Thread: Getting a Blu-ray HT system. Need some help on a few things.

Hey what's up?

I'm hoping somebody can shed a little light on a few things for me. I'm looking to buy the Panasonic SC-BT100 Blu-ray HT system. I'm usually very good at hooking up these kind of things but I never had to deal with HDMI with a surround system before and I just want to be clear on some things.

What I want to be able to do is get not only the Blu-ray HT to be in surround sound (that's easy enough) but I want to be able to have my cable TV and my Xbox 360 to be in surround sound as well.

I have the Panasonic TH-50PX60U TV set that is currently connected though HDMI to my digital HD DVR cablevison box. That leaves one HDMI input left on my TV. Which I plan on using to the Blu-ray HT when I get it. Now I'm guessing this doesn't make my cable tv watching surround sound as well, right? What do I need to do to make this happen?

Also my Xbox 360 is currently hooked up to my TV via component cables. What's needed to make this surround sound to the HT system? I have a Nintendo Wii too but I don't think I'm going to have any slots or whatever left on the HT to make this surround sound as well. So I'm just mostly concerned about what I mentioned above.

ANY help you can provide is greatly appreciated.

Thank you so much for your time.

Corey.

The question is going to be hard to answer because Panasonic hasn't released detailed information on this unit, and nobody has it in stock yet.

The easiest path is if the panasonic has multiple HDMI inputs AND those inputs are able to strip out and process the audio. Many HTIBs simply provide pass through switching. Unfortunately the Panasonic website's spec page lists 'HDMI Input' as 'YES' instead of providing a number,

If the unit only does pass through switching, you will need to run a digital Optical (coax or TOSLINK) from each of the sources to the respective paired input channel. Naturally the Panasonic again simply says "YES" although they do state that the digital input(s) is Optical only.

I'm afraid you are going to have to wait a few weeks until the major retailers get their spec pagers up so you can look there, or so you can see one from the store.

When you see one you do need to ask the questions I mentioned above:

1. How many HDMI inputs?
2. Will the receiver decode an HDMI audio stream?
3. If not, is there an optical digital audio (TOSLINK) connection for each HDMI input?

Sorry that I can't be of more help.

Their product page is up but it does not list how many HDMI terminals its going to have, unfortunately. Should be able to find more out on it soon.


SC-BT100 - Blu-ray Disc™ Players - Shop and Compare at Panasonic

Hmm... I see. Well, thanks for any help on this thus far. I looked at the pictures the Panasonic site has and it seems to show only one HDMI slot there and one digital optical slot. So... I don't know if I'll be able to have both my cable TV and Xbox hooked up to surround sound. Maybe there's a way but I guess I'll just have to wait and see how this turns out.

Thanks again.

The other option is building a system for $1000. Can be done with a PS3.

Originally Posted by elwaylite

The other option is building a system for $1000. Can be done with a PS3.

A PS3, huh? Hmm. I really didn't want to go that route. Aren't there some huge downsides to playing Blu-ray on that? I heard it can be very loud, etc. Okay, lets say I'm working with $1200. What would you do? What kind of system can we possibly put together here?

Player
Samsung BD-P1500
$399



Rcvr
Onkyo 606
$499
OR
605 on clearance for $399

Speakers
I like Polk for my budget

Polk CSM center $130
Polk M20(floor $129 each) or Polk M10(bookshelf $139 each) x2
Polk PSW10 Sub $199


Thats already over budget. I only have a BD30, Onkyo 605 and Polk Center/Sub/Floors(3.1) so it cost me a little less.

Other option is the Samsung ($399), the 606($499)/605($399) and the Polk speaker system RM705 at $499.

That hits $1300 if you go with the 605 on clearance, so I was off in my $1000 estimate.

I have $1400 in mine plus tax and like I said its only 3.1.

You could always buy the Panny set you are looking at and a HDMI switch?

Originally Posted by elwaylite

You could always buy the Panny set you are looking at and a HDMI switch?

Hows does this work exactly?

Originally Posted by C-A-S

Hows does this work exactly?

For only .90 each when QTY 50+ purchased - 4X1 Enhanced 1.3a HDMI Switch with built-in Equalizer (REV.3.0) - NO LOGO | Auto/Powered HDMI Switch

Like an old A/B switch or any rcvr that allows for multiple ins and one out.

I see now what you are saying, I thought the Panny had a HDMI in also which it does not so this switch wont help.

Nevermind, I see your post above on what cables you are using.

I think you're better off going with an actual rcvr if you want everything on surround. It just gives you more freedom because this setup just appears to be blu-ray orientated.