PS3 Home Theater hook up

[leakbox]

All,

Breaking my blu-ray "cherry" here, and it's probably been asked before, but....

My son has a PS3 that we want to use on occasion to play blu-ray discs. I am running a Denon amp/tuner, with a Sony Wega CRT monitor. Currently, the video signal to the TV either comes through our digital cable box, or the DVD player. The sound is connected through the Denon.

I went out and picked up an HDMI cable, but if I hook that up from the PS3 to the amp, there's no way to get the signal to the TV. If I hook the cable up to the TV, I can get the video feed, but then the sound just comes out of the TV speakers.

My amp and speakers have 6.1 surround capability. Should I return the HDMI and just get component cables, connecting the video to the TV and audio to the amp? Keep the cable and just use others to connect the PS3 to my amplifier? The HDMI is expensive, and will probably provide the best picture, but I don't want to end up buying more cables if it's not necessary.

Any help would be appreciated, as the TV weighs over 300 pounds, and it's not simple to keep moving it for access to the back....

Thanks!

[rraquib]

Get an amp that can output everything through HDMI and hook up all devices to the amp. You will have a single HDMI running to the TV.

Originally Posted by leakbox

All,

Breaking my blu-ray "cherry" here, and it's probably been asked before, but....

My son has a PS3 that we want to use on occasion to play blu-ray discs. I am running a Denon amp/tuner, with a Sony Wega CRT monitor. Currently, the video signal to the TV either comes through our digital cable box, or the DVD player. The sound is connected through the Denon.

I went out and picked up an HDMI cable, but if I hook that up from the PS3 to the amp, there's no way to get the signal to the TV. If I hook the cable up to the TV, I can get the video feed, but then the sound just comes out of the TV speakers.

My amp and speakers have 6.1 surround capability. Should I return the HDMI and just get component cables, connecting the video to the TV and audio to the amp? Keep the cable and just use others to connect the PS3 to my amplifier? The HDMI is expensive, and will probably provide the best picture, but I don't want to end up buying more cables if it's not necessary.

Any help would be appreciated, as the TV weighs over 300 pounds, and it's not simple to keep moving it for access to the back....

Thanks!

[Edwin78]

Which Denon receiver do you have? If the receiver has HDMI input, there shouldn't be a problem connecting PS3 to receiver via HDMI. PS3 to receiver HDMI input, HDMI output from receiver to TV HDMI input. You should be able to see the picture on your TV and sound from your speakers.

[leakbox]

I'll have to check when I get home; my Denon may actually DO that....but if so, then that means I need to buy another HDMI cable; one from the PS3 to the amp, and another from the amp to the TV.....

[Dadds]

it sounds like you might need another HDMI wire. Connect the PS3 to a HDMI input on the receiver and another wire from the output on the receiver to the TV.

[leakbox]

Originally Posted by Edwin78

Which Denon receiver do you have? If the receiver has HDMI input, there shouldn't be a problem connecting PS3 to receiver via HDMI. PS3 to receiver HDMI input, HDMI output from receiver to TV HDMI input. You should be able to see the picture on your TV and sound from your speakers.

AVR 3805. I'll read my literature tonight.

[mtl007]

Hi, I don't know if the following is the best way but it works well for me.

I have Samsung plasma that have only one HDMI input. So I have one HD cable box that accepts and outputs HDMI and a PS3 that outputs HDMI. I bought myself a HDMI switcher that allows me to select between the two input source. (If you do not have a HD cable box that gives HDMI signal OR if your TV accepts two HDMI inputs, then this step is not required).

For my amp, I feed it through the optical output from the TV, so it will be syncronized with whatever HDMI input I have selected through the switcher. This alternative is dependent on having an audio out direct from your TV.

I noticed HUGE difference in terms of video quality between HDMI output versys component output, so I am not willing to accept that as an option.

Hope this helps.

[Edwin78]

Originally Posted by leakbox

AVR 3805. I'll read my literature tonight.

As far as I know Denon 3805 does not have HDMI input. You mentioned that you connected your PS3 to your Denon using HDMI cable. How were you able to do that? Are you sure it's 3805 and not 3806? Denon 3806 does have 2 HDMI inputs.

If your receiver is indeed Denon 3805 then I guess you're out of luck in terms of using HDMI connection. In that case, just connect PS3 directly to TV via HDMI and then connect PS3 to receiver with optical cable for audio. Or you can connect PS3 to receiver via component and then connect your receiver to TV via component as well for the video. For the audio, connect PS3 to receiver via optical cable.

Just remember that you will not get 1080p picture if you don't connect using HDMI (assuming your TV can show 1080p of course). But 1080i should be good enough unless you are watching movies on over 100" screen. You also will not get any lossless PCM or HD audio using optical cable for your audio. You'll get the regular dolby digital or DTS audio.

[Edwin78]

whatever method you're using to connect the PS3, remember to set it up properly on the PS3 menu (ie. picture via component or HDMI, audio via optical or HDMI). Just read it from PS3 manual. Or if you're like me, just play around with the menu till you find it

[GreenMotion]

I myself use HDMI connected to the TV for Video; and have the optical output on the PS3 connected to my received for sound.

[cawgijoe]

If it's a Sony CRT, it's 1080i. Nothing wrong with 1080i.....many people cannot tell the difference between 1080i and p.

Give us the model of the TV and receiver and it will be easy to tell you the best method of connection.

For HDMI and other high quality cables, I suggest Monoprice.com. Super price, quality,service and value.

[Dadds]

Also remember to hold down the power till you here a second beep. That way to auto config. and it will use the HDMI for video and audio. And if you need to switch the audio to optical then you can just manually change it.

[leakbox]

Thanks for all the quick responses!

Home now; as Edwin said, the 3805 does not have HDMI capability. I do have Component and S video input; however, for the best picture, I'll leave the HDMI cable on the back of the TV ((Sony KV-36HS420). The Denon does have optical, component, and standard audio input jacks.


My cable DVR does have an HDMI slot, but that's for output only, so I can't connect the PS3 to it. In addition, the TV has only one HDMI input, so I can't have both the PS3 and the cable box hooked up through it. Since discs are more of a priority, I'll maintain my component hook up through the cable box and use the HDMI slot for the PS3.

IN SUMMARY....I'll leave an optical cable hooked up to the Denon, and the HDMI cable hooked up to the TV, so when we bring the PS3 out, I simply plug in the power and the two connections, and we should be good to go.

Sound correct?

[theknub]

leak, that was my setup for a while. you may want to possibly look into an hdmi switcher or a new receiver. it will certainly simplify life

[whippersnapper]

Originally Posted by GreenMotion

I myself use HDMI connected to the TV for Video; and have the optical output on the PS3 connected to my received for sound.

This is what I did also. Works well. One of these days I'll get a better receiver and speakers.

[ryoohki]

Check for HDMI switched.. monoprice have them for the cheap and you can get a 2x1, 3x1 or 5x1..

[powerSURG]

Originally Posted by leakbox

IN SUMMARY....I'll leave an optical cable hooked up to the Denon, and the HDMI cable hooked up to the TV, so when we bring the PS3 out, I simply plug in the power and the two connections, and we should be good to go.
Sound correct?

Pretty much, just go into your settings on your PS3. Tell it to send audio via optical and video via HDMI. This is currently my set up as well. One day, I'll have a better receiver...

[leakbox]

Got the optical cable from Best Buy last night. I ran the HDMI cable over to my stack, and decided to connect it to the cable box. I also got another PS3 power cord & plugged it into a spare outlet on my DVD player. I twist-tied the optical cord so it won't slip through the opening. Now, when we want Blu-Ray, it should be a simple process of pulling the HDMI from the cable box, inserting the power cord, & connecting the optical audio!

On a different note: We turned on the system last night and VIOLA! Let me say, I'm glad I didn't know what I was missing. The picture sharpness and clarity with the HDMI cable completely blows away the cheap standard video cable that Time Warner hooked it up with. I can't believe we could have had this clarity on the HD channels for the last year. I sat mesmorized, watching the "risk taker" base jumpers on Discovery. Haven't tried the Blu-Ray yet, but I'm excited to put "Casino Royale" in later this week.

Thanks for all the input!

Leak

[Edwin78]

Glad you worked it out. However, if I were you I would get an HDMI switcher. All those plugging/unplugging the HDMI cable when you switch from cable to PS3 is just too much of a hassle for me. I guess I'm just lazy

[aaronwt]

Originally Posted by leakbox

Got the optical cable from Best Buy last night. I ran the HDMI cable over to my stack, and decided to connect it to the cable box. I also got another PS3 power cord & plugged it into a spare outlet on my DVD player. I twist-tied the optical cord so it won't slip through the opening. Now, when we want Blu-Ray, it should be a simple process of pulling the HDMI from the cable box, inserting the power cord, & connecting the optical audio!

On a different note: We turned on the system last night and VIOLA! Let me say, I'm glad I didn't know what I was missing. The picture sharpness and clarity with the HDMI cable completely blows away the cheap standard video cable that Time Warner hooked it up with. I can't believe we could have had this clarity on the HD channels for the last year. I sat mesmorized, watching the "risk taker" base jumpers on Discovery. Haven't tried the Blu-Ray yet, but I'm excited to put "Casino Royale" in later this week.

Thanks for all the input!

Leak

Any future optical, coaxial, or HDMI cables should be purchased online. You can get excellent HDMI cables from Monoprice for $5 that will work exactly the same as a Monster HDMI $100 cable from BB. The digital cables aren't like analog. With HD from 2001 to 2005 I used component connections and easily spent 1 to $2K for all my cables(and those were from online companies). Since going all digital in 2005, the cost for cables have been miniscule by comparison.
Only buy those cables at a local store as a last resort. They are way over priced.