Better to wire to receiver or t.v. first?

[poloman1211]

i ask this question because, i know wanted to know if there is a performance difference if i wire my (ps3, cable, dvd. etc) to the tv first, then the sound out from my tv to my recevier. I wanted to wire this way because sometimes i just want to watch tv by itself without the rec/speakers on all the time. will i be losing sound quailty?

thanks

[Solumnus]

You would be, unless your TV has digital audio in and out. Or an HDMI Out.
You need an audio digital coax, audio fiber optic (toslink) or HDMI cable going into the reciever to get any digital surround sound from PS3, HD cable, DVD, etc.

[comfortablycurt]

There's typically a significant loss in audio signal from a TV's audio out's. You'd be better off going to the receiver first.

Most receivers have a setting specifically for TV watching that mainly uses the center channel. Have you tried that at all?

[poloman1211]

You would be, unless your TV has digital audio in and out. Or an HDMI Out.
You need an audio digital coax, audio fiber optic (toslink) or HDMI cable going into the reciever to get any digital surround sound from PS3, HD cable, DVD, etc.

my tv does have a fiber optic out, so will it be the same as going straight thur the recevier

There's typically a significant loss in audio signal from a TV's audio out's. You'd be better off going to the receiver first.

Most receivers have a setting specifically for TV watching that mainly uses the center channel. Have you tried that at all?

still new to the ht. i only have fronts and no center. just seems like i dont need big speakers all the time to watch regular tv.


thanks

[SEH]

my tv does have a fiber optic out, so will it be the same as going straight thur the recevier

No. Most TVs are not made to be audio switchers or audio processors. The optical out is to get Dolby signals received through the antenna to your receiver where they can be processed, since your TV probably has no Dolby decoder. Your components are going to have to output stereo to your TV, and stereo (at best) is all you'll get out of your TV.

[rengnath]

I used to have the same issue with wanting to watch tv with no stereo. I settled with just being able to watch cable by itself with no stereo, and then run everything else with the receiver. I plugged the cable box to the wall, then used component video and the optical out from the box to run into the reciever. Next, I ran the coax video out from the cable box into the tv. I dont know if you tv has a coax in, but I know when I had a tube tv it did. Also, your cable box would have to be able to support two video outs at the same time. This would allow you to just change you video input on the tv when you wanted to just watch cable by itself, or change the video input on the tv to watch whatever through the reciever. Now, I fell so in love with my stereo that I cant watch tv without it. Hope this helps.

[Mike21]

I always use my surround system for TV: all channel stereo for news, talk shows, game shows; 5.1 or 7.1 for everything else (movies, 24, the CSIs, House, NCIS, Criminal Minds, Grammys,etc ).

Mike21
__________________________________________________ _____________
32" LG LCD
Comcast Cable
Toshiba A-2 HD-DVD player
Samsung 1500 Blu Ray Disc player
Sony NS999ES DVD/SACD/CD player
Onkyo 805 avr
Fronts: Polk M50s
Center: Polk CS2
Sides: Polk m40s
Rear: B&W LM1s
Sunfire True Subwoofer (the origianl model)
Audience Au24 speaker wire (front 3)
Transparent Link 100s - interconnects
Belkin HDMIs
PS Audio Punch power chords (12 gauge)
PS Audio Duet, Ultimate Outlet and Noise Harvestors

[rayslifecycle]

I understand your predicatment.......and there fore I recommend the following hookup:

Wire all components to your receiver using digital connections as described earlier in this thread. All audio and video is switched with the Receiver. This will give you the best quality when you want it.

Afterwards - run the standard coaxial cable-wire from your cable box to your tv. That connection will enable you to use your TV/cable as a standalone system....

[poloman1211]

No. Most TVs are not made to be audio switchers or audio processors. The optical out is to get Dolby signals received through the antenna to your receiver where they can be processed, since your TV probably has no Dolby decoder. Your components are going to have to output stereo to your TV, and stereo (at best) is all you'll get out of your TV.

so why doe the tv have fiber optic out for ?

[SEH]

so why doe the tv have fiber optic out for ?

If you use the antenna and built-in tuner to get TV broadcasts with Dolby audio, you have to have some way to get that to a receiver.

[avhomedesigns]

Always connect to the receiver first...