Some Home Theater Help

So my family bought a new HDTV and we also bought a really cheap and crappy 5.1 speaker system from Wal-Mart. That speaker system is dying and we are gonna take it back to Wal-Mart. So now we need a new one, that doesn't suck.

I am a bit confused as to what type I want. I just learned about up-convert DVD players so we bought one of those a week ago. It connects via HDMI. I know that there are 5.1 home theater systems out there that come with an up-convert DVD player and then all of it connects to the TV via HDMI. My question is if this is the best way to go? Or will I get the same quality by buying just a 5.1 speaker system and connect them via audio out on the TV? Let me know if all this makes sense.

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Minnesota Genocide Intervention Network

If it is a good TV then you'll get the same quality by just hooking up a good set of 5.1 speakers to it.

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A wise man can learn more from a foolish question than a fool can learn from a wise answer. ~Bruce Lee

Okay, so tell me if I am thinking of this the right way. If I buy this home theater set, I will connent my TV via the audio out to the reciever and then connent all of my devices (DVD player, VCR, Cable TV) to my TV. Yes?

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Minnesota Genocide Intervention Network

Yes that would be the easiest way to do it.

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A wise man can learn more from a foolish question than a fool can learn from a wise answer. ~Bruce Lee

Awesome. Thanks, Zeus.

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Minnesota Genocide Intervention Network

NOOOO!

Don't use your television for a switching device.

If you hook all of your sources (VCR, DVD, XBOX, etc.) to your television then you will be ignoring the digital audio.

I would suggest the next model up (if you want the Sony) the HT-DW900, that has the component and HDMI video connections for the high-quality video switching. And then you would use your television as the video display.

This method allows you to only have to utilize one or two inputs on the television and do your switching at the receiver.

Wouldn't he end up with the same sound quality either way?

If he has HDTV then it's almost guaranteed to also have digital audio and this way is much easier to hook up.

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A wise man can learn more from a foolish question than a fool can learn from a wise answer. ~Bruce Lee

What type of connectors are you thinking he would use?

Most television inputs use only the white and red RCA-type connectors. Which are analog only.

A DVD player or High-Def Cable box or Satellite Receiver would have either a optical toslink or a coax output. Which would be a digital signal.

A small amount of televisions have optical inputs. But most of them are analog only.

The reason being, if you feed a source into the television, it only has the means to playback stereo audio. So having a multi-channel feed coming into the television would be pointless.

However, that isn't the case for a surround receiver.

You can connect everything through the television. But you wouldn't get the full impact of Dolby Digital or DTS programs.

Okay, I am a little confused. If I bought that Sony model that you recommended, Seth, how exactly would things connect? Explain it like I am a four year old, because I suck with stuff like this.

I don't necessarily have to have Sony products so if you have some other brands that are decent (and maybe a bit cheaper in price) let me know. Also, I can always return the DVD player that I currently have if that makes things easier.

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Minnesota Genocide Intervention Network

I have a HDTV and surround sound setup, here's the easiest and best way IMO:

• Hook your DVD player's fiber optic audio cable into your SS receiver
  • This is for your DVD player audio
• Depending on how you have your cable setup, use the RCA or FO audio cable OUTPUT from your TV to your receiver
  • This is to listen to cable on your SS speakers
• Disable your TV speakers
• From your DVD player, hook the component or HDMI video cable to the correct input on your TV

Is that what you're looking for?

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