Setup help, please

[zinfella]

I've seen so much info that my little brain is swirling, and I'm still not sure how to setup my setup. So, if I can get all of the needed info in one thread, maybe I'll have enough to do it properly, and TIA to all of the great folks here!

I've got a Panny BD55, still in the box.

I've got a Denon 1404/484 5.1 receiver, that I think I can boost the SW with. Since it doesn't support HDMI, I can use optical, coax, and/or analog. I have plenty of optical cables and an optical switch. I have not set up my 484 properly since I got it years ago because I didn't know any better. Now, this forum has opened my eyes, so I will be setting it up, (I'm also looking, just looking, at this point at a new receiver, maybe a Denon 789 or 889) the way it should be. None of the speaker sizes have been set on my current receiver, and I haven't messed with the SW, so it should be at 0.

So, should I setup the receiver first, or the BD55? How do i setup the audio at the BD55?

Do these settings also work for broadcast TV? Or, must I make audio adjustments when switching from my cable box to the BD55?

I have a 52LG70 LCD TV that has 4 HDMI ports, and I know that when I use the HDMI cable from the BD55 to the TV, I must turn off the audio using this non-HDMI Denon, but I know little else.

I suppose much of this can be simplified if I had a newer receiver that had HDMI support, but, I've already spent for the BD55 and the TV, and my resources have limits. If I can swing a new receiver, I will, meantime, i need to live with what I have, and I need to set it up the right way.

I will keep a sharp eye on this thread so that I don't have to keep coming back here and asking for help to get this going.

[gearyt]

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=17648

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=67519

[zinfella]

Originally Posted by gearyt

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=17648

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=67519

Things have now changed, and before I've even setup my Panny BD55 yet. There's a new Denon 1909 on the way, should be here in about a week or so. THAT will change everything, I'm sure, but just looking at the 1909 manual online nearly gave me a coronary! Talk about a setup nightmare, that has to be it, for me.

I'm guessing that I should setup the new receiver before I setup the Panny BD55. Izzat so? also, is there another thread that will aid me with setting up the Denon 1909? I am a complete know-nothing in these matters.

[krisjan]

Originally Posted by zinfella

Things have now changed, and before I've even setup my Panny BD55 yet. There's a new Denon 1909 on the way, should be here in about a week or so. THAT will change everything, I'm sure, but just looking at the 1909 manual online nearly gave me a coronary! Talk about a setup nightmare, that has to be it, for me.

I'm guessing that I should setup the new receiver before I setup the Panny BD55. Izzat so? also, is there another thread that will aid me with setting up the Denon 1909? I am a complete know-nothing in these matters.

I assume the Denon 1909 decodes all the hi-rez audio formats. So, why in the world did you opt for the BD55 over the BD35? You threw ~$100 down the drain IMO.

[zinfella]

Originally Posted by krisjan

I assume the Denon 1909 decodes all the hi-rez audio formats. So, why in the world did you opt for the BD55 over the BD35? You threw ~$100 down the drain IMO.

Not exactly. When I bought the BD55 I didn't have the 1909, I had an old Denon 484 which doesn't support HDMI. Yesterday I found the 1909 at 25% off, so I'm doing a receiver upgrade.

[BIslander]

Originally Posted by zinfella

is there another thread that will aid me with setting up the Denon 1909? I am a complete know-nothing in these matters.

Here are the basics of setting up a receiver.

1. Attach the speakers
2. Attach the TV to the monitor connector
This is likely HDMI, yes?
3. Run auto setup
The 1909 has Audyssey MultiEQ, which will do most the hard work. It detects your speakers, determines whether to set them to large or small, makes distances and level adjustments, and compensates for room issues.
4. Do the digital assignments
There are some settings for HDMI and then you need to tell your receiver about all of your AV components. Which video and audio input is each component using? Your BD player may be using HDMI 1, an older DVD player may have video on Component 2 and optical audio on Optical 1, and so on.
5. Attach your AV components

There are lots of tweaks and adjustments for each of the inputs. They're covered in the manual. But, those are the steps you'll be following to get it up and running.

[crackinhedz]

just looking at the 1909 manual online nearly gave me a coronary!

yeah, Denon can be pretty intimidating as far as the user manual goes.

But overall, receivers are not very complicated to setup once you get going. You will probably never use all the features anyway.

[zinfella]

Originally Posted by BIslander

Here are the basics of setting up a receiver.

1. Attach the speakers
2. Attach the TV to the monitor connector
This is likely HDMI, yes?
3. Run auto setup
The 1909 has Audyssey MultiEQ, which will do most the hard work. It detects your speakers, determines whether to set them to large or small, makes distances and level adjustments, and compensates for room issues.
4. Do the digital assignments
There are some settings for HDMI and then you need to tell your receiver about all of your AV components. Which video and audio input is each component using? Your BD player may be using HDMI 1, an older DVD player may have video on Component 2 and optical audio on Optical 1, and so on.
5. Attach your AV components

There are lots of tweaks and adjustments for each of the inputs. They're covered in the manual. But, those are the steps you'll be following to get it up and running.

Eggzalent! Now that's not so bad. Once I get it going, I'll look into how to adjust for BD or TV, or whatever. I take it that I run HDMI from my cable box to the receiver, then another HDMI cable to the TV from there? If not, please elaborate.

[BIslander]

Originally Posted by zinfella

Eggzalent! Now that's not so bad. Once I get it going, I'll look into how to adjust for BD or TV, or whatever. I take it that I run HDMI from my cable box to the receiver, then another HDMI cable to the TV from there? If not, please elaborate.

Yes, that's the usual approach. You connect each of your AV components to the Denon. It handles all of the audio and switches the video out to the TV.

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by zinfella

I take it that I run HDMI from my cable box to the receiver, then another HDMI cable to the TV from there? If not, please elaborate.

correct.

Do you already have HDMI cables?

[zinfella]

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

yeah, Denon can be pretty intimidating as far as the user manual goes.

But overall, receivers are not very complicated to setup once you get going. You will probably never use all the features anyway.

I can concur with that! The 1909 has way more control than I will ever use. But, at least now I have a decent receiver on the way that has up to date capabilities that can enhance my new HDTV and BD55. Who knows, I might use more of the functions than I think, time will tell.

[zinfella]

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

correct.

Do you already have HDMI cables?

I need one more to go from the cable box to the receiver. I already have a couple for to use from the BD to the receiver, then from the receiver to the TV. I'll go look at Monoprice for one.

[zinfella]

Originally Posted by BIslander

Yes, that's the usual approach. You connect each of your AV components to the Denon. It handles all of the audio and switches the video out to the TV.

This makes life easier. What I should do is get some banana plugs for my speaker wires.

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by zinfella

I'll go look at Monoprice for one.

that is where I was gonna send ya.

...but it looks like the site is doing maintenance at the moment.

but their sister site: EHDMI.com seems to be up and running.

[zinfella]

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

that is where I was gonna send ya.

...but it looks like the site is doing maintenance at the moment.

but their sister site: EHDMI.com seems to be up and running.

Why the dongles on the cable in that link you posted?

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by zinfella

Why the dongles on the cable in that link you posted?

those are ferrite cores...which block out disturbances...but really there is no difference.

[zinfella]

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

those are ferrite cores...which block out disturbances...but really there is no difference.

Gotcha!

[crackinhedz]

anything under 10ft I would get the 28awg (with ferrite cores).

I have a couple 10 footers, a few 6 footers and maybe two 3 footers...all work flawlessly.


I also have a 6ft 24awg which is thick as hell...but get same quality as my 28awg.

[zinfella]

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

anything under 10ft I would get the 28awg (with ferrite cores).

I have a couple 10 footers, a few 6 footers and maybe two 3 footers...all work flawlessly.


I also have a 6ft 24awg which is thick as hell...but get same quality as my 28awg.

Will do. Is this the same company as Monoprice over in Rancho Cucamonga? If so, I already have an account there, and I'll just use your item numbers to order.

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by zinfella

Will do. Is this the same company as Monoprice over in Rancho Cucamonga? If so, I already have an account there, and I'll just use your item numbers to order.

yeah, its all monoprice.