Official Audio / Video Thread

[Ducky_Fresh]

So, I'm trying to learn as much as I can about audio video stuff since I just got a 50" Sony Rear 3LCD projection TV, an Onkyo 5.1 Channel receiver w/HDMI, and an HDMI dvd player.

Any tips or techniques on how to setup my system? Outta Control, wanna come calibrate my TV's display? :teeth

I ordered HDMI cables from monoprice.com, they were $6.50 each for 6 footers! I'm also wondering if quality is equivalent to the monster cables that are $100+, since they are digital and also have to adhere to some kind of testing requirements? Is that true?

I'm also looking for good ideas to get the speaker wire under the carpet behind the couch, without going up and over the walls. Any ideas for speaker stands?

Anyway, hopefully we can keep everything in this thread instead of the thread in the classifieds.

[HareRacing]

Originally posted by Ducky_Fresh
So, I'm trying to learn as much as I can about audio video stuff since I just got a 50" Sony Rear 3LCD projection TV, an Onkyo 5.1 Channel receiver w/HDMI, and an HDMI dvd player.

Any tips or techniques on how to setup my system? Outta Control, wanna come calibrate my TV's display? :teeth

I ordered HDMI cables from monoprice.com, they were $6.50 each for 6 footers! I'm also wondering if quality is equivalent to the monster cables that are $100+, since they are digital and also have to adhere to some kind of testing requirements? Is that true?

I'm also looking for good ideas to get the speaker wire under the carpet behind the couch, without going up and over the walls. Any ideas for speaker stands?

Anyway, hopefully we can keep everything in this thread instead of the thread in the classifieds.

i'm a huge audiofile junkie! right now i have over $18,000 in my home system! (56" 1080p dlp tv, adcom power amps, adcom dolby digital decodor, nakamichi cd changer, nakamichi tape deck, sony and toshiba dvd players, infinity speaker system etc....) anyways, monster cable wires are great, you are really paying for the better build quality, as far as i'm concerned a wire is a wire (analog or digital signals don't care! unless it's fiber optic, i know the audio tweakers are gonna say something about that!) as far as set up it depends on what kind of surround speakers you have, your receiver should have test signals built in along with a microphone to determine the best settings for your speakers. watch wear you put those wires, make sure nobody walks on them. the only testing requirements i can think of is the THX standards that applies to electronic equipment and speakers.

[Ducky_Fresh]

Anyone know if I can use the HDMI port from the TV to get audio out of my receiver?

I have the DVD player out working through the receiver.

Can't figure it out..

[HareRacing]

Originally posted by Ducky_Fresh
Anyone know if I can use the HDMI port from the TV to get audio out of my receiver?

I have the DVD player out working through the receiver.

Can't figure it out..

you have your dvd hooked up with hdmi to your receiver and no sound is coming from speakers? is that correct? as long as its hdmi (hdmi passes audio and video signals, 5.1 and high def.) and it's hooked from your dvd to your receiver you should get sound. look at the port on the tv, does it say input or output? are you using the tv's speakers?

[Ducky_Fresh]

Maybe I didn't explain right.

I'm trying to get the sound from the cable channels im watching which are hooked up directly in to the tv, to output the audio through the receiver. (using 1 hdmi connection to the receiver)

Also, I can't figure out how to get my cable channels to show in HD? I have basic cable.

[HareRacing]

Originally posted by Ducky_Fresh
Maybe I didn't explain right.

I'm trying to get the sound from the cable channels im watching which are hooked up directly in to the tv, to output the audio through the receiver. (using 1 hdmi connection to the receiver)

Also, I can't figure out how to get my cable channels to show in HD? I have basic cable.

from the cable box do you have audio cables going to the input of your tv? another set of audio cable should be going to your receiver marked input "tv", if you have basic cable you will not get HD, it is a seperate service, you have to ask for it.

[RydTher]

Monster cables are over-priced - ridiculously over priced.

check better cables and start reviewing the home theater forums. havent kept up on the latest in cable vendors.

get Avia or video essentials DVDs, great for tuning the video as well as audio settings

but - be prepared for a lot of research if you want to 'do it right'


Originally posted by Ducky_Fresh
Maybe I didn't explain right.

I'm trying to get the sound from the cable channels im watching which are hooked up directly in to the tv, to output the audio through the receiver. (using 1 hdmi connection to the receiver)

Also, I can't figure out how to get my cable channels to show in HD? I have basic cable.

comcast cable? you need their HDTV cable box, only way to get the HD channels over cable.

to get audio from cable box, connect audio outs from the cable box to receiver.

[RydTher]

Originally posted by Ducky_Fresh
Anyone know if I can use the HDMI port from the TV to get audio out of my receiver?

I have the DVD player out working through the receiver.

Can't figure it out..

for each video out, there are likely more than one live audio out channel - RCA, optical, etc
just might not all be located near each other on the back of the device. I would need to look at your gear (or look up specs - which I am too lazy to do atm, lol )

[Robert R1]

yay! a good thread on BARF!


First of all, Monster cables are ridiculously over priced. Sure, cheap component cables that come with your Comcast DVR downright blow but you also do NOT need to spend a fortune for cables. www.monoprice.com or www.bluejeanscable.com is your best bet.

First things first. Once you have all your components connected, get a calibration DVD (or HD DVD). Configure each input accordingly. Makes a LOT of difference with PQ.

Your TV has HDMI inputs, not outputs so you can't hook up your cable box to the TV and then a HDMI cable from the TV to your receiver and hope to have sound coming out of your receiver. A fair amount of TV's however have audio outs on the panels somewhere that you can use with your receiver. Why don't you have an optical out from the cable to the receiver? You can still send video to the TV (for whatever reason) and the audio directed to the receiver.

As another poster pointed out, to get the HD channels you'll need the HD package and the HD receiver/DVR from Comcast. Trust me, it's worth it......well atleast until you watch HD DVD :(

[Sane_Man]

Originally posted by Robert R1
yay! a good thread on BARF!


First of all, Monster cables are ridiculously over priced. Sure, cheap component cables that come with your Comcast DVR downright blow but you also do NOT need to spend a fortune for cables. www.monoprice.com or www.bluejeanscable.com is your best bet.

First things first. Once you have all your components connected, get a calibration DVD (or HD DVD). Configure each input accordingly. Makes a LOT of difference with PQ.

Your TV has HDMI inputs, not outputs so you can't hook up your cable box to the TV and then a HDMI cable from the TV to your receiver and hope to have sound coming out of your receiver. A fair amount of TV's however have audio outs on the panels somewhere that you can use with your receiver. Why don't you have an optical out from the cable to the receiver? You can still send video to the TV (for whatever reason) and the audio directed to the receiver.

As another poster pointed out, to get the HD channels you'll need the HD package and the HD receiver/DVR from Comcast. Trust me, it's worth it......well atleast until you watch HD DVD :(

Total waste of money to own that TV and not have HD service.

I can't recall if your receiver just has HDMI pass-through, but if it does, you won't be able to get Dolby audio from the HDMI connection, but will have to use the optical audio from the cable box to the receiver. Normally, you would connect the HDMI from the cable box, into the receiver, then to the TV.

[Ducky_Fresh]

Well I'm just in the researching phase for TV service. I get basic cable (80 channels) for free. So I'm in no rush. Thought there might be a way to get HD with it. Obviously not. So I will be upgrading to something..

I also thought about installing an HD antenna. Worth doing?

Otherwise whose the best?
DirecTV - Comcast - Dish

I want to keep cost at a minimum. Then, I will be routing my TV audio to the receiver with the coax cables.

My receiver has the following:
2 HDMI Inputs: one for DVD, one for Cable Box
1 HDMI Output to the TV.

[HareRacing]

Originally posted by Ducky_Fresh
Well I'm just in the researching phase for TV service. I get basic cable (80 channels) for free. So I'm in no rush. Thought there might be a way to get HD with it. Obviously not. So I will be upgrading to something..

I also thought about installing an HD antenna. Worth doing?

Otherwise whose the best?
DirecTV - Comcast - Dish

I want to keep cost at a minimum. Then, I will be routing my TV audio to the receiver with the coax cables.

My receiver has the following:
2 HDMI Inputs: one for DVD, one for Cable Box
1 HDMI Output to the TV.

installing an HD antenna would be worth it for now, although your HD selection will be limited to just a few channels. i'm biased, so i would go with Directv!

[insyder]

I'm a big fan of DirecTV.

Get the HD DirecTivo receiver if you decide to go with them.

[Sane_Man]

Originally posted by insyder
I'm a big fan of DirecTV.

Get the HD DirecTivo receiver if you decide to go with them.


+300

[Ducky_Fresh]

Yeah I have heard nothing but good things about DirecTV.

*goes to read their website and rates*

[Westsida]

Originally posted by HareRacing
installing an HD antenna would be worth it for now, although your HD selection will be limited to just a few channels. i'm biased, so i would go with Directv!

Suprisingly, I was still able to get some HD channels on a normal antenna, but the quality on every other channel still sucks

[Ducky_Fresh]

I went with Comcast.

Since my apartment complex already pays $30 a month for me to have the extended basic 80 channels, it made sense.

I'm paying $25/month. For that I get:
$10 - (1) HD-DVR CABLE BOX
$10 - HD Digital Programming
$5 Speed Channel + a few other retarded sports channels

DirecTV and Dish I was looking upwards of $200 out of pocket now, plus around $50+ per month.

Hopefully the cable box has HDMI output. If not, then hopefully it has DVI and I'll just get the converter.

[RydTher]

my Comcast box doesnt have HDMI, but I beleive they have come out with an updated box sometime over the summer, so the new ones might.

[Robert R1]

Originally posted by Ducky_Fresh
I went with Comcast.

Since my apartment complex already pays $30 a month for me to have the extended basic 80 channels, it made sense.

I'm paying $25/month. For that I get:
$10 - (1) HD-DVR CABLE BOX
$10 - HD Digital Programming
$5 Speed Channel + a few other retarded sports channels

DirecTV and Dish I was looking upwards of $200 out of pocket now, plus around $50+ per month.

Hopefully the cable box has HDMI output. If not, then hopefully it has DVI and I'll just get the converter.

You need to get over your obsession with HDMI.

Component + optical gives a better PQ on the Comcast box on SD channels and same PQ as using HDMI on the HD channels. Thus component + optical is a better overall option for Comcast.

[HareRacing]

Originally posted by Robert R1
You need to get over your obsession with HDMI.

Component + optical gives a better PQ on the Comcast box on SD channels and same PQ as using HDMI on the HD channels. Thus component + optical is a better overall option for Comcast.

the nice thing about HDMI is you only need one cable for audio/video, it can handle analog tv, high def tv, 5.1 audio, etc..

[Robert R1]

Originally posted by HareRacing
the nice thing about HDMI is you only need one cable for audio/video, it can handle analog tv, high def tv, 5.1 audio, etc..

I use HDMI for my HD DVD player and it's great for that since my source is 1080P/24 and it's being output at 1080i. However, for the Comcast Motorola Box it's not a better overall solution. Unless you only plan to watch HD channels, I'd recommend component + optical but to each his own. A single cable convenience isn't worth the PQ degradation to me.

[HareRacing]

Originally posted by Robert R1
I use HDMI for my HD DVD player and it's great for that since my source is 1080P/24 and it's being output at 1080i. However, for the Comcast Motorola Box it's not a better overall solution. Unless you only plan to watch HD channels, I'd recommend component + optical but to each his own. A single cable convenience isn't worth the PQ degradation to me.

i hear you, never had comcast, always had Directv and i do see a better picture with HDMI, maybe something to do with the new MPEG-4 Directv uses.

[Robert R1]

Originally posted by HareRacing
i hear you, never had comcast, always had Directv and i do see a better picture with HDMI, maybe something to do with the new MPEG-4 Directv uses.

How is the Mpeg4/AVC quality off DirectTV?

Comcast uses Mpeg2 and it's a macroblocking mess. Lots of black crush and banding issues also. Very disappointing.

[HareRacing]

Originally posted by Robert R1
How is the Mpeg4/AVC quality off DirectTV?

Comcast uses Mpeg2 and it's a macroblocking mess. Lots of black crush and banding issues also. Very disappointing.


Directv recently switched over from MPEG2 to MPEG4 several months ago with the launch of several satellites and yes i did notice a difference. i do notice some rainbow effects but that is more to do with my 1080 DLP tv, i'm very happy with the service and the quality.

[Ducky_Fresh]

Robert, can you elaborate on the cable info? I don't know squat. I figure for $25, that's a good enough bang for the buck.

Not to mention I didn't have to buy a $200 receiver.

[daventura]

I've got a great HDMI Monster cable that I'll give you a great deal on.

Check it out HERE. (http://www.monstercable.com/productdisplay.asp?pin=3978)

Component and Optical(fiber-optic) is a
little better.

:teeth

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/images/threads/000/186/751/2877965-monsterhdmi.jpg