 Home Theater Set-Up
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,164 Likes: 1
Should be Riding
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OP
Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,164 Likes: 1 |
My GF just moved into a house and needs to get her surround sound system up and running. I have volunteered for the job, even though I have never done it. I figured it wouldn’t be very difficult thinking, ok, the outs go to the ins and the ins go to the outs. Oh, boy, I got behind it all, looked at it and I think I might have a clue, but want other opinions or confirmation of my own opinion.
Here is what I am up against. She has a huge TV, DVD player, HDTV Cable box, and the surround sound receiver thing.
I already have the cable box plugged into the input of the TV (audio and video). What I am thinking is that I need to hook up the video and audio of the DVD player into input 2 of the TV. The TV has audio out and run that into the surround sound system. Sounds simple enough to me.
The surround sound system does have video inputs though. Should I run the video through that? Does it matter?
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Re: Home Theater Set-Up
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,060 Likes: 6
Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,060 Likes: 6 |
My only advice is... if you're under the age of 30, don't sweat it. How complicated could it be? If you're over the age of 50, pray. A lot! 
Fidelis et Fortis
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Re: Home Theater Set-Up
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 57
Member
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Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 57 |
Run the components through the amp head. The head will determin the signal paths and make the surround sound work. Hope this helps. 
08 America (Black of course they are much faster.) AI removed, Everthing else stock atm
No matter where you are, your there
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Re: Home Theater Set-Up
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,164 Likes: 1
Should be Riding
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OP
Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,164 Likes: 1 |
Quote:
My only advice is... if you're under the age of 30, don't sweat it. How complicated could it be? If you're over the age of 50, pray. A lot!
Well, that leaves me right in the middle.
Soren
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Re: Home Theater Set-Up
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1
Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1 |
Quote:
Run the components through the amp head. The head will determin the signal paths and make the surround sound work. Hope this helps.
Yes, Soren, this is the path to success. Run it all through the amp and control both video and audio with the amp remote and use the screen as a monitor.
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
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Re: Home Theater Set-Up
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,164 Likes: 1
Should be Riding
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OP
Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,164 Likes: 1 |
Quote:
Run the components through the amp head. The head will determin the signal paths and make the surround sound work. Hope this helps.
So, take the audio from the cable box and the DVD player through the surround sound? or the audio and video then just the video to the tv?
Soren
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Re: Home Theater Set-Up
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 214
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 214 |
soren, it really depends on the nature of the receiver, the type of inputs it supports, and its outputs. IDEALLY, everything would plug into it, and you could have one hdmi cable running from the receiver to your television. so, dvd player, and hdtv cable box, plug straight into the receiver. the only thing going into the tv should be the line from the receiver (again, preferably over hdmi).
this may sound complicated, but it really isn't. the receiver should have video inputs, as well as audio inputs. it should also have a video output (and audio output in the way of speakers). just run the video output to the tv. it should be hdmi if it is high def capable. component cables (colored red, blue, and green) will also carry a high-def signal (although some will argue at a lower fidelity, but that's not the point here). s-video (a round multi-pin) and composite cables (a single video rca-jack looking cable, usually yellow) will not carry high def.
Last edited by timothydonohue; 10/23/2008 7:46 PM.
there are 10 kinds of people in the world. those that understand binary, and those that don't.
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Re: Home Theater Set-Up
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,164 Likes: 1
Should be Riding
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OP
Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,164 Likes: 1 |
I do have plenty of RCA composite cables. I cant remember if the reciever has an HDMI cable input. I know the TV does (and the cable box has it out). Right now I am using the RCA composite cables from the cable box to the tv.
Soren
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Re: Home Theater Set-Up
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,048
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,048 |
Quote:
Quote:
Run the components through the amp head. The head will determin the signal paths and make the surround sound work. Hope this helps.
So, take the audio from the cable box and the DVD player through the surround sound? or the audio and video then just the video to the tv?
Soren
Go here: http://www.curtpalme.com/CRTPrimer_17.shtm
Very good simple data!! This is my other Hobby!
Clay
01010100 01110010 01101001 01110101 01101101 01110000 01101000 <3
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Re: Home Theater Set-Up
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 214
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 214 |
you don't want to, if you can get around it, use composite. it's darn near the lowest you can do. rca component (big difference) is the best you can do without the hdmi cables. and, you can split video and audio connections into both the tv and receiver, but it's way more convenient, more than anything, to pipe it all to the receiver. it'll save your remote pressing thumb many miles over the long haul, as well as remote changes (unless you're using the logitech harmony, from what i understand will switch multiple things with a single press)
there are 10 kinds of people in the world. those that understand binary, and those that don't.
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Re: Home Theater Set-Up
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 214
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 214 |
LOL, i just clicked on frijoli's link. that looks more complicated, but accurate, than what i was trying to say. however, it doesn't have neato pictures for how to hook everything up. i used to have a link, but it's vamoosed.
there are 10 kinds of people in the world. those that understand binary, and those that don't.
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Re: Home Theater Set-Up
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 214
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 214 |
send me a pm with what you're trying to hook up, and i'll try and provide you with the best advice i can.
likely scenario is:
standard dvd player (not upconverting)
yellow, white, red rca jacks --> video, then left and right audio. plug into video 2, and audio 2 inputs
hd cable box
could be an hdmi cable. plug that into your receiver. done.
could be coax. plug into your receiver. done.
could be component. plug into component 1 video and component 1 audio. done. best if you have an optical cable you can run also for 5.1 sound (it'll have a little spring loaded door on it, on both ends. cable is male-male, connectors are female)
run hdmi cable to tv from receiver, if possible. component if not.
there are 10 kinds of people in the world. those that understand binary, and those that don't.
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Re: Home Theater Set-Up
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,164 Likes: 1
Should be Riding
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OP
Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,164 Likes: 1 |
I think I might have it figured out. I am going to give it a shot tomorrow. If the reciver has an hdmi input, then I'll go get a cable for that.
I meant to say component video, not composite video (oops).
As far as the remote goes, running everything through the reciver I'll hav eto use two remotes instead of one. The cable remote she has is also programmed for the tv, so I can change channels on the cable and adjust volume. If all teh sound is going through the reciever, that'll be a separate remote.
Soren
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Re: Home Theater Set-Up
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 255
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 255 |
I always let my kids take care of anything in this area
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Re: Home Theater Set-Up
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1
Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1 |
Quote:
As far as the remote goes, running everything through the reciver I'll hav eto use two remotes instead of one. The cable remote she has is also programmed for the tv, so I can change channels on the cable and adjust volume. If all teh sound is going through the reciever, that'll be a separate remote.
Soren
Many of the newer receiver remotes can control everything including the channel change function of the cable box. Darn, this means you might have to read the manual... 
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
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Re: Home Theater Set-Up
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,164 Likes: 1
Should be Riding
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OP
Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
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Nope, I cant read the manual. Even if I were to stoop so low as to actually pick up the maual, I couldnt. She lost it a long time ago.
Soren
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Re: Home Theater Set-Up
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1
Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1 |
Quote:
Nope, I cant read the manual. Even if I were to stoop so low as to actually pick up the maual, I couldnt. She lost it a long time ago.
Soren
In which case you may have to pony up and tell us which make and model it is so we can continue to harass you about the "proper" set up. 
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
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Re: Home Theater Set-Up
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 320
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 320 |
What I did was pay a guy from Circuit City to hook it up after failing miserably to hook up a surround, DVD, CD player, Cassette Tape Player. I managed to get the speakers right which saved som money. Think it cost less than $200 and I got a guarantee.
SteveB
"I live the life I love and I love the life I live."
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Re: Home Theater Set-Up
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,164 Likes: 1
Should be Riding
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OP
Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,164 Likes: 1 |
I did get it all set-up. I stuck with my original plan of running the audio from the tv to the reciever. Since the TV she has is a very nice 72" Pioneer projection TV that already has some great sound she wont have to have the surround sound system on all of the time to watch shows. She'll use it mostly for movies and sports. It was cool watching high-def football yesterday with the surround sound on.
Soren
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