Home cinema help

[robbajob]

My Denon 1909 receiver turns up this weekend. I wanted to run my cable box through it into my plasma screen. What's going to be the best way to connect it? The pic is from the back of the box. It has a strange digital audio socket that I've never seen before. Would an S Video/audio cable like this one be the best option?

http://www.jr.com/monster-cable/pe/MC_THXV100AVS_hy_8/

Or should I just save my money and leave the cable box running straight into the back of the plasma with the coax?

John

[71T Targa]

There's no video in, so you'll need to keep your cable box as it is.

And don't get Monster Cable. It's overpriced hype.

[Gogar]

IMO You should just run the cable box to the TV and forget about it, unless you have a DVR or a DVD recorder or something you want to record tv shows to. You're just going to spend $50 on cables and its not going to be "better" or anything. Just run the audio out to the receiver and turn it on if you want big sound for a special occasion.

Also, if you have it hooked through the receiver, you will ALWAYS have to turn on the receiver if you waht to watch tv. Doesn't seem like a big deal, but you'll get tired of it.

[Gogar]

Originally Posted by phred68

There's no video in, so you'll need to keep your cable box as it is..

I think that's a pic of the cable box, phred, no the receiver.

[robbajob]

Thanks.

Yeah, the pic is from the cable box. The receiver has every conceivable connection possible on the back of it.

I was thinking more for audio that picture, as then I could run it through my surround sound. I guess it's not true 5.1 though so you're right, it might not be worth the bother.

[robbajob]

Duh, sorry Gogar, just read the rest of your post.

Ever seen a digital audio socket like that? I already have some phono (l/r) leads I could just run from the box to the receiver, just want to get the best quality sound possible.

[71T Targa]

Originally Posted by Gogar

I think that's a pic of the cable box, phred, no the receiver.

Well, that would make more sense...

And +1 on still not going through the receiver.

[Schumi]

Digital audio sockets like that are called coax digital audio. It's TTL level digital audio feed, hook a (nice) RCA style cable between that and your Denon. Hook the video out straight to the TV. Turn the TV on the cable's input and turn the Denon on Coax Digital and enjoy.

There are some companies that sell "high end" coax cables with gold connectors etc. If you are only running it 6 feet or so, a normal RCA cable can plug between that audio port and the denon and it will work fine. It's digital. It's either working or it's not, for the most part. Better cables won't make it sound better.

[robbajob]

Thanks Schumi.

Just to be clear, are you saying a digital coax cable is the same as an RCA cable? I have a very high grade RCA audio cable with both left and right connection. Could I just use one side of that - right plug in cable box to right plug in receiver?

And then I'd need a separate video out to video in cable?

John.

[Pazuzu]

Originally Posted by robbajob

Thanks Schumi.

Just to be clear, are you saying a digital coax cable is the same as an RCA cable? I have a very high grade RCA audio cable with both left and right connection. Could I just use one side of that - right plug in cable box to right plug in receiver?

Yes, it's EXACTLY the same. They can triple the price when they put "digital audio coax" on the packaging.

And then I'd need a separate video out to video in cable?
John.

Yes, and I'd use s-video since you have it. It'll be the highest quality that the cable box can output.

As for getting all of your various boxes/receivers/controllers working, consider getting a super-remote like a Logitech Harmony. 1 button will turn on everything needed, and it's smart enough to handle running multiple pieces at once, turning different things on for TV/DVD/Video games/etc...good stuff.

[robbajob]

Cheers Mike.

I'd totally overlooked the universal remote option. More gadgets, the wife will be thrilled.

[TerryH]

Get a current HD cable box to take advantage of your other components.

[robbajob]

TerryH,

Tell me about it. I sublet (landlady lives next door) and can't upgrade at the moment. I'll be moving in the near future and will definitely get HD.

[Pazuzu]

Originally Posted by robbajob

Cheers Mike.

I'd totally overlooked the universal remote option. More gadgets, the wife will be thrilled.

The Harmony series isn't cheap (but do some legwork, try Slickdeals, e-bay, etc) but it kicks butt. Mine has 4 primary buttons, DVD, TV, Music and Game. Push that and (after you teach it) it'll turn on and configure EVERYTHING as needed. When you click channel up or down, it send that command to the cable box. Volume up down go automatically to the receiver. Then it has 8 other buttons and a small screen that lets you tweak almost anything else on the fly if you need to.
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/remotes/universal_remotes/&cl=us,en

Don't look at the prices,you can find them for about half what's listed there.

[robbajob]

Thanks Mike.

Which model do you have? I quite like the look of the 550, can't really see why I'd need more than 4 settings.

John.

[Pazuzu]

I think it's a 896? 976? One of the peanut shaped ones, it's on the low end of their spectrum, but will control everything I have and more. I think I grabbed it for $50 once on an internet special price.

[TerryH]

Before you blow $100+ on a remote you may want to wait until you move and get your new HD DVR. The remotes that come with these things are pretty sophisticated. Easily programmable for almost any home theater component.

My Directv HD-DVR remote works fine for day to day use of TV, HT receiver, and the DVR of course. No need to slide a selector or aim it a special way. Just one button turns everything on, and a different button turns everything off. The input button works only the TV, the volume works only the HT receiver, the channel select works only the DVR. I do use a separate remote for the DVD player, but if I spent some time could probably get that in there too.

The key is a separate buttons for on and off. If there is one dual-function button, things can get weird if one component doesn't respond intially and things get out of sync. My DVR and HT receiver are 6 ft apart and in a cabinet, so I naturally hit the buttons twice while sweeping the remote.

I had a Harmony a few years back and didn't like it. I'm sure they've improved a lot by now.

[dewolf]

You Plasma may have audio out on the back in which case you can run whatever you are watching through your receiver. FWIW my company installs hi-end home theatre.

[TerryH]

Originally Posted by dewolf

You Plasma may have audio out on the back in which case you can run whatever you are watching through your receiver. FWIW my company installs hi-end home theatre.

That could work for local OTA if his plasma has a tuner, but from cable the audio has to originate from their box. In this case stereo would be the best he could hope for and pro-logic would be an alternative to surround.

edit: I think I read more into your suggestion than was meant. Yes, to get cable sound from your speakers, the tv could act as a converter. The audio signal wouldn't be upgraded, but would come from the external speakers.

If his plasma has a built-in tuner with optical out, he could run full blown home theater surround on local stations.

[Eric Coffey]

Video:
Coax from wall to cable box IN. S-video OUT from cable box to receiver S-video IN (TV/CBL). Receiver S-video/component/HDMI OUT to monitor S-video/component/HDMI IN.

Audio:
Cable box L & R analog audio OUT to receiver L & R analog audio IN (TV/CBL).

If your receiver doesn't have a digital audio coax (S/PDIF) IN for TV/CBL, your are probably stuck with analog/RCA audio out from the cable box. The only other option would be to get a S/PDIF coax-to-optical adapter/converter (something like this). Then you could run the digital coax OUT from the cable box to the receiver's optical IN (TV/CBL).