Having trouble setting up home theatre

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JohnMatrix

21 posts

Geek

#87048 18-Jul-2011 16:30

Hello again.Sorry I haven't replied to my last thread but my pc died.
Right,we have just bought these items from JB-HIFI in Dunedin

http://www.jbhifi.co.nz/tv-lcd-led-plasma/panasonic/viera-50-inch-full-hd-3d-plasma-tv-sku-21940/

http://www.jbhifi.co.nz/tv-lcd-led-plasma/sony/32-inch-full-hd-lcd-tv-sku-22678/

http://www.jbhifi.co.nz/jb-hi-fi-home-audio/receiver/pioneer/7-1-channel-home-theatre-receiver-sku-20022/

http://www.jbhifi.co.nz/jb-hi-fi-home-audio/speakers/kef/5-1-channel-speaker-pack-sku-23237/

http://www.jbhifi.co.nz/tv-lcd-led-plasma/media-players/panasonic/3d-full-hd-blu-ray-player-sku-21601/

cost about $5500 all up with cabinet,speaker stands and cables etc.

The
big telly and speakers won't be here until next week,so today I decided
to hook up the Sony and the amp.I've run the HDMI cable from tv(in) to
amp(out) then the manual says R ANALOG L AUDIO OUT to
TV/SAT IN(L,R) or OPTICAL DIGITAL OUT to TV/SAT IN.
I tried the analog one and no sound came from the speakers and the amp turned off by itself.
Then
when I changed the input (on tv) to HDMI 1 the screen goes black and
still no sound,but I can access the amp GUI screen.So do I need an
optical cable or have I stuffed it up.
Cheers.

1 | 2

85 posts

Master Geek

#495034 18-Jul-2011 21:59

Have you had the tv scan for attached hdmi devices?

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Dunnersfella

4064 posts

Uber Geek

#495051 18-Jul-2011 22:42

To be fair - if I'd just spent $5500 I'd be ringing JB Hifi for help setting it up...

I wouldn't go and plug the amp / TV up until you have the speakers, but when you do, here's the way to do it...

BluRay --> HDMI Cable --> Pioneer HDMI 1
Pioneer HDMI Out --> HDMI Cable --> TV HDMI (any port as the VSX920 doesn't support ARC).

Amplifier --> Optical (TV) --> TV Optical In.

Not too hard, 2 HDMI cables + 1 optical cable. Turn the amp to 'BD' or BluRay... whatever it's called. With the speakers / sub plugged in, you should now be able to turn the volume up and listen to the system.
Next step is calibrating the audio, start by running the auto calibration setup (using the microphone included in the box), then tweak from there.

Enjoy.

JohnMatrix

21 posts

Geek

#495084 19-Jul-2011 07:05

Basher: Have you had the tv scan for attached hdmi devices?

Yes,the tv knows the amps there,there's a little arrow beside HDMI 1 and the menu amp menu works on tv.

Dunnersfella: To be fair - if I'd just spent $5500 I'd be ringing JB Hifi for help setting it up...

I wouldn't go and plug the amp / TV up until you have the speakers, but when you do, here's the way to do it...

BluRay --> HDMI Cable --> Pioneer HDMI 1
Pioneer HDMI Out --> HDMI Cable --> TV HDMI (any port as the VSX920 doesn't support ARC).

Amplifier --> Optical (TV) --> TV Optical In.

Not too hard, 2 HDMI cables + 1 optical cable. Turn the amp to 'BD' or BluRay... whatever it's called. With the speakers / sub plugged in, you should now be able to turn the volume up and listen to the system.
Next step is calibrating the audio, start by running the auto calibration setup (using the microphone included in the box), then tweak from there.

Enjoy.

Two guys down at JB said I don't need an optical cable.
Old speakers were plugged in and tested ok.

Bluray works fine,so does HD recorder and CD player,has picture and sound.

So I just need an optical cable and it should work with tv?

I don't think the Sony had a proper L,R (out) on the back. (it didn't match with the amp manual)

and no JB don't install stuff,they have a sub contractor,Installer services (I think) out in Mosgiel.
Thanks.

Dunnersfella

4064 posts

Uber Geek

#495107 19-Jul-2011 08:21

The guys at JB's don't know their amplifier unfortunately...
I'm picking they assumed the current Pioneer amps have an Audio Return Channel, when in reality, they don't.

There is an optical cable in your future - unless you're happy with using analogue audio cables between your TV and your amp... and the corresponding drop in audio quality compared to an optical connection.
Head into JB Hifi, ask for a (free?) cable - the one they told you that you did not need...

JohnMatrix

21 posts

Geek

#495120 19-Jul-2011 09:01

Cheers dude.I do remember him saying he would set me up with everything to make it work.
Thanks for your help.

Jaxson

7681 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#495167 19-Jul-2011 10:30

If you are using a freeview HD tuner in the TV, and want to send Dolby 5.1 sound to your amplifier, from the TV, then you will need an optical cable (or digital coax if your TV supports it, most don't).

No other connection will pass the 5.1 audio to the receiver. (Well unless your TV/Receiver has the ARC channel on hdmi, but it sounds like yours doesn't).

So yeah, as above, get an optical cable, or just use a freeview recorder - myfreeview pvr as the source for watching TV and then you don't need the TV to receiver optical cable anyway.

JohnMatrix

21 posts

Geek

#495319 19-Jul-2011 15:34

Jaxson: If you are using a freeview HD tuner in the TV, and want to send Dolby 5.1 sound to your amplifier, from the TV, then you will need an optical cable (or digital coax if your TV supports it, most don't).

No other connection will pass the 5.1 audio to the receiver. (Well unless your TV/Receiver has the ARC channel on hdmi, but it sounds like yours doesn't).

So yeah, as above, get an optical cable, or just use a freeview recorder - myfreeview pvr as the source for watching TV and then you don't need the TV to receiver optical cable anyway.

Thanks Jaxson.We're going to get MySky soon anyway.I was only seeing how things would work at the moment
until the Panny and speakers arrive,so I could bang everything together with no fuss but don't think thats going to happen.I was hoping HDMI cables were all I needed.I've never used Optical cables before.
Thank god I came here.
Really appreciate your help guys,will let you know if everything goes to plan this weekend.Or doesn't.
Cheers

Jaxson

7681 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#495326 19-Jul-2011 15:50

JohnMatrix: I've never used Optical cables before.

Don't try bending them around too sharply, too small a radius bends etc. They don't like that.

JohnMatrix

21 posts

Geek

#495335 19-Jul-2011 16:10

Cool,thanks.

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#495354 19-Jul-2011 16:59

I've run the HDMI cable from tv(in) to
amp(out) then the manual says R ANALOG L AUDIO OUT to
TV/SAT IN(L,R) or OPTICAL DIGITAL OUT to TV/SAT IN.
I tried the analog one and no sound came from the speakers and the amp turned off by itself.
Then
when I changed the input (on tv) to HDMI 1 the screen goes black and
still no sound,but I can access the amp GUI screen.So do I need an
optical cable or have I stuffed it up.
Cheers.

The HDMI cable won't do anything. Its only an input to the TV.
Best to run an optical cable from the Tv to the Amp.
I have the 32ex720 and find the optical cable is great. It also passes all audio from HDMI connected devices to the amp if you set everything right in the audio menus.
You probably have to go into your TV's menu and turn on external audio as I think the default is "Off". Sounds like you have it set to internal speakers only hence no audio out to the amp.

Dunnersfella

4064 posts

Uber Geek

#495359 19-Jul-2011 17:18

B1GGLZ:

The HDMI cable won't do anything. Its only an input to the TV.
Best to run an optical cable from the Tv to the Amp.
I have the 32ex720 and find the optical cable is great. It also passes all audio from HDMI connected devices to the amp if you set everything right in the audio menus.
You probably have to go into your TV's menu and turn on external audio as I think the default is "Off". Sounds like you have it set to internal speakers only hence no audio out to the amp.

Actually, with most other amps around that price, an HDMI cable can work as an Audio Return Channel... sending picture (plus audio if you want) one way, while firing sound back the other.
Typically, on the likes of Panasonic's you have to use HDMI 2 (it has ARC printed on it).
The problem in this case, is that even though the VSX920 receiver is HDMI 1.4, it doesn't have ARC enabled... you have to move up to the next model to find this.

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#495391 19-Jul-2011 18:53

Actually, with most other amps around that price, an HDMI cable can work as an Audio Return Channel... sending picture (plus audio if you want) one way, while firing sound back the other.

I know some setups allow 2-way sound via HDMI but as soon as you select any HDMI input on the Sony you lose any Picture from the TV Tuner. You have to select TV input in the Menu and feed sound to the amp via optical output. On checking the iManual I see my model (ex720) only has optical and headphone socket terminals for audio out. The composite and analogue audio terminals are only inputs.
I do note though that the iManual does say use HDMI 1 for ARC audio so I guess that would work (presumably while watching TV input) but I don't have an amp with HDMI terminals to check it out.

JohnMatrix

21 posts

Geek

#495541 20-Jul-2011 07:26

B1GGLZ:

Actually, with most other amps around that price, an HDMI cable can work as an Audio Return Channel... sending picture (plus audio if you want) one way, while firing sound back the other.

I know some setups allow 2-way sound via HDMI but as soon as you select any HDMI input on the Sony you lose any Picture from the TV Tuner. You have to select TV input in the Menu and feed sound to the amp via optical output. On checking the iManual I see my model (ex720) only has optical and headphone socket terminals for audio out. The composite and analogue audio terminals are only inputs.
I do note though that the iManual does say use HDMI 1 for ARC audio so I guess that would work (presumably while watching TV input) but I don't have an amp with HDMI terminals to check it out.

I think that's correct,I checked the i-Manual and it had a picture of the tv with an optical cable running to an amp.The only audio out I found was the little green headphone socket + the optical out.
The tv does change audio automatically when the amp was connected.

Will this problem happen when I get the Panasonic tv?The Sony is going to be in the bedroom with only a DVD player hooked up.

JohnMatrix

21 posts

Geek

#495542 20-Jul-2011 07:28

Oops,can't find the manual for the TH-P50ST30Z online.

Jaxson

7681 posts

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Trusted

#495609 20-Jul-2011 10:17

How far are you mounting the TV from the receiver? If it's all on the same cabinet etc then that's pretty close, if it's wall mounted it can be quite a distance away.

Anyway, just get an optical cable. Easy as that and they don't have to cost much, especially for a short one. Trademe has many cable suppliers so don't get sucked into buying one from the store at a huge price. Seriously, they are cheap, like $10 for a 2m cable sort of thing.

I have a 5m optical cable buried in my wall and use it only for live TV, and then usually only on TV3 for 5.1 sound. At all other times we watch TV off the freeview recorder and this feeds directly into the receiver, so no need to send audio back from the TV.

So, as I said earlier, you'll need this return from the TV if you are using the inbuilt TV tuner. If you are watching SKY then really there is no need to worry about a return from the TV as SKY will be the only source.

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