Need help hooking up my HT- thanks in advance!

[Eric Z]

Hello, everyone-

I recently picked up a Yamaha HTR5760 receiver and need some help hooking it up to my DVD player and basic Sony TV (nonHD).

I've heard different ways hooking it up, but I'm looking for the most effective way. I've read the receiver manual and that helped a little, but I still have some questions. I'm confused when it comes to the optical, coaxial, component video, s video, etc...

I would like to have the TV sound play through my receiver as well. I do not have a cable box or satelite.

If possible, I am looking for some specific instructions. I apologize upfront for my ignorance when it comes to this.

**I know I need optical going out from my DVD player to the receiver. Do I also need coaxial from DVD to receiver?

**Is there also a video out from DVD to receiver, or is this taken care of with the optical/coaxial? [the receiver manual shows video out from DVD to video and s video and also to component video- that confuses me tremendously]

**How is the audio connected from DVD to receiver? Would this be an analog connection?

**Now, what about the connections with the TV? Would that be between the DVD and TV or the receiver and the TV? Would it be an S Video connection? How is the audio hooked up between the TV and receiver?

Thank you very much in advance with your help.

Please let me know if I need to clarify anything more.

Thanks again.
Eric

[topspeed]

I would like to have the TV sound play through my receiver as well. I do not have a cable box or satelite.

If possible, I am looking for some specific instructions. I apologize upfront for my ignorance when it comes to this.

No need to apologize, we've all been there. The only dumb question is the one that goes without being asked...
Get a set of RCA patch cords and go from the "Audio Out" on the back side of your tv to the "TV Audio In" on your rec. and when you're watching tv, just make sure your receiver is set to the right source (in this case TV). Easy.

**I know I need optical going out from my DVD player to the receiver. Do I also need coaxial from DVD to receiver?

No, just pick one. Using the optical will allow you to utilize the receiver's digital to analog converters (DAC) instead of those onboard your dvd player. If the dvd player has better dac's, use rca's. How do you tell? Run it both ways and see which sounds better.

**Is there also a video out from DVD to receiver, or is this taken care of with the optical/coaxial? [the receiver manual shows video out from DVD to video and s video and also to component video- that confuses me tremendously

The video should be hooked with either s-video or component, just pick one. Audio signals are sent thru the optical or rca "Audio Out" whichever you picked.

**How is the audio connected from DVD to receiver? Would this be an analog connection?

see above

**Now, what about the connections with the TV? Would that be between the DVD and TV or the receiver and the TV? Would it be an S Video connection? How is the audio hooked up between the TV and receiver?

All sources (i.e. dvd, cd, cassette, vhs) will feed into the receiver. Hooking it up to the tv is the easy part. Take your "Video Out" from the receiver (usually RCA's, S-video, or Component) and plug it into your tv "Video In". Whether you use coax, rca, s-video, or component is up to you and how much you want to spend. S-video is the easiest as it's just one cord but component technically offers the best picture. Obviously, all audio is coming from your connected speakers.

Hope this helps.

[Bryan]

To further clarify or possibly confuse:

Get a set of RCA patch cords and go from the "Audio Out" on the back side of your tv to the "TV Audio In" on your rec. and when you're watching tv, just make sure your receiver is set to the right source (in this case TV). Easy.

One thing you may need to do is go into the audio settings in the TV and select TV audio out through the RCA jacks rather than TV speakers. This can sound more complicated than what it is.

Additionally, for video, direct connections are best. If you only have the DVD player connect it to the TV using either the s-video connection or the component video connection. If you have multiple video sources with only one available s-video input on the TV then run the video connections through the receiver and one from the receiver to the TV.

[Eric Z]

Okay, I just want to clarify a couple points to make sure I'm on the right page. First, I want to thank you Bryan and topspeed for your input!

1. AUDIO: RCA cables from TV audio out to receiver TV audio in.
2. AUDIO: Optical or RCA from DVD audio out to receiver audio in.
3. VIDEO DVD: S-Video or component cables from DVD video out to receiver video in. Or, I can go straight from DVD video out to TV video in with S-Video or component cables (Bryan's point).
4. VIDEO TO TV: S-Video or component cables from receiver video out to TV video in. If I have the DVD directly to the TV (like 2nd half of step 3), then I can skip this, correct?

Am I on the right track?

Thanks again.
Eric

[Bryan]

1. Correct though make sure you do not have to adjust your TVs audio settings. (For example, my Panasonic requires a minor audio setting change.)

2. Exactly. Prefer either optical or digital coax over RCA. The former two will allow you to experience DTS, 5.1, etc., whereas the former is primarily stereo.

3. Yep. Direct is best when you have the inputs.

4. Bingo. I would only go through the receiver if you have multiple video sources and not enough inputs on your TV.

[Eric Z]

Thanks a bunch for your help, Bryan!

I hooked everything up and it sounds pretty darn good!! I was impressed with the improvement over my older Sony receiver.

I still have a couple outstanding questions (in order with the numbers in my previous post).

1. I hooked up RCA cables from TV audio out to receiver TV audio in. It works, but I do have to make some audio changes through my Sony TV menu. The only problem is it cuts off the volume from the TV so the sound is only coming out of my speakers. That would be ideal if I had a center channel, but I do not yet. Any ideas?

3 and 4. What is the difference between optical cables and component cables? Is one better than the other? I heard that component cable are worth it for HD or TVs 32" and above- is that right? In addition, someone mentioned that it would be easier to switch from component to component if I use those cables. Not sure about the specifics on that though.

Thanks again.