setting up audio/video for a new DVD player

Norm Apter

As for the Home Theater, our home is basically stuck back in the year 2001 and we're just about to move up to 2004 :eek:

Right now, we have a standard Sony DVD player hooked up to our 32" HDTV with Component Cables for video and to a Denon AVR with Signal ICs for audio.

Wanting the ability to play PAL DVDs as well as a stop/memory function (our current Sony 'forgets' where we've stopped a video causing us to recall from memory and fast-foward to where we left off), we just ordered the following (region free) DVD player from Amazon. Our TV is only 720ip (not 1080) but this DVD player does have HDMI upconversion unlike the Sony so maybe we'll see a modest improvement.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001VICORW/ref=oss_product

I also purchased an HDMI cable a while back when I thought we were going to get a Bluray player (obviously we've decided to put that off for the time being). My question is whether the HDMI cable transmits only Video or Video and Audio.

My TV has only one HDMI cable port; the Denon has several HDMI ports and the new DVD player will have one, I believe. Should I simply replace the video Component Cables with the HDMI cable (between the new DVD player and the TV) and leave the ICs running from the new DVD player to the reciever for sound, or should I be doing some other kind wiring configuration.

apphd

Yes the HDMI will carry both video and audio. You can do it the way you plan, as long as you are sure you are talking component video cable, and not composite cable you should see no to little difference. Or purchase another HDMI cable and go HDMI from DVD player to AVR, then HDMI cable from AVR to TV.

Norm Apter

apphd wrote: »

Yes the HDMI will carry both video and audio. You can do it the way you plan, as long as you are sure you are talking component video cable, and not composite cable you should see no to little difference. Or purchase another HDMI cable and go HDMI from DVD player to AVR, then HDMI cable from AVR to TV.

Yes, the ones I have now are indeed Component (not Composite) cables.

Just a follow-up. Would there be an advantage to using two HDMI cables with my set-up or, alternatively, would the results (video and audio quality) most likely be the same as just running one HDMI between the new "upscaling" DVD player and TV, but just less of a mess of wires?

I guess basically what I'm asking is whether I should just get rid of my SC Analog II ICS (audio) and the Component cables (video) in favor of two HDMI cables, and if so whether there would likely be an improvement in audio/video for standard DVDs. Of course my TV is only 32" and is only 720ip.

apphd

Hard to say, but I would go with 2 HDMI cables. On the video side I don't think you will see any difference, and should not at 720P. It can be debated at 1080P but if you have a player that will output 1080P over component, a good component cable is capable of carrying the bandwidth.

If I'm following you correctly and you use the ICs for audio, you will be limited to stereo output and would need to run Dolby ProLogic or EX for matrixed surround. Where as the HDMI for audio will give you true discrete 5.1.

flyfisher

apphd is correct.The IC's would make you limited.For 5.1 you would either need optical or coax digital cable or stick with the HDMI cable.

Plus if you want to go blu ray oneday,via HDMI will allow Dolby true hd and DTS master hd for audio.

Norm Apter

Thanks guys. The new player should arrive on Friday. I'll try/test the HDMI cable in both the audio and video position against the old cables and see if there is difference, especiially with the different formats mentioned above.