So b/c i like my polk car system i decided to put myself into more debt w/ a home theatre system based on Polk. I bought an Onkyo Receiver, 2 tower speakers, two bookshelf speakers, 1 center speaker, and a subwoofer. All the speakers are Polk. Anyway im really new to the home theatre wiring ordeal. I need help with the wiring. First off, do i go from the dvd to the receiver and then to the tv? Or receiver to the dvd and then to the tv? The guy at CC also was explaining to me about the different wires. I bought the optical audio cable. Now do i wire the optical audio cable from the dvd player to the receiver? Im just kinda of lost about which order and which wires to run. I think ive narrowed down to using the optical audio wiring and the digital component video wiring. ANy help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Advice on crossover settings, subwoofer settings(powered), and wires are welcomed. Thanks for your time.

 

You would need to run the optical from your DVD player to your receiver and the video, component cables, from your DVD player to your TV. Unless your receiver has A/V switching. If it does, you could run all cables to the receiver and then to the TV. But, I like the direct connection method. If your DVD player has upconversion, you will want to try and use the HDMI or DVI output. But, your TV has to have an input for one or the other.

I hope that helps and is not confusing.

 

Thanks i found a diagram online and you summed it up pretty good. Let me make sure i understand the component cable part. I bought two sets. one to go from the dvd to the receiver and then one from the receiver to the tv. If i go straight from the dvd to the tv will I have to change anything on the receiver to get the sound from the dvd player? I guess one benefit to wiring everything to the receiver is that i can control everything with my receiver remote. Thanks again.

 

If you are going to use component cables (red/Pr, blue/Pb and green/Y) for a video connection, go straight from the dvd player to your TV. Your audio cable (toslink) should go from the dvd player straight to your receiver. When playing a DVD, just change source input on the TV to video (or whatever input you plugged into on the back of the TV and what your TV calls it) and on your receiver source input select DVD. Hope this helps.

Also, I would invest in a Home Theater Master remote control like the MX-500 (which I have) and get rid of all your other remotes.

 

Is does get a little tricky getting the right sound to play. It depends on how you have your system set up and how you want to control it. There are really two ways to set it up. You can hook everything up to your receiver, audio and video, and then run a connection to your TV. This makes your TV just a monitor. The good thing about this way is your receiver does all your switching for you. The other way is hooking all your audio to your receiver and all your video to your TV. With this method, you have to select the device you want on your TV for picture and select the same device on your receiver for sound. If your receiver is capable of audio/video switching and has enough inputs, it does simplify control. Either way works well and I do not think you will see any quality benefits either way.

 

Thanks alot guys. You both helped out alot. I was going to ask about the advantages of going straight from the dvd to the tv but like you said there shouldnt any except only have to buy one cable. It does seemed to simplify the connections also. The receiver i got is supposed to have a remote that controls everything. I have been reading the manual all day and i think i go the jist of it. I think for now im going to start with the entry level Monster cables for video and the an acoustic research optical cable. It does save me about 30 bucks if i go straight from the dvd to the monitor.

 

I have another question. If i want to get the surroud sound with regular tv(sports) do i need to run an optical cable from the tv output to the receiver input? I remember seeing a monitor input digital coaxial cable in the back of the receiver.can I just run the coaxial digital cable for sound from the monitor to the receiver? Thanks again. I dont have HDTV yet so i wont be able to get the best picture on regular cable but i can still have the best sound right? Thanks and what is a good crossover setting for the speakers and sub? The speakers in the manual said 100 hz but the sub i have no idea? I know it's really dependent on my ear but what's a general setting?

 

You can run the optical or digital coaxial output from your TV to the corresponding input on your receiver but, it depends on the TV signals source whether you will get digital sound. For most channels, you would need simple red/white audio output.


I need you to clarify on the PS2. When you say component input, what do you mean. If you mean red, blue, green, like brypink2 suggests, remember, that is only video, no audio. Your PS2 will run Pro Logic sound using the standard red/white audio cable but to get true digital sound, you would need to run an optical or digital coaxial cable from your PS2 into your receiver. I have a PS2 but, do not remember which it has.

 

It has an optical so I guess i can just pull the optical out of the dvd and use it for the ps2. WOrks either way. THanks and what do you recommend for the crossover settings for the center, two towers, and 2 rear bookshelfs. Thanks again.

 

If you have a cable box, run that digital audio cable from the cable box to your receiver. If not, run it from tv/monitor out on your tv to your receiver like you said. To get true 5.1 from a TV program, you need a digital output from your cable provider and the program to broadcast in 5.1 which is usually included w/ Hi Def channels. If not, if your reciever should have PLIIx, which converts 2 channel (stereo) to 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1 (works better with a 7.1 set-up). Hope this helps.

P.S. I'm serious about the MX-500 remote. I have a Denon AVR-3805, Denon DVD-3910 and a Mits big screen...all remotes (except for the dvd player) are programmable, but the MX-500 was easier to program, more compatible, easier to use, and has more functions. Just my opinion.

EDIT: Sorry, I see dconder beat me to it. I had to step away from desk.

 

I drop off at 80hz, I have Paradigm Studio 60's that can handle it nicely. Most that I know drop at 80hz as well. If I had Paradigm Studio 100's, I would drop at least 60hz. But, try both 100hz and 80 hz to see what you like best.

 

No, No, please chime in. I may be leaving something out or downright wrong, hehe.

Sorry, I can not help on the xover. I have an older 5.1 sub/sat system from Eosone. They sound amazing and I just hate to get rid of them. My sub is crossed at around 70-80.

 

What Onyko Receiver did you get, what speakers. I basically have the same setup, Onkyo TXSR800 and Polk 7600 speaker set.

How many devices do you have. Do they all have component out? Do you have enough component ports in your Receiver
I made the mistake of buying s-video wires at first, then when I got my HDTV I had to upgrade most to component.
Best case scenerio, you hook one wire (svideo) or one set (component) to your tv and let the receiver do the switching. I do not see a loss of quality going from a direct connection to passing through the receiver.
If you can not do that, do as others have said and buy a good universal remote (I have the harmony 680).
Im not sure if this means anything to you, as some dont care, but THX certified systems have the lowpass at 80hz. Once you set the crossovers correctly, make sure you calibrate. Grab a 30.00 spl meter from radioshack and use the test tones from your reciever.

 

I have the onkyo 503 7.1. I didnt buy the nicest setup but i listened to the 6800 and it sounded great. I ended putting a system together. I bought the CS1 center, 2 Polk Towers(m20's) two surrounds(m10's) and a Polk PSW10 sub. Cant wait to set it up.

 

You have three component ports. I would use those up first. Keep in mind if you have devices going to component, and devices going to s-video, you will need both a set of component, and s-video wire going to the tv.

What devices do you want to hook to the receiver?

Just a FYI, http://www.bluejeanscable.com/ . Excellent wires for decent prices, expecially for long runs.