Cable box to receiver - Part II

robbajob · 10-26-2008, 10:31 AM

OK, now all I need to know is where to plug the digital coax, coming from the cable box, into the back of the receiver? Coax-1 (DVD), in the furthest left column of sockets?

Schumi · 10-26-2008, 10:34 AM

Orange plugs on the far left, COAX-1 or COAX-2 (DVD or CD is the channel it will come in on, so depending on which one you use you will set your source to DVD-COAX or CD-COAX to listen to your cable.

Gogar · 10-26-2008, 10:50 AM

+1, and you just gotta make sure all the 'options' are set correctly in both boxes. If you get lucky, it'll just work.

robbajob · 10-26-2008, 11:26 AM

Thanks guys.

I think I'm going to have to set aside an evening for hooking all this up. I have a PS3, a Wii, my macbook, the cable box, and full surround sound speakers to hook up to the receiver.

Then I guess I'm going to need to configure the picture on the plasma for each of those, if that's even possible considering they're all coming in through the same HDMi input in the back of the plasma.

Hopefully the AV gods will be with me.

cstreit · cstreit's Garage

Looks like my Denon. I set it up once, after we moved I haven't gotten around to it because installing the Bose surround is such a huge project...

gchappel · 10-26-2008, 02:38 PM

Does your cable box have an hdmi output- the hdmi cables make the hookups easy.
Highest definition video and audio all in one simple cable.
Gary

robbajob · 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gchappel

Does your cable box have an hdmi output- the hdmi cables make the hookups easy.
Highest definition video and audio all in one simple cable.
Gary

Nah, the damn thing looks like it was made in the 80s. Actually the 70s. It doesn't even have scart connection. It's the ugly sister in my new set-up of supermodels.

As soon as I move apartment I plan to get HD cable or directTV or whatever.

Edit: I just found out you don't have scart over here.

Pazuzu · 10-26-2008, 08:05 PM

A receiver that complex should let you map your inputs to whichever title you give it (ie. "TV" "DVD" "game" etc).

robbajob · 10-27-2008, 06:16 AM

Another question:

If I run the cable box into the receiver using S Video do I then need to run an S Video cable from the monitor out connection of my receiver into my plasma screen for it to work?

I was working under the assumption I could just hook everything up to the receiver by whatever connection they have - HDMi, composite, S Video - and then run a single HDMi cable from the receiver to my plasma screen.

John.

Gogar · 10-27-2008, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robbajob

Another question:

If I run the cable box into the receiver using S Video do I then need to run an S Video cable from the monitor out connection of my receiver into my plasma screen for it to work?

I was working under the assumption I could just hook everything up to the receiver by whatever connection they have - HDMi, composite, S Video - and then run a single HDMi cable from the receiver to my plasma screen.

John.

The receiver should take care of it for you, AFAIK. Just run the HDMI cable to the TV, like you thought.

robbajob · 10-27-2008, 06:49 AM

Thanks Gogar, that's what I was thinking then I read something on an AV Forum and got confused.

TerryH · TerryH's Garage

I know a few years ago most, if not all, HT receivers simply supported pass-thru video. Taking svideo in to HDMI out would be unconversion. Does the owners manual address this? All my stuff predates HDMI.

robbajob · 10-27-2008, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TerryH

I know a few years ago most, if not all, HT receivers simply supported pass-thru video. Taking svideo in to HDMI out would be unconversion. Does the owners manual address this? All my stuff predates HDMI.

I'll have to take a look at it tonight.

What about composite to HDMi? Or is that OK?

Pazuzu · 10-27-2008, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robbajob

I'll have to take a look at it tonight.

What about composite to HDMi? Or is that OK?

Your receiver is expensive enough that it will convert anything to your HDMI.

Single cable to TV, everything else fed into the receiver. Use the highest level for each individual thing (in decreasing order, HDMI/component/s-video/composite) and for audio, always use the digital if you can (either coax or optical). You can use basic left-right stereo for the CD player, or maybe the video game.

It doesn't matter too much which actual connector you use for each thing, but if you can keep them tracked to what's labeled on the back, it'll be easier (ie. DVD in/CD in /TV in). Otherwise, you'll have to use the system to reset the assignments, so when you want to watch a movie, it knows where to go to get everything being input.

TerryH · TerryH's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by robbajob

I'll have to take a look at it tonight.

What about composite to HDMi? Or is that OK?

Composite video is a step down from s-video. What exactly are you hoping for? Do you just want TV sound out to your stereo speakers? As far as what you can do with your new receiver outputs... when in doubt, read the manual.

The biggest issue here, as you know, is your outdated cable box. Even without HD, you should be able to upgrade to optical audio with a newer cable box. I think you said you were renting, can you upgrade your cable box to something more current? I'm thinking it would be a free upgrade from the cable supplier.

I typo'd in my last post, "unconversion" should read upconversion.

KFC911 · 10-27-2008, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pazuzu

Your receiver is expensive enough that it will convert anything to your HDMI.....

Maybe not...I've got a fantastic pre-amp with LOTS of digi inputs/outputs (coax & optical), along with tons of RCA connections, etc. (with almost every connection being used for something

). Since it has a fantastic built-in DAC (digital > analog converter, I use digi inputs from all components when possible), but the inverse is not possible (i.e. I can't take analog input and output it as digital.) One other note (unlike networking), digital coax is better than digital optical so use coax for your "primary" sources when possible if you're seeking the "best quality". I never route video through my pre-amp (I use HDMI direct from satellite reciever to the TV for the best picture).

Pazuzu · 10-27-2008, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC911

Maybe not...I've got a fantastic pre-amp with LOTS of digi inputs/outputs (coax & optical), along with tons of RCA connections, etc. (with almost every connection being used for something

). Since it has a fantastic built-in DAC (digital > analog converter, I use digi inputs from all components when possible), but the inverse is not possible (i.e. I can't take analog input and output it as digital.)

Shoulda bought a Denon AVR-1909 then, since it does do analog to digital conversion, and upconverting

Actually, I looked at CNET, and they claim it will do analog to HDMI, but the Denon page itself doesn't say that...hhhmmm...

But, the AVS FAQ for the 1909 says that it will convert A to D.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1050097

robbajob · 10-27-2008, 11:42 AM

Yep, I just checked the manual - downloaded it online - and the 1909 will upconvert.

TerryH: The composite question was more to do with the fact that that's how my Wii will connect to my receiver. Looks like that will be OK too though.

TerryH · TerryH's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by robbajob

Yep, I just checked the manual - downloaded it online - and the 1909 will upconvert.

TerryH: The composite question was more to do with the fact that that's how my Wii will connect to my receiver. Looks like that will be OK too though.

0
Isn't the Wii HD? It should use at least component (Y,Pb,Pr) not composite.

KFC911 · 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pazuzu

Shoulda bought a Denon AVR-1909 then, since it does do analog to digital conversion, and upconverting

...

And with enough wimpy power to drive a transistor radio to boot...bells & whistles...bah

. I'm not into home theater (or receivers in general), it's seperate components all the way for me. My preamp (Sony TA E9000ES) that I've had for years would eat that Denon for a snack...ADC is about the only feature it doesn't have. I rarely use 5.1 (like NEVER), but I sure do like music...2 channels > 4 amps (2600 watts total) > 6 speakers doesn't suck either

. Actually, Denon makes great stuff, I'm just pickin' with ya...different strokes.

edited: ps: I just checked the specs online, and it's "supposed" to support ADC, but mine doesn't. I only have a couple of sources connected via RCA (ran out of digi inputs - 7), and it definitely doesn't convert from analog to say a dat recorder, etc. Ya can't always believe what you read on the Internet...imagine that?