Help Me Understand Audio/Receivers Better

[ngkf7]

I was trying to help out a friend who I just talked into buying a Blu Ray player with audio. Right now he has a 5.1 surround system that runs through his TV. So currently the audio setup goes

Player (HDMI)---> TV ---> Receiver (red/white cables - yuck)

Does he get 5.1 surround here? Whats the best way to optimize his audio without having to purchase any new components (aside from cables)?

Thanks!

[aramis109]

I could be wrong, but he's not getting true 5.1 audio through those. He'd need to upgrade to either optical or a digital coaxial depending on what connections he has available.

[DavePS3]

He'd have to run 6 RCA cables from a discreet output into the same input in the receiver, or run fiber optic or coax for the real 5.1, 6.1 audio. With two RCA's, he's running a psudo-surround - Pro-Logic or Pro-Logic2. Mono in the rears and no discreet sub channel. It's just a rough mix. Noiser too.

[Cadrian]

What receiver does he have?

Why is he going from the Player to the TV then to the receiver? That makes no sense....

If the receiver has HDMI... Then go all HDMI.

[Hammie]

What receiver and what bluray player does he have? This will help us determine the best options.

[ngkf7]

The receiver does not have HDMI. He has the Samsung P1500 (from the Amazon deal last week or so).

Would it be best to put the HDMI to the TV and then an optical audio straight to the receiver?


EDIT: I have no idea what receiver he has. I wouldn't be able to find out until he got off work - I doubt he knows off the top of his head.

[JJ]

Well, if he wants the audio from his TV to output through his receiver, I would say his only uses are Red/White or Coax Digital/Optical. But, it should be Blu-ray player ==> (HDMI) Receiver ==> (HDMI) TV

[ngkf7]

I know what it should be. Unfortunately he's not ready to drop that money right now. So I guess I should just tell him to run an optical audio cable from the player to the receiver and then just keep the player plugged directly into the TV for now (through the HDMI)

[Hammie]

If his TV has optical out, then he could run the optical from the TV to the receiver. Just a thought.

[CosmoKid]

Originally Posted by ngkf7

I know what it should be. Unfortunately he's not ready to drop that money right now. So I guess I should just tell him to run an optical audio cable from the player to the receiver and then just keep the player plugged directly into the TV for now (through the HDMI)

drop what money? he already has a tv, receiver, blu-ray player and speakers. what other costs are involved?

[Steve]

Most TVs downconvert incoming signals to stereo before outputting them to some other component. In his situation, I would recommend player to TV via HDMI for video and player to receiver via optical or digital coaxial for true 5.1 audio. He won't get lossless audio, but it should be better than what he's getting right now.

[Static]

I never use more components to pass along a signal than I need. If I were him I'd run the video from the bd player to the tv, whether from the little yellow plug or hdmi, and send the audio straight from the bd player to the receiver with optical. It'll solve a lot of heartache.

[olds403]

Run an optical cable from the player to the receiver and the HDMI to the TV. I have an older receiver without HDMI and a samsung 1400 player and this is how I have it set up. I do not use the TV for audio so all audio goes through the receiver.

[crackinhedz]

Learn about Receivers

[HeManster03]

i had the same setup til i got an hdmi reciever..just take hdmi from player to tv...tv speakers off and optical out to the reciever..pro logic 2 sounds alot better than pseudo surround sound through analog stereo cables. but like everyone else has pretty much said, i would tell him to make an hdmi audio capable reciever his top priority...

[ngkf7]

Well I just talked to him and his receiver doesn't even do optical audio. So now I'm going to talk him into getting a decent receiver with hdmi.

Thanks for the help everyone.

[aramis109]

Originally Posted by ngkf7

Well I just talked to him and his receiver doesn't even do optical audio. So now I'm going to talk him into getting a decent receiver with hdmi.

Thanks for the help everyone.

Does it do digital coax? Another solution without buying more equipment.

[CosmoKid]

Originally Posted by Static

I never use more components to pass along a signal than I need. If I were him I'd run the video from the bd player to the tv, whether from the little yellow plug or hdmi, and send the audio straight from the bd player to the receiver with optical. It'll solve a lot of heartache.

send blu-ray video through "the little yellow plug"? really?

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by Static

I never use more components to pass along a signal than I need. If I were him I'd run the video from the bd player to the tv, whether from the little yellow plug or hdmi, and send the audio straight from the bd player to the receiver with optical. It'll solve a lot of heartache.

You don't mind watching 480p content from your HD capable T.V./Blu-ray Player/Blu-ray Disc ???????

[Uniquely]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

You don't mind watching 480p content from your HD capable T.V./Blu-ray Player/Blu-ray Disc ???????

Maybe he doesn't know you can't get 1080P from "the little yellow plug"