Hooking it all up (Home Theater)

[bjkrautk]

Over the years, I've assembled all the major components to put together my own home theater set (HDTV, Receiver, TiVo HD w/ CableCARD, PS3, XBox360).

My next project: wiring it all up so that guests and family members don't have their eyes glaze over when I'm not around to make it all work.

Any tips you guys might have?


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I recognize that the most elegant solution would be to run separate HDMI feeds into the receiver, and use that as a de facto switch. Only problem is that the receiver is the oldest part of my setup (No HD switching of any kind....but it can do S-Video if I want to hook up my GameCube!), and I'd really like to squeeze another year or two out of it before upgrading.

Thanks in advance!

[peter-gandalf]

What model is your receiver?

If you receiver is that old that it can't pass HD component video or HDMI you could send all your video sources your tv and the audio to your receiver.

If your tv has optical output you could run both your video and audio sources to your tv output the audio via optical wire to your receiver. This was you only have to switch source on your TV remote and keep the receiver on the same source.

[bjkrautk]

What model is your receiver?

If you receiver is that old that it can't pass HD component video or HDMI you could send all your video sources your tv and the audio to your receiver.

If your tv has optical output you could run both your video and audio sources to your tv output the audio via optical wire to your receiver. This was you only have to switch source on your TV remote and keep the receiver on the same source.

I wanted to keep the topic as general as possible, since every home theater hookup I've seen has some level of confusion to it.

As for my hookup, I believe it's a Panasonic SA HE 70 (S-Video, 2 Digital Optical Ins, 1 Digital Coax In), connected to the Sony 34XBR970 (2 component ins, 1 HDMI in; 1 Digital Coax Out). My current plan is to connect the TiVo to the TV via HDMI, and then output the audio via the TV's Digital out (assuming I can go digital-to-digital -- I'm pulling the receiver out of storage this weekend) That will essentially be my 'default' channel when explaining the system to family and friends. Both the gaming consoles will use the component ins on the TV, and output audio into the receiver via optical cables. Perfectly functional, but not exactly elegant.

...I'm almost tempted to print out a set of instructions.

[davmoo]

If all devices can be operated and switched by a remote, your easiest way out is to get a Logitech Harmony remote. If they want to watch a DVD, press the button for "Watch a DVD" and the Harmony turns on all necessary devices and switches their inputs to the appropriate setting. If they want to watch Tivo, press the button for "Watch Tivo", etc.

[webpoet73]

If all devices can be operated and switched by a remote, your easiest way out is to get a Logitech Harmony remote. If they want to watch a DVD, press the button for "Watch a DVD" and the Harmony turns on all necessary devices and switches their inputs to the appropriate setting. If they want to watch Tivo, press the button for "Watch Tivo", etc.

I second that one. The Harmony remotes are very good. My remote operates everything except the PS3 and the Wii (since they are bluetooth). The Harmony controls the Xbox360 dashboard, so that's really nice.

[rharvier]

I second that one. The Harmony remotes are very good. My remote operates everything except the PS3 and the Wii (since they are bluetooth). The Harmony controls the Xbox360 dashboard, so that's really nice.

Got to third is suggestion. It's by far the easiest and cheapest way to do what you want. My mother's living room set up has 42" vizio lcd, direct tv hd, blu-ray and my brother's xbox 360 and she can use the harmony remote to go from blu-ray to direct tv or to the tv's atsc tuner without any issues. The only hard part will be programming the remote, which is pretty painless to do.

[bigbossbmb]

you can pick up a refurb Harmony 550 for CHEAP on Amazon. I got one and love it.

[bjkrautk]

Thanks for all the advice; I guess I'll be looking to pick up a Harmony remote on a good sale.


Sidenote for my personal project: the XBR970 doesn't output digital audio for anything other than the coaxial (cable/antenna) input, so I'm waiting for Amazon to send me a Digital Optical-to-coax converter to finish plugging everything in. Everything else works well.

[vree]

Just to add to the Harmony love, I love it, and so does my wife.

Look into an IR2BT device to have it work with the PS3 also, especially if you plan to watch movies on it. Its well worth the simplicity of being able to store away all your remotes.

[davmoo]

I would sell members of my family before I'd give up my Harmony 550.

[jivetrky]

I second that one. The Harmony remotes are very good. My remote operates everything except the PS3 and the Wii (since they are bluetooth). The Harmony controls the Xbox360 dashboard, so that's really nice.

I also fully recommend a Harmony remote. I use a harmony 670 and love it! Got it for pretty cheap as a refurb. (looks brand new). It makes it easy, just one click to change everything on or off. it will change channels through the tivo while changing volume through the reciever, and yet change HD zoom, etc, through the TV. Very snazy. And there is no way I could handle not having one in the future. it makes it simple enough that my 7 year old has no problems controlling and switching between sources. (nor does the mother-in-law, which says even more, I think.)


And regarding the PS3, Logitech just came out with an IR to Bluetooth converter for the PS3. I'm still waiting on delivery for my new plasma (PN50B650) and PS3. I will be using the PS3 as a Bluray player, so I'll have to decide if I want to spend the $50 for the converter or if I'll deal with the controller when I want to watch a Bluray.

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/remotes/universal_remotes/devices/5732&cl=us,en