I'v heard nothing but good things about Onkyo and Denon. Plus the Onkyo stuff is sometimes on sale at Amazon or Circut
City.

Hey-
Can I jump in here with a question? I just bought a new HDTV and will be buying an upgraded DVD player. Do I need to have component video on my receiver as well? I thought the component video just controlled video images and I connect DVD to receiver with an optical cable. I'm confused, please help.
Adam

That's a loaded question. Some folks like their receiver to be the control box for everything in the system, and some higher end receivers have on-screen menus to make it easier to set up the receiver. If you read the instructions for your DVD player, it will most likely say to hook the component video up directly to the TV without making any unnecessary jumps in the cable (i.e., don’t hook it up through the receiver). This ensures the highest possible signal quality. That being said, I have mine hooked up through my Denon so I can see the on screen menus, and I can't see any degradation in signal quality. I would try both ways, and stick with what you are most comfortable with. I’m the type of guy who likes to get as much as possible out of every component, and I want to be able to use all those features I paid big $$$$ for. I hope that helps a little.

Optical is for *SOUND ONLY*.

I have a HDTV with a HD satellite receiver (with component video out), *as well as* a HD (also component video out) DVD player.

Problem? Yes. Think about this for your own use, btw ---
You will need some sort of switching for TWO devices going into one TV -- usually accomplished by routing through a high end receiver .

Hope this helps,

Thanks. But if the TV has both component video in and HDMI doesn't that solve the problem? DVD player to component video in, optical connection to receiver for sound. HD Cable to HDMI in on the TV and digital coax on the receiver?

BTW I get my new TV delivered today, I'm so psyched!!

I have a M&K subwoofer and picked up a right and left (used) SA-80 for the mains. Great H.T. speakers...................still have to pick up a M&K center. Anyone want to upgrade and sell me your old stuff? I only need one, but could pick up three and service the back channels in style.

When I blew 2 of mine, I picked em up on EBay - bargains to be had!