Home Theatre Question

[Par7]

Ok, So I'm fairly new to the whole Plasma/HDMI/Optical in and out/Stereo system, etc.

My Equipment is:
Samsung HT-TX75 5 Disc Home Theater System: Compare Prices, View Price History and Read Reviews at NexTag
Amazon.com: Samsung HPT5054 50-Inch Plasma HDTV: Electronics

And I have a Set top box with HDMI out and Optical Out.

As it is now, I have the HDMI coming from The Set Top Box Into the TV. I then Have optical from the TV to the DVD player/stereo surround. Then I run Component cables from there DVD player/Stereo surround to my TV.

All is working properly.

The question is, is that I want to work a PS3 into the bundle. How would I go about routing these components together with HD capabilites?

Thanks for all the help, tech junkies.

[eclark53520]

Dang, i used to know this stuff like the back of my hand...but these new HDMI cables and weird looking jacks...i am so far behind the times, i don't even have a HD TV...

[Eracer]

Since the Samsung only has one HDMI input, I would get an HDMI switch and run the set-top box and the PS3 into the receiver, then output from the receiver to the TV.

This is a good model, and (sorry to say) I would 'cheap out' on this device. This is as good as you can get for the money.

Belkin PureAV HDMI Interface 3-to-1 Video Switch AV cable reviews - CNET Reviews

If you don't want to spend the money, then you could run the PS3 into the TV's component input, and route it's audio to the surround system. A bit of a pain as far as switching goes, but it's really the only other good option.

[Par7]

Originally Posted by Eracer

Since the Samsung only has one HDMI input, I would get an HDMI switch and run the set-top box and the PS3 into the receiver, then output from the receiver to the TV.

This is a good model, and (sorry to say) I would 'cheap out' on this device. This is as good as you can get for the money.

Belkin PureAV HDMI Interface 3-to-1 Video Switch AV cable reviews - CNET Reviews

If you don't want to spend the money, then you could run the PS3 into the TV's component input, and route it's audio to the surround system. A bit of a pain as far as switching goes, but it's really the only other good option.

Which samsung only has 1 HDMI? I know for a fact my TV has 3, 2 on back, 1 on side. Maybe the Receiver only has 1? The TV and Stereo come with a simple remote, so switching back and forth isn't an issue.

Is running hdmi to tv, and optical to Receiver from ps3 an option?

[Eracer]

Originally Posted by Par7

Which samsung only has 1 HDMI? I know for a fact my TV has 3, 2 on back, 1 on side. Maybe the Receiver only has 1? The TV and Stereo come with a simple remote, so switching back and forth isn't an issue.

Is running hdmi to tv, and optical to Receiver from ps3 an option?

Sorry. I was talking about the receiver. I didn't check the TV. I have my system set up so that I never have to change inputs on the TV. Everything routes through my A/V receiver.

But if your TV has extra HDMI inputs, then just connect the PS3 to the TV and be happy. If you can route the optical audio from the PS3 to the TV, along with the video, you should be able to use the same component video/optical output from the TV to the receiver.

[Par7]

Originally Posted by Eracer

But if your TV has extra HDMI inputs, then just connect the PS3 to the TV and be happy.

Haha but what about when I want to listen to my PS3 in surround?

[Eracer]

Originally Posted by Par7

Haha but what about when I want to listen to my PS3 in surround?

You answered before I had a chance to edit. The TV's optical audio output should feed Dolby 5.1 to the receiver from any of its inputs.

[Par7]

Oh that's cool. I wasn't even thinking that. So I can plug The set top box, my PS3 and the Dvd player (which is also the receiver) into the 3 HDMI ports, and then run optical back to the receiver?

In retrospect I wish I wouldn't have cheaped out in a stereo-in-a-box and bought the components.

[Eracer]

Originally Posted by Par7

Oh that's cool. I wasn't even thinking that. So I can plug The set top box, my PS3 and the Dvd player (which is also the receiver) into the 3 HDMI ports, and then run optical back to the receiver?

In retrospect I wish I wouldn't have cheaped out in a stereo-in-a-box and bought the components.

Yeah, but you bought a decent one, as far as inexpensive HTIB units go.

So,

Set-top: Video and audio via HDMI to TV
PS3: Video and audio via HDMI to TV

I'm not sure about the DVD into the HDMI input. I'd stick with what's working now.

[Par7]

Originally Posted by Eracer

Yeah, but you bought a decent one, as far as inexpensive HTIB units go.

So,

Set-top: Video and audio via HDMI to TV
PS3: Video and audio via HDMI to TV

I'm not sure about the DVD into the HDMI input. I'd stick with what's working now.

Perfect, thanks alot.
I don't know why I was even contemplating HDMI into tv from DVD. I Mean, its an 'upconverting' dvd player. Because that does anything. I'll save a few bucks on cords and just run component.

[FATC1TY]

HDMI Cable, Home Theater Accessories, HDMI Products, Cables, Adapters, Video/Audio Switch, Networking, USB, Firewire, Printer Toner, and more!

buy the hdmi switcher.

Run your single HDMI cable to the main on the switch.

Plug your set top box via HDMI into the switch. Do the same with the PS3. If your HTIB set up is HDMI, do so via that.

If you can't do it like that. Feed the Tv the signal and audio via HDMI from the set top through the switch.

Take the HDMI from the PS3 and plug it to the switch. Take your optical audio and put it in the HTIB.

If your HTIB has a pass thru, use it. Degrades the video quality depending on the reciever, but your only passing audio, so you'll be fine.

If your TV, which is should, has 2-3 HDMI slots, hook each up via HDMI, and feed the audio from the PS3 via Optical. You'll get DD5.1 atleast, which is great unless you have a high end set up and your an audiphile who can tell the difference between spacing.

If your HTIB allows it, and most don't because they are suppose to be simple, you could pass the audio through it at all times, so you get the surround sound for all viewing no matter the source.



If you need more help, PM me.

I've got a 58" Panasonic Plasma, that only had 2 HDMI connections, and 1 optical. With my 4x1 switch, and my Denon reciever, I've got my TV, OTA HD Antenna, HD DTV Box, Xbox 360 w/ HD DVD Player, Blu-Ray player, and my reciever all hooked together to get DD 5.1 or 7.1(depending on TruHD coding) at all times.

It's a bitch to hook up, but once you follow it, it's rather simple.

Oh and get a Harmony Remote. I have mine programmed so even the dog can hit the LCD screen, pick what he wants to do, push 1 button, and wait 4 seconds. Everything turns on, switches sources, switches inputs on switches and recievers and starts up. Boom. Easy as cake.

[FATC1TY]

Originally Posted by Par7

Perfect, thanks alot.
I don't know why I was even contemplating HDMI into tv from DVD. I Mean, its an 'upconverting' dvd player. Because that does anything. I'll save a few bucks on cords and just run component.

If you've got HDMI, use it. Upconvert makes a big deal. On a HDTV, if you feed it crap, it looks like shit on the viewing end.

HDTV's look like shit with standard feeds sometimes. Your "upconvert" is no longer upconverting anything unless you use HDMI, it's just a glorified regular DVD player if you hook it up any other way.

If you want to save on cable.. monoprice.com

It's CHEAP, we're talking $3 a HDMI cable.. They are 3.1 compliant for uncompressed media. The wall mounts are $25 and TOP NOTCH. I have 3 of them on my walls, and all are great tilt low profile mounts. I wouldn't put several grand in tv's on the walls, with $25 mounts if they didn't work like a charm.

I've got probably 100' of cable from them and have probably less than $100 spent on it.. If you buy cable ANYWHERE else, you're rich. Buying Monster cables means your a retard, and have too much money, in which case, send me some.

And I'm not a spammer.. I don't work for them.. I just drool over HT stuff, and I know whats worked for me in the past.. Plus I'm cheap.

[Eracer]

Originally Posted by FATC1TY

Your "upconvert" is no longer upconverting anything unless you use HDMI, it's just a glorified regular DVD player if you hook it up any other way.

I agree in principle with most of what you say. And HDMI can be superior, given good A/D convertor circuits. But in some cases, analog component HD signals can look better. Depends on the particular electronics.

But.

To say that an upconverting DVD is only upconverting when hooked up via HDMI is simply untrue.

My upconverting DVD player outputs a 1080i signal from its component outputs. Exact same 1080i signal that would come out of the HDMI connector. The only difference between the two signals is that one is analog and one is digital.

[FATC1TY]

Originally Posted by Eracer

I agree in principle with most of what you say. And HDMI can be superior, given good A/D convertor circuits. But in some cases, analog component HD signals can look better. Depends on the particular electronics.

But.

To say that an upconverting DVD is only upconverting when hooked up via HDMI is simply untrue.

My upconverting DVD player outputs a 1080i signal from its component outputs. Exact same 1080i signal that would come out of the HDMI connector. The only difference between the two signals is that one is analog and one is digital.

Somewhat true.. there is a noticeable difference in the PQ between the two however.

Many people believe when they hear you can hook it up via "composite" cables, it simply means they can grab the normal 3 prong rca's, and get upset where there is no "high definition".. To get the MOST from it, people normally use the component, you'd really need to get the 5 RGB's with the Y, Pr, Pb.

People should be just warned that the upconvert doesn't mean HD, because it can't. But it beats the hell out of standard tv viewing and makes the most of your new tv so the dvd's don't look worse off(which hdtv's have a tendency to do).

Regardless of the dynamics, you can hook an upconvert with component, although not the best way to do so. You'll lose quality between the conversion of digital to analog, and you'll lose the DD sound encoding.