Help with new setup, please

Forums › Home Theatre (incl HTPC) › Help with new setup, please

huxtable

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Master Geek
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Topic # 59680 9-Apr-2010 11:24

Hi,
Tomorrow I am finally going to purchase the new TV I've been meaning to buy for a while, along with a PS3.

TV is Panasonic THP50S10 - a 50" Full HD TV ($2250).

I have a Pioneer Home Theatre system with 5.1 surround sound - sorry don't have model # on me, but it's not a really flash system, it's a 5 disc DVD/CD player, which up until now I had been using as our DVD player (with our old JVC 25" CRT TV). Does sound very good.

Unfortunately this HTS was just before the days of HDMI, actually not even sure right now if it has an Optical out...

I want to paly BluRay movies through the PS3 on the new TV, but with the sound output through the HTS. We also have Sky Digital, which we will soon be upgrading to MySkyHDi, and to be frank, my head is being done in by all of these different components and inputs and outputs, and how to connect them all up to get the best out of them... so any advice or tips are extremely welcome!

Thanks in advance.

PS With a new TV (to be purchased from Harvey Norman), is it standard to have a right of return/exchange period, no questions asked, even if it's just 7 days or whatever? Just in case the TV ends up being not quite right for our lounge setup. Would just hate to fork over a lot of cash and not be entirely happy...

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67 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 316483 9-Apr-2010 11:55

Congratulations on your plans! I was in a similar place a few years back.

The PS3 is pretty flexible in how you want the video and audio out. So naturally you would plug the PS3 into the TV via HDMI and then to your HTS via optical. If you are lacking an optical connector on the receiver then I suggest using the TV's stereo out (if applicable) into the receiver. However, anything but digital means you lose the good quality and surround sound. The latter is how I originally had it until I upgraded my receiver this year and I wish I had done it sooner!

I also recommend http://www.cablesdirect.co.nz for your cable needs as outlets such as HN sell HDMI cables ludicrously expensive.

Dunnersfella

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Reply # 316487 9-Apr-2010 12:09

Okay... gonna need some more information about your receiver to do give you a hand on this one sorry.
But, it shouldn't be too hard to do.
Does your HTS have an optical in?

Stores should by default allow you to exchange your TV, as long as it's in great condition. It is in their interest to keep you happy, even though it will be harder for them to sell a second hand tellie...

Dunnersfella

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Reply # 316488 9-Apr-2010 12:10

As an aside, $20 for a 1 metre HDMI can be found at most appliance stores if you ask...
While they may say $30 or $40 on the packet, sales people 'know the going rate' as such. ;-)

clevedon

846 posts

Ultimate Geek
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Reply # 316491 9-Apr-2010 12:17

Start saving now for a receiver that has at least three HDMI inputs and one output, it will simplify things a lot, plus give you the audio to match the step up to the excellent Blu-ray picture quality. And soon after that you will need to upgrade your speakers and then buy some ..............

huxtable

83 posts

Master Geek
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Reply # 316493 9-Apr-2010 12:19

Thanks for the replies guys.

When I get home tonight, I'll get exact model # of HTS - I also have the user manual for it lying around somewhere too...

I'll find out for certain then, but I don't think it has optical in/out at all... a bit of a shame, bought it 3 or 4 years ago, and do love it as a system, and probably can't afford to replace it in the immediate future.

If I am stuck to using the Stereo sound inputs, the Blu Ray sound quality coming through that will be worse than playing DVDs directly through the HTS with Dolby Digital surround, right? That would be a shame :(

HDMI cables I don't have to worry about, I can get them at cost price ($12) ;)

Jaxson

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Reply # 316517 9-Apr-2010 13:22

Hey I just got that TV too.

The PS3 can do multiple outputs, so you can have audio via optical and video via hdmi no problem. It should output some audio from the bluray over optical no probs, but it obviously wont be the true hd audio quality. Either way, make sure you update to the latest PS3 firmware as they introduced a simultaneous audio output option a few updates back that allows for analogue out and digital out at the same time etc.

It all hinges really on whether your Pioneer allows for optical in. You can get optical to digital rca input adaptors from jaycar if it has one of those and now optical, it's the same signal, just different transport methods.

That said though, honestly Clevedon is right, you'll want to be working towards an hdmi capable receiver longterm so avoid spending any extra money to make your current system work if possible. You can play DVD's on the PS3 so consider selling the Pioneer now possibly too. Nety is a big fan of a cheaper Sony unit from their clearance store that looked pretty good which did HD audio as well.

Your TV has 2 hdmi inputs on the back, so one for the PS3 and one for the MySKY when you get it. It'll all work out, all the best!

huxtable

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Master Geek
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Reply # 316637 9-Apr-2010 17:51

OK... so my HTS is a Pioneer XV-DV8 DVD/CD receiver, with S-DV8 5.1 surround sound speaker system.

Following is the link to the online version of the user manual:
http://www.pioneernz.co.nz/Site/Pronto/Files/user_manuals/XV-DV8.PDF

It appears my HTS has a COAX IN jack for coaxial digital input from other devices... is this the same as the optical in we are talking about? Or something different?

What quality audio will this input allow from PS3/TV, in fact I'd like all sound output from both general TV (inc Sky etc) usage as well as PS3 from gaming/Blu Ray, to be output through HTS at highest quality audio possible.

A brief "dummies" description of this coaxial input (virtually no info in User guide) and likely wiring setup would be greatly appreciated :)

huxtable

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Master Geek
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Reply # 316666 9-Apr-2010 20:32

Just me again :)

Some research has seemed to answer my own question, in that this coaxial input should supply 5.1 surround sound from TV to HTS (although not as well as it would via HDMI).

Will this coaxial cable from Dick Smith:
http://www.dse.co.nz/dse.shop/4bbec54e03280896273fc0a87f3b0693/Product/View/CA1015

do the trick to connect to this TV:
http://www.panasonic.co.nz/viera/plasma/th-p50s10z.html

... And if so, if I connect PS3 to TV via HDMI, and then TV to HTS via digital coaxial, I'll have good surround sound for Bluray and games on PS3? So many connections :/ :D

Jaxson

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Reply # 316731 10-Apr-2010 10:08

Doubt it sorry. PS3 will send two channel stereo to the TV via hdmi as this is what the TV will tell the PS3 it can play. Sending this on to the stereo via dig coax will still result in two channel at the HTS.

PS3 only has optical out too, so you'd need a optical to digital coax converter, which is what I mentioned a while back, and then as clevedon says, you're starting to spend money in the opposite direction to an hdmi equipped receiver.....

Nety

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Reply # 316745 10-Apr-2010 11:51

As Jaxson says you are starting to have to invest in a piece of hardware that is just never going to do what you want. There is a reason why the unit you have was a great price when you got it (well I am hoping it was). It is really just designed to be a all in one solution rather then something to bring all your hardware together.

A separate AV receiver will provide a central point that all your devices connect to. The TV will then only need one connection to it via HDMI and you can just switch to whatever source you are wanting at the time.

I would be looking at buying a inexpensive AV receiver with HDMI. For now to save costs you can use the speakers that you already have. You can always replace them later on.

I am not up with the play on AV receivers but I seem to recall that you can pick one up that will do everything you need/want for under a grand. I know it is not money that you have planned or may want to spend but doing so will give you a base to work off that will not need replacing for many years.

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huxtable

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Master Geek
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Reply # 317260 12-Apr-2010 11:08

Well, went down to HN on Saturday and finally bought our new TV (Panasonic THP50S10) and couldn't be happier!

It is massive - my wife and I still have a giggle everytime we look at it, puts our old TV to shame! But stoked we didn't get a smaller one.

Because we have so much sun in our lounge (lots of massive floor-to-ceiling windows) the TV gets a fair bit of glare during the day, but certainly not unwatchable. And heck it looks good in the evening!

Anyway, I'm blown away by the picture quality - I was afraid that standard Sky digital, for which we only have Composite (!) cables, would be unwatchable - but it actually still looks really good (nothing on FreeviewHD of course). Going to get a component cable from Sky today, and then soon splash out and get MySky HDi :)

Got a PS3 as well, and watched a Bluray last night - looked fanastic.

I was also surprised at how good it's sounding, through the HTS but with only RCA stereo - missing out on proper surround sound but not going to rush out to get a new HTS.

Thanks to everyones help, I'm really glad I did a bit of research and have absolutely no regrets.

clevedon

846 posts

Ultimate Geek
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Reply # 317303 12-Apr-2010 12:57

huxtable:
Got a PS3 as well, and watched a Bluray last night - looked fanastic.

I was also surprised at how good it's sounding, through the HTS but with only RCA stereo - missing out on proper surround sound but not going to rush out to get a new HTS.

After you get MySkyHDi, I would again recommend the very next purchase you make is HD capable receiver.

If you think the Blu-ray "looks" fantastic, wait to you hear the HD audio. To me, the HD audio is equal ( sometimes I think more, on certain Blu-rays ) to the fantastic picture. Only my opinion though. Congratulations on your purchases, enjoy.

Before purchasing any Blu-ray movies I always check Hi Def Digest, complete rundown on the features of most Blu-rays, not all are made equal.

xpd

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Reply # 317306 12-Apr-2010 13:04

Im lining up a PS3 shortly but our HTS also dosent support digital input so will be in same boat as yourself... might buy a set of Logitech 5.1 speakers to compensate :)

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Jaxson

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Reply # 317322 12-Apr-2010 13:44

Just in case you do want to pursue this, Jaycar do offer a optical/toslink to digital coax converter. Works in both ways, but is sort of pricey, but cheaper than a new receiver. May help you guys out with PS3 only giving optical output.
http://jaycar.co.nz/productView.asp?ID=AC1601&keywords=optical+coax&form=KEYWORD

Bare minimum receiver is Onkyo 576 which I think was around $400 at jbhifi. Should work with your existing hts speakers (though check they are 6 ohm minimum. Some hts speakers are 4 or even 2 ohm which is just not really compatible with a cheaper receiver.

576 can play HD audio if something else has converted it to pcm. I think the Panasonic BD60 does this, not sure. The PS3 certainly does this. After that the newer Onkyo 607 I think it is, maybe 507, not sure, can decode them HD audio itself, so doesn't require another bluray player to do it. Hope that makes some sense.

ErnieII

15 posts

Geek

Reply # 319562 16-Apr-2010 23:25

Best not to try putting an HD capable receiver on the end of your system if you are happy with the current results. Huge improvements in sound quality will just drive your itch to upgrade even further. Quit while you are ahead.

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