System connection question...

CWatters · 10-01-2008, 18:10

Situation: You have the video outputs from the following boxes connected to your TV...

SkyHD box
Freeview box
DVD player
VHS Tape recorder
PC
etc etc

... but the audio outputs are all connected to your audio amp. When you switch channel on the TV you have to hunt around for the audio remote and do the same for audio.

What's the solution to child friendly/seamless switching between sources?

Are there audio amps with built in universal remote recievers than can learn the codes the TV uses to switch inputs?

or

Is it only possible by changing as many boxes as possible to HDMI?

or

Is there a freestanding mixer boxes that do the job?

Scorpio · 10-01-2008, 18:24

I think there are boxes that can learn these codes but you can narrow down the amount of choices you have to make by taking a phono L/R pair from the back of the TV into your amp so as to service all sources other than those requiring digital multichannel sound (Sky+ or HD, DVD, XBOX etc).
You can do away with the sound leads to your amp for VCR, freeview box etc.
I know this wont cure your issue but it's a little tidier, and less options for sound source to choose from ......................but you'll still need that audio amp remote!

Rgds,
Scorp

soulboy77 · 10-01-2008, 18:36

Buy a 'real' surround amp that also does AV switching then you can route all your sources video and sound through the amp and only need one AV feed to th TV. Switching sources then become simple.

ßeta · 10-01-2008, 18:45

Or buy a Logitech Harmony Remote.

10-01-2008, 20:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by CWatters

Situation: You have the video outputs from the following boxes connected to your TV...

SkyHD box
Freeview box
DVD player
VHS Tape recorder
PC
etc etc

... but the audio outputs are all connected to your audio amp. When you switch channel on the TV you have to hunt around for the audio remote and do the same for audio.

What's the solution to child friendly/seamless switching between sources?

Are there audio amps with built in universal remote recievers than can learn the codes the TV uses to switch inputs?

or

Is it only possible by changing as many boxes as possible to HDMI?

or

Is there a freestanding mixer boxes that do the job?

Is the audio amp just a hi-fi/stereo?

If so, you basically only need connect a pair of phonos from the audio outputs of the TV to the amp/hi-fi's audio inputs, something like AUX, then whatever is displayed on screen, be it Sky, Freeview or DVD, you should have the accompanying audio when that AUX input is selected.

CWatters · 12-01-2008, 19:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by soulboy77

Buy a 'real' surround amp that also does AV switching then you can route all your sources video and sound through the amp and only need one AV feed to th TV. Switching sources then become simple.

That sounds like the answer I was looking for. I'm also trying to reduce the number of wires to the TV to just HDMI and power.

Do they only work if all the sources/targets are the same type or are there some that can take a mixture of inputs (composite, HDMI etc) and produce HDMI out?

PS. I don't have an amp yet - just planning and trying to simplify things.

10-01-2008, 18:10	#1
CWatters Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: 18 miles from Sandy Heath Posts: 382	System connection question... Situation: You have the video outputs from the following boxes connected to your TV... SkyHD box Freeview box DVD player VHS Tape recorder PC etc etc ... but the audio outputs are all connected to your audio amp. When you switch channel on the TV you have to hunt around for the audio remote and do the same for audio. What's the solution to child friendly/seamless switching between sources? Are there audio amps with built in universal remote recievers than can learn the codes the TV uses to switch inputs? or Is it only possible by changing as many boxes as possible to HDMI? or Is there a freestanding mixer boxes that do the job?

10-01-2008, 18:24	#2
Scorpio Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Somerset Posts: 3,048	I think there are boxes that can learn these codes but you can narrow down the amount of choices you have to make by taking a phono L/R pair from the back of the TV into your amp so as to service all sources other than those requiring digital multichannel sound (Sky+ or HD, DVD, XBOX etc). You can do away with the sound leads to your amp for VCR, freeview box etc. I know this wont cure your issue but it's a little tidier, and less options for sound source to choose from ......................but you'll still need that audio amp remote! Rgds, Scorp

10-01-2008, 18:36	#3
soulboy77 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Herts Posts: 17,005	Buy a 'real' surround amp that also does AV switching then you can route all your sources video and sound through the amp and only need one AV feed to th TV. Switching sources then become simple.

10-01-2008, 18:45	#4
ßeta Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: 127.0.0.1 Posts: 86	Or buy a Logitech Harmony Remote.

10-01-2008, 20:10	#5
TommyW Posts: n/a	Quote: Originally Posted by CWatters Situation: You have the video outputs from the following boxes connected to your TV... SkyHD box Freeview box DVD player VHS Tape recorder PC etc etc ... but the audio outputs are all connected to your audio amp. When you switch channel on the TV you have to hunt around for the audio remote and do the same for audio. What's the solution to child friendly/seamless switching between sources? Are there audio amps with built in universal remote recievers than can learn the codes the TV uses to switch inputs? or Is it only possible by changing as many boxes as possible to HDMI? or Is there a freestanding mixer boxes that do the job? Is the audio amp just a hi-fi/stereo? If so, you basically only need connect a pair of phonos from the audio outputs of the TV to the amp/hi-fi's audio inputs, something like AUX, then whatever is displayed on screen, be it Sky, Freeview or DVD, you should have the accompanying audio when that AUX input is selected.

12-01-2008, 19:43	#6
CWatters Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: 18 miles from Sandy Heath Posts: 382	Quote: Originally Posted by soulboy77 Buy a 'real' surround amp that also does AV switching then you can route all your sources video and sound through the amp and only need one AV feed to th TV. Switching sources then become simple. That sounds like the answer I was looking for. I'm also trying to reduce the number of wires to the TV to just HDMI and power. Do they only work if all the sources/targets are the same type or are there some that can take a mixture of inputs (composite, HDMI etc) and produce HDMI out? PS. I don't have an amp yet - just planning and trying to simplify things.

DS Forums

System connection question...