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

poloman1211
poloman1211 Posts: 28
edited February 2009 in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
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
Post edited by poloman1211 on
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  • Solumnus
    Solumnus Posts: 48
    edited February 2009
    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.

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  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited February 2009
    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?
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  • poloman1211
    poloman1211 Posts: 28
    edited February 2009
    Solumnus wrote: »
    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
    comfortablycurt wrote: »
    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
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  • SEH
    SEH Posts: 91
    edited February 2009
    poloman1211 wrote: »
    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.
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  • rengnath
    rengnath Posts: 118
    edited February 2009
    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.
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  • Mike21
    Mike21 Posts: 252
    edited February 2009
    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
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  • rayslifecycle
    rayslifecycle Posts: 511
    edited February 2009
    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....
    http://rayslifecycle.blogspot.com/
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  • poloman1211
    poloman1211 Posts: 28
    edited February 2009
    SEH wrote: »
    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 ?
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  • SEH
    SEH Posts: 91
    edited February 2009
    poloman1211 wrote: »
    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.
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  • avhomedesigns
    avhomedesigns Posts: 29
    edited February 2009
    Always connect to the receiver first...
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