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    Moderated By: Toli
    Forum:  Getting Started/Building a Home Theater
    Post Reply in Topic: Best way to set up system
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    Topic Review
    AGENT420
    Sony Fan
    Joined: Mar 11, 2005
    Posts: 6
    From: USA
     Posted: 2005-03-11 20:59   
    I'm hoping someone can give me advice on the best way to set up my home theatre system. Here is what I have:

    Television...Sony KF60XBR800
    Receiver.....Sony STR-DA5000ES
    DVD...........Sony DVP-NS755V
    Cable Box...Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8300HD
    CD.............Sony CDP-CX400
    Speakers(a)..JBL ND310II
    Speakers(b)..Bose acoustimas 5.1
    Subwoofer...Pioneer(unsure of model #)
    Also Playstation 2 which I want to hook up in High Def.

    Is it better to use component cables or the DVI cable between the TV and cable box?  Should I connect the cable box video output through the reciever or directly to the TV.  Should I choose optical over coaxial for audio where applicable?(I've read conflicting views on that one but I don't know if equipment makes a difference) From the DVD player is it best to use the multichannel output? Also, what benefit would I gain from using the control s cords between components?  Thanks for any suggestions.

    [ This message was edited by: AGENT420 on 2005-03-12 01:07 ]

    jehill
    Sony Senior Advisor
    Joined: Mar 13, 2003
    Posts: 13790
    From: Sewell, NJ
     Posted: 2005-03-12 14:41   
    My answers to questions below are in magenta:




    On 2005-03-11 20:59, AGENT420 wrote:
    Is it better to use component cables or the DVI cable between the TV and cable box?  I would use a DVI cable, if for no other reason, to free up a component video port.  The only way to determine which is best is to try both.  In theory, a DVI connection should be superior.  Should I connect the cable box video output through the reciever or directly to the TV.  Directly to the TV.  This eliminates possible degradation of the video signal in the receiver.  Should I choose optical over coaxial for audio where applicable?(I've read conflicting views on that one but I don't know if equipment makes a difference) You just said it.  there are conflicting reviews.  Both the equipment connected and the cables can make a difference.  You may not be able to hear the difference.  Personally, I would go with optical, if for no other reason the fact that it provides total electrical isolation between the connected components.  From the DVD player is it best to use the multichannel output?  You can't play SACDs unless you use the multichannel output.  For anything else, a coaxial or optical digital connection is all that you need.  Digital signal processing (sound fields and bass redirection) cannot be applied to a multichannel input.



    -----------------
    -John Sony A/V System: KDL-55XBR8, BDP-S550, AVD-C700ES Super Audio CD/DVD Receiver, 4 SS-LA500ED surround speakers, 1 SS-LAC505ED center channel speaker and 1 SA-WD200 Active Subwoofer

    AGENT420
    Sony Fan
    Joined: Mar 11, 2005
    Posts: 6
    From: USA
     Posted: 2005-03-12 16:13   
    jehill-
     Thanks for the reply.  I understand that my receiver has the ability to upconvert video(although I really don't understand what that means), so if I connect the video directly to the TV wouldn't I be missing out on that feature? Also, with the DVD player should I connect both the multichannel out and the optical cable to the receiver? Do you know what the control s cable does?  Thanks again.

    jehill
    Sony Senior Advisor
    Joined: Mar 13, 2003
    Posts: 13790
    From: Sewell, NJ
     Posted: 2005-03-12 20:10   





    On 2005-03-12 16:13, AGENT420 wrote:
    jehill-
     Thanks for the reply.  I understand that my receiver has the ability to upconvert video (although I really don't understand what that means), so if I connect the video directly to the TV wouldn't I be missing out on that feature?  That's correct.  Video upconversion means that composite video and S-video inputs to the receiver are converted to component video.  Its a convenience feature that allows you to switch the audio and video sources with one switch and use only a single component video input on your TV.  Its also great when your video sources and receiver are some distance from the TV (quality component video cables are expensive).  Go ahead and try it! (Also, with the DVD player should I connect both the multichannel out and the optical cable to the receiver? Yes!  Do you know what the control s cable does?  Im not up on control s cable useage.  Thanks again.



    -----------------
    -John Sony A/V System: KDL-55XBR8, BDP-S550, AVD-C700ES Super Audio CD/DVD Receiver, 4 SS-LA500ED surround speakers, 1 SS-LAC505ED center channel speaker and 1 SA-WD200 Active Subwoofer

    AGENT420
    Sony Fan
    Joined: Mar 11, 2005
    Posts: 6
    From: USA
     Posted: 2005-03-13 11:29   


    OK, everything is hooked up now and the sound from this receiver blows away the STRDE825 that it replaced. The TV and receiver each have 2 component video inputs, so I routed the cable box and DVD component outputs to the back of the receiver and the component out on the receiver to one of the component inputs on the TV and hooked the playstation 2 component out to the last available component input on the TV.  The problem is that the video from the cable box is now pixelating obnoxiously. I guess this is due to the signal losing strength during the trip through the receiver and extra cables.  Do I need some sort of signal amplifier?  Any easier solution that I'm missing?

    Also, I realized that the DVI cable is not an option as there is no DVI output on the cable box.

    Since all of my video outputs are already component, is there no point in allowing the receiver to upconvert?

    I appreciate all of your help.  My head is spinning a little slower now.

    jehill
    Sony Senior Advisor
    Joined: Mar 13, 2003
    Posts: 13790
    From: Sewell, NJ
     Posted: 2005-03-13 15:37   


    By pixelation, do you mean the phenomenon where little blocks for the picture (say 1" square) appear for a while before the complete picture appears?  If so, this is a common occurrence when you select some digital channels.  There is nothing that you do about it except wait.   You don't see it on the DVD input, do you?  To determine whether of not the problem is in your receiver, temporarily connect the component video output from the cable box to the component video input on your TV that you wanted to use for your PS2 and see if the problem persists.
    -----------------
    -John Sony A/V System: KDL-55XBR8, BDP-S550, AVD-C700ES Super Audio CD/DVD Receiver, 4 SS-LA500ED surround speakers, 1 SS-LAC505ED center channel speaker and 1 SA-WD200 Active Subwoofer

    AGENT420
    Sony Fan
    Joined: Mar 11, 2005
    Posts: 6
    From: USA
     Posted: 2005-03-14 12:53   


    jehill-
       Yes, the phenomenon that you described is indeed what I had experienced. I switched the cables so that the comp. out from the cable box goes directly into the TV and that eliminated 95% of the pixelation. Now I can't figure out how to hook up the DVD player and the playstation with component cables. I tried connecting the PS2 and DVD comp outs into the comp ins on the receiver and the comp out on the receiver into the last comp in on the TV and hooked up the coaxial out on the DVD to the DVD coaxial in on the receiver and the optical out on the PS2 to the DVD optical in on the receiver. With that configuration I can't get both audio and video simultaneously from the PS2. Then I tried using the optical in for the md/dat to accept the optical out from PS2 and same deal...audio or video, not both. I hope the inability to do this correctly is due to my inexperience and not an impossibility with this equipment. Again, your help is greatly appreciated.

    jehill
    Sony Senior Advisor
    Joined: Mar 13, 2003
    Posts: 13790
    From: Sewell, NJ
     Posted: 2005-03-14 19:12   


    Am I correct in assuming that you have the component video cables from your DVD player connected to DVD IN and the component video cables from your PS2 connected to TV/SAT IN?  If so, you need to connect the PS2 optical output to the TV/SAT optical input.
    -----------------
    -John Sony A/V System: KDL-55XBR8, BDP-S550, AVD-C700ES Super Audio CD/DVD Receiver, 4 SS-LA500ED surround speakers, 1 SS-LAC505ED center channel speaker and 1 SA-WD200 Active Subwoofer

    AGENT420
    Sony Fan
    Joined: Mar 11, 2005
    Posts: 6
    From: USA
     Posted: 2005-03-14 20:02   


    jehill-
      You are correct in your assumption of how the cables are currently installed, but the optical input for TV/SAT on the receiver is hooked up to the optical output from the cable box, so it's not available for the PS2. Any other suggestions?

    jehill
    Sony Senior Advisor
    Joined: Mar 13, 2003
    Posts: 13790
    From: Sewell, NJ
     Posted: 2005-03-16 15:00   
    Move the optical output from the cable box from the TV/SAT input to either the MD/DAT or CD/SACD optical input.  If you wish, you can reassign the input you use to VIDEO 1 or VIDEO 2 as described on p-38 of the STR-DA3000ES/STR-DA5000ES Operating Instructions.  Now you can use the TV/SAT input for your PS2.  Unfortunately, only you will know what input is what becase it will not be obvious.  Its too bad that the STR-DA5000ES doesn't have a component video reassignment feature.

    The only other option is to figure out what the problem was when you had the component video output of you cable box connected to your receiver.  The only problem that I can think of is a ground loop.  This can only be a problem if the STR-DA5000ES has a three prong AC plug.  Does it?
    -----------------
    -John Sony A/V System: KDL-55XBR8, BDP-S550, AVD-C700ES Super Audio CD/DVD Receiver, 4 SS-LA500ED surround speakers, 1 SS-LAC505ED center channel speaker and 1 SA-WD200 Active Subwoofer

    AGENT420
    Sony Fan
    Joined: Mar 11, 2005
    Posts: 6
    From: USA
     Posted: 2005-03-18 18:39   
    jehill-
         Thanks so much for all of your help. I followed your advice and now everything works correctly.  It is too bad that you can't reassign the component video inputs, but I'm glad it works at least.  As far as a third prong on the plug of the STRDA500ES, there is none.  If anyone else has experienced this problem (pixelation only when routing component cables through the receiver and then to TV) please let me know if you found a solution. Thanks again jehill for preventing me from pulling out all of my hair.

    jehill
    Sony Senior Advisor
    Joined: Mar 13, 2003
    Posts: 13790
    From: Sewell, NJ
     Posted: 2005-03-19 12:05   
    It was a pleasure to assist you!
    -----------------
    -John Sony A/V System: KDL-55XBR8, BDP-S550, AVD-C700ES Super Audio CD/DVD Receiver, 4 SS-LA500ED surround speakers, 1 SS-LAC505ED center channel speaker and 1 SA-WD200 Active Subwoofer

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