Thread: Newb ???

i know *absolutely nothing* about home theatre, but am looking at getting in the game.....i'm looking at receivers and i see that they have video inputs. Now i understand that im going to want audio inputs so i can hook my stuff to the receiver, but what are the video inputs for?

Couldn't I hook my HDDVD player up like this:

1. HDMI to TV for picture
2. Optical cable to audio receiver for audio...

What am I missing? Can anyone point to a good tutorial? TYIA

Originally Posted by Skyhi

i know *absolutely nothing* about home theatre, but am looking at getting in the game.....i'm looking at receivers and i see that they have video inputs. Now i understand that im going to want audio inputs so i can hook my stuff to the receiver, but what are the video inputs for?

Couldn't I hook my HDDVD player up like this:

1. HDMI to TV for picture
2. Optical cable to audio receiver for audio...

What am I missing? Can anyone point to a good tutorial? TYIA

Well, you could, but then you would need to switch both the TV and the receiver when changing sources. With integrated switching, one switch does it all. Multiple switching is never family friendly.

Now, as you get into it, you will discover other gotchas and features. First, cheaper receivers will only do pass through switching on HDMI video, and you will be forced to run a second digital audio cable from the source to the receiver.

Better receivers will do up-conversion so that that old VHS player with composite output will be converted to the HDMI output of the receiver, so you don't have to do additional video switching for the lower quality stuff.

Low end receivers never have enough inputs. A 2 HDMI input receiver can handle your cable box/sat receiver and a DVD (upconverting or BD). That's it. There is no room for expansion, and it is likely you will want to expand during the life of the unit.

Originally Posted by Skyhi

i know *absolutely nothing* about home theatre, but am looking at getting in the game.....i'm looking at receivers and i see that they have video inputs. Now i understand that im going to want audio inputs so i can hook my stuff to the receiver, but what are the video inputs for?

Couldn't I hook my HDDVD player up like this:

1. HDMI to TV for picture
2. Optical cable to audio receiver for audio...

What am I missing? Can anyone point to a good tutorial? TYIA

Welcome to our wonderful world. It can be a very confusing game.

As Jay stated, you really don't want to run your video to the TV and optical to your receiver from your HD DVD player for several reasons.
1. As Jay stated, not user/family friendly.
2. HD DVD's have advanced audio codecs that optical can't handle such as Dolby Digital+ and DOlby TrueHD. Your HD DVD player can decode these codecs and send them to your receiver over HDMI.
3. When you start splitting the audio and video, that is when users start reporting lip sync issues.

I do disagree with jay on upconverting (taking an analog signal and converting it to digital). I personally do not like it. It's OK with component signals, but looks like garbage with s-video and composite (yellow cable).

I do agree with jay, when looking for a receiver, you want to make sure it will last you and is expandable as your needs grow. Always make sure you have enough inputs. 3-4HDMi inputs is always a good start. Might be a good idea to look at receivers that also decode the new audio codecs (Dolby TrueHD and DTS-Master Audio) used by HD DVD and Blu-ray.

S~

Thank you guys for the replies...Could you tell me what HDMI switching is? Also, is there a receiver out there for around $300 (without the speakers) that is worth my time? Thanks again..

Originally Posted by Skyhi

Thank you guys for the replies...Could you tell me what HDMI switching is? Also, is there a receiver out there for around $300 (without the speakers) that is worth my time? Thanks again..

Not for 399.

There's a Yamaha 663 for $549:


RX-V663

and an Onkyo 605 for $599:


Onkyo TX-SR605 - 7.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver | Model Information | Onkyo USA Home Theater Products




Both have 2 HDMI 1.3 inputs and handle advanced codecs. Of the two, I would go with Yamaha.

S~

Could you share your opinions about this one:


Amazon.com: Sony STR-DG810 6.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver: Electronics

Not a fan of Sony receivers. Someone else will have to chime in on this one. Anyways, the 810 is being discontinued and being replaced with the 820 in a month or so.

S~

Originally Posted by teachsac

Not a fan of Sony receivers. Someone else will have to chime in on this one. Anyways, the 810 is being discontinued and being replaced with the 820 in a month or so.

S~

Which is why it is cheap. The set only has 3 hdmi/digital inputs, 2 optical and 1 co-ax. Nothing in the description says it will read audio from HDMI, so I would assume it will require connecting both HDMI and audio. It does not mention upconversion of video sources on either the amazon or the Sony site, so I would assume that if you have any non-hdmi sources, you will need to run multiple cables and switch at the TV for these as well.

BTW, the sonystyle site already has the 820 listed instead of the 810, soo I believe it is already obsolete/remaindered. The new one has 4-HDMI plus a few extra features at $399 list.

This is a typical low range A/V receiver.

Originally Posted by jayn_j

Which is why it is cheap. The set only has 3 hdmi/digital inputs, 2 optical and 1 co-ax. Nothing in the description says it will read audio from HDMI, so I would assume it will require connecting both HDMI and audio. It does not mention upconversion of video sources on either the amazon or the Sony site, so I would assume that if you have any non-hdmi sources, you will need to run multiple cables and switch at the TV for these as well.

BTW, the sonystyle site already has the 820 listed instead of the 810, soo I believe it is already obsolete/remaindered. The new one has 4-HDMI plus a few extra features at $399 list.

This is a typical low range A/V receiver.

The 8XX series does accept audio and more importantly multi-channel PCM over HDMI.

S~