Question about cables

Goatee · 22-11-2004, 18:23

Hi there

I've just got a new Sony Widescreen TV and Pioneer DVD player. I'm pretty new to the home cinema scene so I'm a little confused about what cables to go for to get the best sound and picture results.......

- I want to connect my DVD player to my stereo Amp for the sound. At the moment I'm using QED interconnects, would a coaxial or optical connection be better than this?

- So thats the sound taken care of, so whats the best type of connection to use between my DVD player and my TV for the picture?

ANy guidance would be much appreciated. Many thanks

BlackCat99 · 22-11-2004, 18:28

I'd better leave the audio explanation to someone more experienced than myself, but as for the connection between the DVD Player and the TV, RGB scart is pretty much the only way to go. Even if your DVD Player has component video outs, your TV wouldn't be able to make use of them.

Hope that helps

Goatee · 22-11-2004, 18:35

Hi, thanks for the reply

Scart will transmit the sound too, yes? So is it ok to use both the Scart and the other audio connection to the stereo amp?

Many thanks

Scorpio · 22-11-2004, 19:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goatee

Hi, thanks for the reply

Scart will transmit the sound too, yes? So is it ok to use both the Scart and the other audio connection to the stereo amp?

Many thanks

As Blackcat suggests, treat sound and vision as separate streams if you have an amp.

The vision bit is fine - RGB via scart is the best you will get.
you could use the scart for sound to your TV but what a waste...............
You say that you have a stereo amp.....do you only have 2 speakers or a 6 speaker set up??

If it's 2.......just take a phono pair from the back of your DVD player and put into your amp marked AUX or similar.

If it's the full monty......then you should use andigital cable (optical or coaxial) from your DVD to the digital IN socket on your amp.

Hey Presto! lovely 5.1 channel Dolby digital in all its glory!

Rgds,
Scorp

chrisjr · 22-11-2004, 20:50

If it's a Stereo amp then it's only going to have two speakers. In which case it is unlikely, though not impossible, that it has digital inputs.

If it is in fact a surround sound system then it very likely will have a form of digital input. If it does then you would certainly be better off using this. A digital interconnect is the only way you can get surround sound from the majority of DVD players. Unless it has a decoder built in in which case it will have 6 phono sockets on the back for the audio outs!

Oh and if your DVD has a coaxial digital out don't whatever you do confuse this with analogue, they both use the same type of connector.

If you do connect the DVD audio to your amp then just turn off the TV speakers. All SCART leads carry audio (in both directions actually even though your DVD won't have any inputs) but that doesn't matter in this scenario as you are almost vertainly going to get better sound from the amp.

One other option would be to connect an audio feed from the TV to the amp. I wouldn't be surprised if the telly has a pair of phono connectors on the back which would allow you to use the amp for both TV and DVD. If you're lucky the TV audio out might even pass through the DVD feed from the SCART connector so you only need one audio connection instead of two. Though if you want proper surround then you won't get this from a feed of TV audio only from the digital out of the DVD.

Goatee · 22-11-2004, 23:53

Hello again. Thanks very much for the advise, very helpful

Yeah, I only have 2 speakers for now, but it sounds pretty good. They give a bit of surround effect themselves. For some reason I thought my amp had a digital input, but it doesn't, so I'll stick with the phono interconnects.

Is there something different about RGB scarts and standard scarts? Is this something I should concern myself with or do I just connect the scart and not worry about it? Sorry for my ignorance. My TV has 3 scart sockets and 1 is actually labelled as DVD

Anyway, I was going to get the QED P2110 scart: http://www.hifibitz.co.uk/product.asp?id=2470 . So once I get that I should be all done and ready to go, right?

Thanks again

diablo · 23-11-2004, 05:26

The scart cable which you have selected seems to be a good choice for your system and will enable connection in RGB mode.

I assume that the DVD scart on your TV will be set up as RGB by default. But there may be menu options on both the TV and DVD which allow these to be changed. Check the handbooks for both machines and alter the settings to RGB at both ends if needed.
Some manufacturers set the defaults at the 'safest' values, which will always work, to avoid customer complaints.

Regards

Goatee · 23-11-2004, 10:35

Hi, diablo, thanks for the advise

I'll order my scart today and then I'm sorted for a movie night

Cheers!

22-11-2004, 18:23	#1
Goatee Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 14	Question about cables Hi there I've just got a new Sony Widescreen TV and Pioneer DVD player. I'm pretty new to the home cinema scene so I'm a little confused about what cables to go for to get the best sound and picture results....... - I want to connect my DVD player to my stereo Amp for the sound. At the moment I'm using QED interconnects, would a coaxial or optical connection be better than this? - So thats the sound taken care of, so whats the best type of connection to use between my DVD player and my TV for the picture? ANy guidance would be much appreciated. Many thanks

22-11-2004, 18:28	#2
BlackCat99 Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 79	I'd better leave the audio explanation to someone more experienced than myself, but as for the connection between the DVD Player and the TV, RGB scart is pretty much the only way to go. Even if your DVD Player has component video outs, your TV wouldn't be able to make use of them. Hope that helps

22-11-2004, 18:35	#3
Goatee Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 14	Hi, thanks for the reply Scart will transmit the sound too, yes? So is it ok to use both the Scart and the other audio connection to the stereo amp? Many thanks

22-11-2004, 19:29	#4
Scorpio Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Somerset Posts: 3,048	Quote: Originally Posted by Goatee Hi, thanks for the reply Scart will transmit the sound too, yes? So is it ok to use both the Scart and the other audio connection to the stereo amp? Many thanks As Blackcat suggests, treat sound and vision as separate streams if you have an amp. The vision bit is fine - RGB via scart is the best you will get. you could use the scart for sound to your TV but what a waste............... You say that you have a stereo amp.....do you only have 2 speakers or a 6 speaker set up?? If it's 2.......just take a phono pair from the back of your DVD player and put into your amp marked AUX or similar. If it's the full monty......then you should use andigital cable (optical or coaxial) from your DVD to the digital IN socket on your amp. Hey Presto! lovely 5.1 channel Dolby digital in all its glory! Rgds, Scorp

22-11-2004, 20:50	#5
chrisjr Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Reading Posts: 27,916	If it's a Stereo amp then it's only going to have two speakers. In which case it is unlikely, though not impossible, that it has digital inputs. If it is in fact a surround sound system then it very likely will have a form of digital input. If it does then you would certainly be better off using this. A digital interconnect is the only way you can get surround sound from the majority of DVD players. Unless it has a decoder built in in which case it will have 6 phono sockets on the back for the audio outs! Oh and if your DVD has a coaxial digital out don't whatever you do confuse this with analogue, they both use the same type of connector. If you do connect the DVD audio to your amp then just turn off the TV speakers. All SCART leads carry audio (in both directions actually even though your DVD won't have any inputs) but that doesn't matter in this scenario as you are almost vertainly going to get better sound from the amp. One other option would be to connect an audio feed from the TV to the amp. I wouldn't be surprised if the telly has a pair of phono connectors on the back which would allow you to use the amp for both TV and DVD. If you're lucky the TV audio out might even pass through the DVD feed from the SCART connector so you only need one audio connection instead of two. Though if you want proper surround then you won't get this from a feed of TV audio only from the digital out of the DVD.

22-11-2004, 23:53	#6
Goatee Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 14	Hello again. Thanks very much for the advise, very helpful Yeah, I only have 2 speakers for now, but it sounds pretty good. They give a bit of surround effect themselves. For some reason I thought my amp had a digital input, but it doesn't, so I'll stick with the phono interconnects. Is there something different about RGB scarts and standard scarts? Is this something I should concern myself with or do I just connect the scart and not worry about it? Sorry for my ignorance. My TV has 3 scart sockets and 1 is actually labelled as DVD Anyway, I was going to get the QED P2110 scart: http://www.hifibitz.co.uk/product.asp?id=2470 . So once I get that I should be all done and ready to go, right? Thanks again

23-11-2004, 05:26	#7
diablo Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Fylde Coast Posts: 8,103	The scart cable which you have selected seems to be a good choice for your system and will enable connection in RGB mode. I assume that the DVD scart on your TV will be set up as RGB by default. But there may be menu options on both the TV and DVD which allow these to be changed. Check the handbooks for both machines and alter the settings to RGB at both ends if needed. Some manufacturers set the defaults at the 'safest' values, which will always work, to avoid customer complaints. Regards

23-11-2004, 10:35	#8
Goatee Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 14	Hi, diablo, thanks for the advise I'll order my scart today and then I'm sorted for a movie night Cheers!

DS Forums

Question about cables