Wiring HD A/V Advice

[Robb]

You know you are getting old when what is considered "common" in the electronics arena is beyond you....................


This is what I have:
-two HD TVs (LCD in bedroom & DLP Projector in living room)
-two standard 5.1 audio receivers (both about 3-4 years old with all the inputs available at that time)
-STV DirecTV dish

What I have on order:
-two DirecTV HD DVRs with upgraded HD dish


Question 1) Is the cabling from the dish to the RX still just coax with HD? Or is there some special cable? I ran the coax through the house just a few years ago with the best stuff I could get my hands on (R59, R60, whatever), so if it remains coax, I am good to go there.

I plan to run the video from the RXs to the TVs via HDMI cables...........rights? That is the best right?

In regards to audio, the HD RXs should have normal ol' RCA right/white "patch" cables that I can just run to my existing Aud RXs right? I don't need to upgrade to any special type of HD Aud RXs correct?

I have witnessed the running different types of video cable to one component, and another type of cable to audio components, lead to "delays" of one or the other leading to the video not matching the audio. If I run HDMI to my video components and RCAs (patch cable) to the audio components, is there a chance of one lagging behind the other? Can I correct this?

Am I even on the correct path here?

Thanks!!

 

[Cole82]

I have witnessed the running different types of video cable to one component, and another type of cable to audio components, lead to "delays" of one or the other leading to the video not matching the audio. If I run HDMI to my video components and RCAs (patch cable) to the audio components, is there a chance of one lagging behind the other? Can I correct this?


Thanks!!

If you have a good reciever there is a time delay feature. Where you can adjust each speaker or all at once. Atleast you can on mine!

 

[NeXt559]

if its an hd signal to an hdtv it should be a componant cable.
*thing 5 rca imputsinstead of 3
really easy to install its all color coded

then there is always hdmi. not sure if dtv uses it but its just one cable. kinda looks like a giant mini usb

 

[2JSC]

The best way to do it all is HDMI between everything. HDMI takes video and audio in one line. If your TV's and recievers have them, do it that way.

If your recievers don't have HDMI, component cables would be just as good.

For any of your home audio/visua cables, go to monoprice.com - I got my 15ft HDMI cable for my PS3/HDTV for $20.

 

[binaryterror]

For any of your home audio/visua cables, go to monoprice.com - I got my 15ft HDMI cable for my PS3/HDTV for $20.

X2 "thumbsup"

Best Buy and all the other shops charge upwards of $50 for a 3' cable now.

 

[skellyo]

For any of your home audio/visua cables, go to monoprice.com - I got my 15ft HDMI cable for my PS3/HDTV for $20.

X3 Monoprice.com rocks!

 

[bondt]

the best would be if all three pieces had hdmi but i doubt they do. i would check the receiver to see if i has any digital audio inputs. these can be either optical or a single RCA type connection. this would give you far better sound than just using the stereo inputs. if you do end up with a delay in the audio for some reason, most receivers will also have video inputs( hopefully RGB) and a monitor out. it will not be quite the same quality as the hdmi but it is so close that a large majority of people will not be able to tell the difference.

 

[jbrandt]

X3 Monoprice.com rocks!

x1000!!! Monoprice is AWESOME! I got 2 15' gold plated HDMI cables, a wall mount for my 40", and some other odds and ends for the same price as Best Buy is selling ONE 15' HDMI cable.

If you have HDMI hookups, that's the way to go. Easy install.

 

[Robb]

Thanks for the replies guys!!


I am looking to make an order from monoprice tonight. Thanks for the link!! Definitely better prices than I can get locally. Most of the cables I saw locally are about 8' max, and since I need to go across the room for the projector, a longer cable will be needed.

Does anyone know the difference between HDMI and HDMI1.3a? I see both are common at monoprice.............is there a physical difference? One better than the other?

Looking at the manual for the RX that I am getting, I have digital (optical and coax) audio outputs and the same inputs on my Audio RX...............is one better than the other, or no real difference? Figured since I am ordering, might as well get those while I am at it.

 

[bondt]

i would say go with optical. so there is no metallic connection between the two components. this will reduce the chance of a ground loop and the associated hum. this might not happen but, better safe than sorry."thumbsup"

 

[2JSC]

The cable makes no difference from HDMI to HDMI1.3a... it's just the decoding that the hardware does. You'll be good with any HDMI cable.

The thing you'll probably appreciate the most about monoprice, is no clam shell packaging, just twist ties. "thumbsup"

Some will argue that optical is better than coax, but for audio, it makes no difference. But for the ease of things, optical is my line of choice because it is much smaller.