice more confused consumers were left to figure out which was better.
In 9/10 scenarios the cheapo-cable works just as good as a more expensive option.
- ok, Stosseldoublespaced
- Only if the output of your digital devices was absolutely extravagant would you need to entertain a high bandwith optiond_rek
- optiond_rek
- okdoublespaced
- mg330
I bought shielded, in-wall HDMI cables from monoprice.com for like $8 a piece for 6 foot long cables. I had previously bought Monster cables when the TV got delivered, and I returned them to Best Buy once the new ones arrived.
The guy at Best Buy about threw a hissy fit when i told him I was returning them because I found cheaper ones on the web. He was all "Are they Monster cables? Monster cables are the best cables out there and nothing possibly comes close to them." to which I said "Do they pay you to say that?"
- Frosty_spl0
Get a projector and be more baller than your friends. Then add a tube amp. Done.
- Boz0
You are best off with Onkyo receivers. Get one of those.. they usually have 4 to 5 HDMI inputs, are great quality and are cheaper than Yamaha or Denon.
You only need 1 HDMI output to TV.
So as some have told you..
You take your devices you use, you take the HDMI cable from them (if a device doesn't have HDMI it usually has optical audio and component video outputs which receivers also support) to your receiver and you use the receiver's remote for changing current device. Your TV is always set to display what you are seeing, the receiver does the switching.
And yes.. monoprice.com is the absolute best and cheapest for cables. Don't buy anywhere else as it is a ripoff.
- I love my onkyo - fabulous receiverd_rek
- My Onkyos ALL failed because they can't power 4ohm speakers very well.doublespaced
- I looked at the new lineup. The 708 and up drive 4ohm speakers. Starts at $800 for this power.doublespaced
- d_rek0
@double,
yeah - i don't have any 'true' audiophile equipment. And nothing so demanding as to require 4ohms. But as an entry level product the onkyo receiver I have is great. I know they have a pro-line or whatever, so that may fulfill the needs of a true audio/videophile.
But in all honesty, if i was going to start spending upwards of $1k i might look at a different manufacturer for my reciever.
- Raniator0
Just HDMI to the TV. That will carry the picture and (best quality) sound signals. Then just switch the receiver to the required input based on what you are watching. Xbox, Satellite etc...
- I'm sure everyone else has said the same. Haven't read all the posts.Raniator
- My receiver makes the video signal better by handling the HDMI itself and decoding deep color and upscalingdoublespaced
- so, directly to TV looks worse on my setup. Plus, TV speakers suck assdoublespaced
- Well you wouldn't use the TV speakers would you?! That's the whole point of using the AV amp... to connect it to your...Raniator
- ...bad ass 5.1/7.1 surround sound setup.Raniator
- And this ENTIRE thread is about using the receiver for video too, which you said not to dodoublespaced
- No I didn't? The whole point of the receiver is that the signal from source (xbox) to output (TV) passes through itRaniator
- Pictures ends up on TV, sound ends up through external speakers. One cable from amp to TV... simple!Raniator
- Oh, I thought you proposed going "HDMI to TV" and bypassing the receiver. We're on teh same page.doublespaced
- Phew! I thought I was losing it there for a second :)Raniator
- Raniator0
Oh, and don't get sucked into spending loads on HDMI cables... sure, spend £10 rather than using the freebie you get in the box, but spending any more than that? Forget it.
Have a read of this...
- you really haven't read this thread, damndoublespaced
- wft... now I'm confused?Raniator
- Clearly you're confused. You preach about HDMI and then posted an article about speaker wire. Hahaha.doublespaced
- Someone suggested the the cables will be 'an additional cost, but one that is well worth it' which is bull shitRaniator
- he was talking about HDMI cables, not speaker wires...big difference brodoublespaced
- I'm talking about HDMI cables! Speaker cable, sure... spend more. Expensive HDMI cables? Waste of money.Raniator
- oh, well, that engadget article isn't about HDMI cables...I guess that threw me offdoublespaced
- doublespaced0
Best reason to buy a high-end A/V receiver
- mg330
Is an ohm like a gigiwat?