Ok, I am new to the whole home theater/surround sound thing. I just got a 50" Samsung DLP HDTV and want to get a home theater setup to compliment it. I will be looking to hookup the following devices through it, Digital cable HD box that is connected to my TV through an HDMI cable, my xbox360 through the composite output and a DVD player. My main question is this, do I need a receiever with the HDMI passthrough or is there a different way to hook up the cable box that won't take an expert to figure out?? Also, is this particular model orf Sony HTIB any good (HT-DDW900) or is there something else you'd recommend?? any input is appreciated.
hi,im not an expert on how to connect your cables but i do know that sony is it u cant upgrade it.thats all you will get out of it.i would recommend a yamaha systeme.you can do alot more with it.and not for much more$$$$. hope this helps .
@pennst ... "HTIB" means home theater in a box and from what you wrote, it sounds like it might be the best option for you. There are guys like me who love to set it up and cuss and swear while others would rather just have done with it and that where HTIB comes in really handy. First of all, don't let anyone tell you that all home theater in a box sucks, that's just not true anymore. The HDMI on your cable box will connect directly to the HDMI on your TV; you don't need the receiver's HDMI for that...but you will want to connect either the optical OR the coax from the cable box to the receiver; they look like this: optical: coax (has orange on it somewhere): The HDMI connection will carry the audio as well so that you only have to use the TV when you don't need any fancy sound from the amp. Connection the optical or coax will give you the good digital sound from the receiver when its important to you. I will take a look at your Sony as soon as I get a chance (I'm at work). Samsung actually makes a HTIB which is pretty impressive too. What is your budget for this system? HTIB can range anywhere from $200 to $2,000. By the way, what kind of DVD player are you using? SOme require HDMI and others component.
Gerry, thank you, thatt clears alot up. I am looking at Home theater in a box type setup because I am not looking for anything too elaborate right now. The Sony is 1 option and I looked at a couple Onkyo models as well. the 590, 790 and a different one that has 2 HDMI in and 1 out....I may need something with that HDMI 2 in/1out because I only have 1 HDMi slot on my TV....unless I get an up convert DVD player that has component instead of HDMI if there is such a thing. What was the model on that Samsung?? I'm looking to stay around 400-500 or less.
@Pennst ... I'll see what I can find out regarding the samsung that I heard as well as other HTIB systems that are in that price range. Every upconverting DVD player I've seen requires HDMI or DVI but someone in another thread said that Oppos next model will upcovert via component. I remembered the discussion because I have an oppo but I need to use HDMI with mine. Pennst, is there any particular reason why you're adamant about the HDMI inputs over component? Given your budget, insisting on HDMI will really decrease your options and perhaps even make you settle for a lesser quality for the sake of a couple of gadgets because they're still charging more for one, let alone two. I wouldn't sacrifice quality for the sake of the HDMI hype. I won't deny that HDMI is a better signal ... it is directly digital to digital without conversion as is necessary with component, HDMI is better [bold]BUT[/bold] but unless you've got the eyes of an eagle or the ears of some comic book super-hero, I challenge anyone who claims they can see or hear the difference between HDMI and component. Technically, HDMI is better but what difference does it make if the difference totally defies the senses? I believe that you are simply limiting your options and untimately settling for less by insisting on HDMI over component. Like you, I have only one HDMI on my television; my AVR is a Denon 3805 which is all component and came out one year before HDMI. Until recently, I had my HD Cable box connected to my TV via HDMI; I had my DVD player connected by component. When I bought my oppo upconverting DVD player (which is awesome), I had switch. I had to connect the oppo via HDMI for the upconversion and I switched to component for the cable box and the pic is just as awesome as it was before. Anyway, my point is that I think you'll not only have more options with the amp but that you'll actually buy a better amp if you'll consider amps with just component or merely one HDMI. They still charge for the HDMI novelty and while HDMI is better, much of it is also a lot of hype. Anyway, I'll see what I can come up with and post links....Gerry
Actually, I would prefer the component upconverting DVD player, it would make buying my HTIB alot easier. If I can just keep the HDMI from my cable bx into my TV and get the sound through the Coax cable, that would be fantastic. I just kept seeing all the upconvert DVD players were HDMI, so I figured I would need some sort of passthrough with the 2 in 1 out or else one of the switch boxes I've seen to attach multiple HDMI devices. I'm not in a great hurry to get the upconvert DVD player, so i will probably wait for the component one to come out to make my life easier on hooking everything up and opening up more options on the HTIB. I may be leaning towards the onkyo 790 with the info you've provided now.
@Pennst32....I bought a digital camera with a gift certificate from Vanns today when I saw this deal on the Onkyo 790 you mentioned. $397.00, free shipping, no tax and an authorized dealer and a set of free speaker stands: http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/features/502499830 What did you see it for a best buy? Seems like a good deal. I've bought stuff from these guys before and they're very reputable. I'll look up and see if there was a samsung specifically for your TV.
It was at circuit city and would've ended up around $424 with tax. #97 is around the norm, but I like the free set of speaker stand, could really use them in the room where I am putting it.
Gerry, Im in the same qandary as pennst32 and when I read your post I was all fired up until I realized this option may have a flaw when it comes to my samsung 40" LCD. I agree with everything you said about HDMI and I would like to run my HDMI directly from my cable box to my tv and just run an optical from the receiver to the tv and hook everything else up using component to the receiver but I realized that I might not be able to do this because I have to manually switch sources on the TV from HDMI source to component source etc, etc. My question is, When Im done just using my tv sound in HDMI mode and want to turn the receiver on to use the big sound, how will i be able to view the tv when ill then be in component mode? My DVR, xbox360, and ps2 will be hooked up to the receiver by component but the tv will not so utilizing the set you suggested how will i be able to view the tv in component mode? Some specifics about my inputs and outputs if it helps is: MY tv has only one component in and two HDMI ins. And my cable box only has one hdmi port.
