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General discussion

Help with Home Theater connection

Feb 3, 2005 8:37AM PST

I just bought the Mits 52525 HDTV, Yamaha HTR-5760 AV Receiver, and a set of Klipsch Synergy speakers. I also have a Sony SLV -D350P DVD/VCR. The TV has HDMI, DVI, 1394 Firewire and all the other usual connections. The receiver has S-video and Optical connections. I will be hooking up a Cable/DVR box that has HDMI along with the other S-Video connections.

My question is which of these are dedicated Video, dedicated audio, and which if any serve as both? I'm confused on the terminalogy of these connections. I'm willing to go the extra mile in cost for the best cables to match the connections but don't want to waste money. Any help would be appreciated!

Discussion is locked

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connection help
Feb 4, 2005 1:43AM PST

I believe HDMI has audio in it, HOWEVER, nobody ever uses it, they just use HDMI just like DVI (both are digital video signals, in other words... virtually no noise ever). Because who runs their audio into their video device anyways? Soon enough we'll have cheap A/V receivers that switch between HDMI, but not right now. For video, run the digital video when possible, otherwise go with component. For audio, run the digital audio (either optical or digital coax). My rule of thumb is, whenever your audio cable is going to have lots of loops or bends in it, avoid optical, otherwise... both are equally good. The real question you need to be asking yourself is what are my video sources? My dvd player (samsung dvd hd-841) has a DVI & component output, my xbox has component output & my HDTV OTA receiver supplies either DVI or component. So I use my A/V receiver to do the switching between xbox/tv through component & my dvd player shoots a DVI straight to the video device (I don't have a tv, I have a projector). If you have multiple sources that supply digital video, think about using those interfaces & finding a DVI switcher. I'm looking into a few right now.

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hdmi dvi
Feb 5, 2005 4:06PM PST

Are you sure that the 52525 has both hdmi and dvi. I thought it just had hdmi.

Also, I think I get what you are saying about setting this system up, but some stuff is still a little unclear. If you have only one hdmi port and otherwise, only component, yet have a dvd and an hd reciever which do you use with the hdmi. Which of the two would benefit most from the connection. What about the same situation with dvi? Are you saying that you get a dvi swither that allows you to plug multiple dvi signals into the switcher that will transmit any of those signals through the dvi to the video device? If this is the way to go with dvi, is there such a "switcher" for hdmi that will allow me to feed all of my digital video signals into the same hdmi port?
thanks

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ok
Feb 7, 2005 4:06PM PST

first of all, there are such things as DVI switchers and HDMI switchers. Here are two examples:

http://www.gefen.com/kvm/product.jsp?prod_id=1208
http://www.gefen.com/kvm/product.jsp?prod_id=2208

Based on your system, here is what I would do:

from your SonyDVD player to your Receiver:
run digital audio (either optical or coax)
run component video

from your cable box to your Receiver:
run digital audio (probably optical)

from your cable box to your TV:
run HDMI

from your Yamaha Receiver to your TV:
run component video

your TV will utilize the HDMI for your cable & your component video for your DVD player. If you want the best possible scenario: get a dvd player that has a digital out & get an HDMI video switcher (like the one above) & use it to switch between video sources & use your Yamaha receiver to switch between audio sources.

NOTE: always keep your TV muted (or volume on minimum)

NOTE: never wind your power cords into many tight loops because that essentially creates an electromagnetic wave "cannon" that shoots tons of noise straight out of the side of the loops. & always try & run your signal lines (video & audio that isn't optical) as far away from your power lines as possible.

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please note
Feb 8, 2005 1:54AM PST

If you are using Time Warner cable, some of their boxes have dvi outputs, but Time Watner does not support them and they don't work properly. You will need to use the component video cables.

I also, don't know if others agree with me, but I spent a lot of money on Monster cables only to have them break. I don't think they are worth the extra cost.

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ummm
Feb 8, 2005 7:21AM PST

if you don't mind the cost, moster cables are without a doubt in my mind the best you can get. What in the world did you do to "break" them? jam them really hard into the device? cut them with tin snips? geeze

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NO!
Feb 8, 2005 11:10AM PST

I did nothing to break them. They fit so tight on the connector that they would not come off. Then two just broke. I resent your attitud!!! I have connected many computers, tvs, receivers, dvd players, vcr's, cd players and the Monster cables are the only cables that have ever broken on me.

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hmmm...
Feb 9, 2005 3:59AM PST

So if you did nothing to break them... then they just fell off & broke due to gravity? I hate to sound like a salesman here, but I stand by the quality products that monster cable puts out. Are they cost effective? Some would say no, but I didn't mind paying for them.
For me, the really tight fit (with really good conductive material) is desirable because it makes a superior electrical connection between the device & the cable. Is that so necessarily important you might ask? Every bit helps, & if you don't believe me, attach an oscilloscope & run some video through a loose plug & a tight one. Signal quality can be degraded (even if by a few dozen micro-volts) by a loose connection.

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Monsters...
Feb 14, 2005 4:20AM PST

I've never heard of the Monsters actually breaking, but that said, they're nothing special. The connector they use can tend to cut into the RCA connector and beat the hell out of it. Often they grab so tightly they loosen the nut on the inside of the equipment, requiring one to open it the case and make adjustments. I own a couple pairs and I've experienced it.

My choice for good budget interconnects (better than the ones that come with your DVDp) is Ultralink - good connectors and solid construction. The Discovery model is cheap too. Other reasonably-priced ICs off the top of my head are Kimber and Audioquest. Acoustic Research had some $20 ICs a while back that were good. I'd buy the Radio Shack gold-plated models before Monsters.

In my opinion, Monster are very good at marketing and - in light of recent reports of legal action they've undertaken against smaller companies - corporate bullying. Who needs em?