Wiring a Home Theatre Room with Projector & Plasma Outputs using HDMI + Audio help

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Wiring a Home Theatre Room with Projector & Plasma Outputs using HDMI + Audio help

Darlene

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#91997 25-Oct-2011 19:45

Hi - I am helping to install the home network cabling in my brothers new build and am having issues consolidating what cabling would be the best solution to have in his "man cave" home theatre room.

The room is approximately 20 meters long and 6 meters wide. There will be a bar area at the rear of the room and this will be where the entertainment units will sit

1. Sky HDI
2. Gaming console HD
3. Amplifier for built in wall speakerss
4. Bluray player

There are 2 options for the output
1. Ceiling mounted projector
2. Wall mounted Plasma Screen

I am currently planning for the sky, gaming and bluray players to connect to a 4x2 HDMI switcher
sending the signal to either or both of the projector or plasma screens.

I just am a little unsure if this is the best tact - and also how do I get the audio out to the speakers for example if they are watching a movie on the projector where do I take the audio from to get it to the amplifier? I feel like I have been looking at this too long and am getting tangled in all the cable options ... can someone help to simplify this situation for me.

Thanks
Darlene

smarsden

118 posts

Master Geek

#537468 25-Oct-2011 22:16

This is a similar setup to what I used to have, and where you put the 4x2 HDMI matrix switcher in the signal path will be dependent on where you want the sound to come from when you use the TV only (i.e. TV's built in speakers, or the surround wall speakers driven by the amplifier).

As I see it, if you want to use the TV's speakers only when the TV is on (and not the surrounds), you can connect everything to the 4x2 switcher as you suggest, and have one output going to the TV, then the other output going to the amp (which then connects to the projector and also drives the speakers, when you're using the projector only).

If you want to use the amp connected speakers always, regardless of which display you're using, you can connect all your sources direct to the amp (assuming sufficient HDMI-in sockets), then have the output from the amp going to one input in the switcher, then the two outputs from the switcher going to both displays. In this case though you could get away with a 1-to-2 splitter connected to the amp, instead of the 4x2 matrix switch, or depending on your budget, get an amp with 2 HDMI out sockets, to drive both displays directly from the amp, removing the need for an additional splitter box.

Hope that helps you work out your options.

Cheers.

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#537483 25-Oct-2011 22:41

Do you have an existing home theatre receiver?
Or are you looking to put one in with dual HDMI outs? If so... you can avoid the HDMI switcher all together.
An amp with two HDMI outs will allow you to run either the projector or TV... with surround sound. If you want to watch the TV without the surround speakers working, just turn off the amp. A receiver with HDMI pass through will pass through the MySky picture to the TV, with the audio coming out of the TV.

Talkiet

4792 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#537513 26-Oct-2011 00:28

+1 on an Amp with multiple HDMI out... I had an HDMI switcher and it worked - sometimes it required a kick in the guts to make it work...

If you are going to want to display two different inputs on the Plasma and Projector at the same time then a good Matrix switch is the way to go.

If you just want a bunch of HDMI sources to play either on the Plasma or Projector (depending on what you want to use) without switching cables, then just get an Amp with multiple HDMI out. I did this and it's just the right way to do it.

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

jjnz1

1358 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#537514 26-Oct-2011 01:23

Does this help? [EDIT:Don't look at my bloody spelling! Its past my bed time ;)]

Its just a simple wiring diagram.

All you need to do is have the projector or TV on the correct channel/AV and the amp will do the tricky audio switching bit that your worried about. If you get the right amp, you wont need to worry about hdmi splitters etc.

Darlene

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#537538 26-Oct-2011 08:29

Thank you all - you have really helped me to clarify that situation - there is no amp yet so I will look to get as you suggest one with the dual hdmi outputs and remove the matrix - definately sensible in this situation - I dont think that they are going to watch both at the same time its an either or option.

Thank you again
Darlene

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#537666 26-Oct-2011 11:51

The most cost effective dual HDMI out amp I've seen recently is the Yamaha RXV771.
What speakers are you looking to power?

Darlene

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#537940 26-Oct-2011 20:24

(The most cost effective dual HDMI out amp I've seen recently is the Yamaha RXV771.
What speakers are you looking to power?)

Unsure yet as to what he is going to get so am just trying to get all the cabling run before the gib goes up so that at least it is ready for the future potential ... Thank you though - as that is the next stage working out exactly what equipment would be best and most cost effective - guess he will need to see what the budget allows :)

Tradepub

Free professional, reference and technical white papers (affiliate link).

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#537943 26-Oct-2011 20:29

Cool, make sure you allow ethernet to the amplifier, as it will no doubt be a network capable receiver...
Making for control with either an iDevice or Android gadget :-)

Darlene

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#537948 26-Oct-2011 20:31

Definately will do - have the 3 data connections going to that point from a hills hub so can patch them
as Pay TV, Ethernet/Data and a Phone line ... hopefully that will do them