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Connecting Blu Ray, HDTV, AV receiver and V+


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Old 09-01-2009, 00:02
smellysnelly
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I currently have a Bravia 32W4000 and a BDS-350 Blu Ray connected via hdmi.
I will shortly be getting a V+ Box(when we move beginning of Feb),an AV receiver (when I decide which one from all the advice on here) that will have hdmi connections and finally some speakers.
I'm trying to sort out all necessary cabling in advance and this is what I came up with.
Blu-ray to AV receiver using hdmi
V+ to AV receiver using hdmi
TV to AV receiver using hdmi

Then simply select whichever of the inputs that is required on the AV receiver.
I was then reading through the sound options bit in one of the manuals which said I would still need to connect the TV to the AV receiver by a digital optical cable alongside the hdmi cable.
I'd be really grateful if someone could confirm that this is true and briefly explain why and how it works.
Thanks in advance for any advice

Last edited by smellysnelly : 09-01-2009 at 00:02. Reason: stupid typo
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Old 09-01-2009, 00:42
Deacon1972
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If you want to listen to the TV's audio via the sound system then you will need to make a connection between the TV and receiver - this is normally done with a pair of phonos or optical cable - this will be in addition to the HDMI connection.

I would think that all your viewing will be done via the V+ box so this connection is not really that important.

All your other connections are spot on - you just need to chose a suitable receiver where it will pass the video/audio via HDMI to compliment the V+ and BD player.
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Old 09-01-2009, 11:10
smellysnelly
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Thanks for that Deacon.
Looks like it's going to be the Sony STR-DG820 which I've found for just over £200. I'm pretty new to this stuff so (perhaps incorrectly) I feel safer buying equipment all from the same brand.
Just to confirm, the only reason I would need an optical cable would be if I wanted to listen to the TV audio output (not V+) through the AV receiver? As you quite rightly say, I imagine 99% of viewing will through the V+ box so this cable will not be necessary.
Thanks again.
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Old 09-01-2009, 11:14
Deacon1972
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Just to confirm, the only reason I would need an optical cable would be if I wanted to listen to the TV audio output (not V+) through the AV receiver?
That's correct.
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Old 09-01-2009, 11:28
wwwebber
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Do you realise that your amp will be switched on almost permanently ? and that you cant watch your v+ box at all without the amp on ?. Do you really want to watch Eastenders with Phil Mitchell pinging out of every surround speaker ?.

If you want to save energy (and wear and tear on the amp) and put Phil Mitchells banter back where it should be in the TV then I would suggest doing this :-

Now, your V+ box wont be outputting HD audio anytime soon so there's no need to feed it into the amp with HDMI. You can use optical instead for the audio. This way you can connect the V+ box directly to the TV with HDMI and listen to normal TV audio through the TVs speakers. Of course you may want to feed the audio into the amp for the odd film or music channel so simply switch the amp on and listen via the optical.

If you have only one HDMI port on your tv then buy a self powered auto HDMI switcher for £20 they're brill.

I have BTVision & a PS3 and will soon be getting the 820 to replace my ageing STRDB940 and this is exactly how I intend to set it up. I wont be losing anything but I willbe gainign a longer lasting amp & cheaper leccy bills.

I hope this helps.
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Old 09-01-2009, 11:46
RobAnt
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If you want to listen to the TV's audio via the sound system then you will need to make a connection between the TV and receiver - this is normally done with a pair of phonos or optical cable - this will be in addition to the HDMI connection.
In this case I would not recommend using the line-out output on the TV for the V+.

Connecting the V+ to the AV Receiver using an optical cable will provide a better quality connection, and Dolby Digital if and when this is available. Even if it isn't the digital connection will give superior performance over an analogue signal being processed twice before getting to your AV Amp.

This won't stop you using the TV's own speakers, instead, if you so wish. Or even connecting up the analogue output from the TV to the AV amp too, if you want to seriously overcomplicate matters, or want to listen to the TVs own internal tuner.
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Old 09-01-2009, 11:49
Deacon1972
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Do you realise that your amp will be switched on almost permanently ? and that you cant watch your v+ box at all without the amp on ?. Do you really want to watch Eastenders with Phil Mitchell pinging out of every surround speaker ?.

If you want to save energy (and wear and tear on the amp) and put Phil Mitchells banter back where it should be in the TV then I would suggest doing this :-

Now, your V+ box wont be outputting HD audio anytime soon so there's no need to feed it into the amp with HDMI. You can use optical instead for the audio. This way you can connect the V+ box directly to the TV with HDMI and listen to normal TV audio through the TVs speakers. Of course you may want to feed the audio into the amp for the odd film or music channel so simply switch the amp on and listen via the optical.

If you have only one HDMI port on your tv then buy a self powered auto HDMI switcher for £20 they're brill.

I have BTVision & a PS3 and will soon be getting the 820 to replace my ageing STRDB940 and this is exactly how I intend to set it up. I wont be losing anything but I willbe gainign a longer lasting amp & cheaper leccy bills.

I hope this helps.
This is all very well if you're not that bothered about listening to the audio via the TV speakers.

Personally, if I have spent my budget on improving the audio I would want this for all my viewing, regardless of content. IMO an av system isn't just for music/movies.

If the viewer isn't that concerned about the audio for certain content they could always watch via Freeview, providing the channel/content is available.

At the end of the day it's personal choice.
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Old 09-01-2009, 11:51
Deacon1972
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In this case I would not recommend using the line-out output on the TV for the V+.

Connecting the V+ to the AV Receiver using an optical cable will provide a better quality connection, and Dolby Digital if and when this is available.
Where has there been any mention of connecting the V+ via it's line outs?

The V+ provides DD5.1 over HDMI, if you are using an HDMI compatible amp, one that carries video and audio via HDMI then connecting via optical is not needed.

This connection is made if you are not wanting to use the TV's audio for V+.

If you want the TV's audio available then you connect HDMI to TV and optical to the receiver.
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Old 09-01-2009, 11:54
RobAnt
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The V+ provides DD5.1 over HDMI, if you are using an HDMI compatible amp, one that carries video and audio via HDMI then connecting via optical is not needed.
Correct. I don't have Sky so I'm not intimate with the V+ box and it's capabilities. Just using common sense in the event that the V+ box doesn't provide full DD/DTS 5.1 - which is the advice that I seem to be given quite often.

It is also, often the case that HDMI audio will be routed through the AV Amp - as opposed to being intercepted - when the AV amp is in off/standby.
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Old 09-01-2009, 12:01
wwwebber
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This is all very well if you're not that bothered about listening to the audio via the TV speakers.

Personally, if I have spent my budget on improving the audio I would want this for all my viewing, regardless of content. IMO an av system isn't just for music/movies.

If the viewer isn't that concerned about the audio for certain content they could always watch via Freeview, providing the channel/content is available.

At the end of the day it's personal choice.
Of course it's personal choice but the energy benefits are obvious. If you want to listen to your soaps (or something similarly flat audiowise) through a huge power hungry amp then you can but god knows why anyone would.

Also, an optical connection for the v+box does not take anything away from the TV audio experience - if thats what you want.
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Old 09-01-2009, 12:04
wwwebber
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It is also, often the case that HDMI audio will be routed through the AV Amp - as opposed to being intercepted - when the AV amp is in off/standby.
Not in my experience. I have asked this question many times and the only amps that can do this are high end 1k+ amps.

If the 820 could do this then that would be great but when it is switched off it routes no audio or video through HDMI.
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Old 09-01-2009, 12:07
RobAnt
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Not in my experience. I have asked this question many times and the only amps that can do this are high end 1k+ amps.

If the 820 could do this then that would be great but when it is switched off it routes no audio or video through HDMI.
That's odd, I would have sworn that someone, just yesterday, commented on the fact that one of those Panasonic HT kits did exactly that - for about £500 inc. speakers.

Here you go! [click]
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Old 09-01-2009, 12:13
Deacon1972
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Correct. I don't have Sky so I'm not intimate with the V+ box and it's capabilities. Just using common sense in the event that the V+ box doesn't provide full DD/DTS 5.1 - which is the advice that I seem to be given quite often.
V+ is provided by Virgin Media not Sky.

V+ can provide DD5.1 via HDMI and optical - Sky+ can only provide DD5.1 via optical, HDMI only provides DD2.0.

Neither box provides DTS.
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Old 09-01-2009, 12:22
RobAnt
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V+ is provided by Virgin Media not Sky.

V+ can provide DD5.1 via HDMI and optical - Sky+ can only provide DD5.1 via optical, HDMI only provides DD2.0.

Neither box provides DTS.
Silly me. Of course it is - I haven't got one of those either

Waiting for Freesat to be installed on the 12th instead - ordered my Nova DVB-S2 card yesterday, hoping Play will deliver it today or tomorrow. I might have to make an emergency dash to Maplins to get a long satellite cable with F connectors.
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