Digital Cable Box

[sarnell2]

So I finally made my first HDTV Purchase. I was originally going with the Panny, but I got screwed over by Sears, so I got the Samsung FP-T5084 (50" 1080p Plasma) at the same price from Amazon instead - Final Price w/ free shipping and no tax: $2,299.98.

So now my question. I have IO Digital Cable and I just traded in my regular cable box for the HD Box. I get 42 HD Stations for free. Some of the programs are offered w/ Dolby® Digital AC-3 (5.1). Does this mean that my Cable Box should be connected to my receiver (Onkyo 705) via HDMI so it can decode the 5.1 and send it to my surround speakers? And then connect to my TV via HDMI for the picture?

What is everyone else doing? Cable box to the receiver or straight to the TV?

Thanks!!!

[gvortex7]

If your cablebox has an optical or coaxial input than plug that puppy into your receiver. Otherwise, plug the receiver into the television's optical input and get your surround sound that way.

Correction: I meant to say outputs in both instances.

[xivex]

Gvortex is correct for your setup. If possible go into the receiver.

For my setup, I ran all my DirecTV HD DVR and my PS3 blu-ray player into my Integra Receiver via HDMI. I then output my receiver to my TV via HDMI. Everything now can jack into the receiver and I dont ever have to worry about running cables behind the wall to my tv....makes it very nice.

[sarnell2]

Thanks!!! What does everyone else do? Cable Box to Receiver to TV or Cable Box to TV?

[cpgator]

Originally Posted by sarnell2

Thanks!!! What does everyone else do? Cable Box to Receiver to TV or Cable Box to TV?

The cable box is just like any other source, and should always go through your receiver.

[crackinhedz]

yeah, I would run through the receiver first also.

Keep a few things in mind...

1. HD on television is max 1080i. So using Component vs. HDMI cables is not a major concern.

2. Audio through cable channels is not lossless, so optical vs. HDMI connection is also not a big deal. either will work fine.

3. Receivers usually only have one HDMI output (some do have more...but uncommon at the moment) , and this one output connected to your tv may only be using one set of display settings for every device connected to the receiver using HDMI.

What Im trying to get at here is that yeah its nice to connect everything through HDMI which minimizes the hastle of all those cables running behind your system. But if you run every device via hdmi from the receiver, you may only be using one display setting...so what settings (brightness,contrast,color,tint...etc) may look good on Bluray may look like shit on your HD cable channel.

Which is why its ok if you decide to run your HD cable box via component and optical to the receiver instead of by HDMI.



Now, if your TV has mutiple saveable display settings for that one HDMI input coming from the receiver, then by all means connect everything through HDMI.

[mystiksuicide]

We run our TiVO HD box and our Pioneer Blu to our Pioneer avr using HDMI and then an Hdmi to the TV. All controlled by our Harmony 890.

It looks and sounds amazing!!!

[devils3023]

Originally Posted by gvortex7

If your cablebox has an optical or coaxial input than plug that puppy into your receiver. Otherwise, plug the receiver into the television's optical input and get your surround sound that way.

HUH??? Cablebox's don't have optical/coaxial inputs, they have outputs. Also, how does plugging your receiver into your tv via optical connection, which most tv's don't have and is pointless anyway, give you surround sound? It doesn't. Simply plug your cablebox into your receiver via optical/digital coax and then hdmi/component to your tv and call it a day. You can run the hdmi to your receiver and then receiver to the tv but it's of no benefit since cable hd programs only offer dolby digital 5.1 and not pcm or any other lossless audio format.

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by devils3023

Simply plug your cablebox into your receiver via optical/digital coax and then hdmi/component to your tv and call it a day.

...also another very easy way to connect, good call.

[gvortex7]

Originally Posted by devils3023

HUH??? Cablebox's don't have optical/coaxial inputs, they have outputs. Also, how does plugging your receiver into your tv via optical connection, which most tv's don't have and is pointless anyway, give you surround sound? It doesn't. Simply plug your cablebox into your receiver via optical/digital coax and then hdmi/component to your tv and call it a day. You can run the hdmi to your receiver and then receiver to the tv but it's of no benefit since cable hd programs only offer dolby digital 5.1 and not pcm or any other lossless audio format.

"HUH??" WOW, that sounds extremely intelligent.

All I said wrong was input instead of output. I meant to say output. Plus, you're whole "run HDMI to your receiver and then receiver to TV" argument is useless (also pointed out by you) because HD programming doesn't use lossless audio, only compressed Dolby 5.1.

With that said, every decent digital television today has at least a digital coaxial output and most new TV's come with optical outputs that you can connect to ANY receiver in the world to listen to your television programming through your home theater system. So, to your "HUH?" I say DUH.....

Check your facts before you post a stupid rebuttal.