I have a plasma HDTV with HD Satellite, a DVD Recorder, surround sound system, an Atari/NES setup on a coaxial switch, and a VCR (to be removed within a few months).
Details of each item and their connections are listed below.
My main question is which connection types should I use to get everything working and maintain the best audio/video quality?
My secondary concern is how to keep things as simple as possible with the remote controls... I really don't want to have to choose an input on three different devices and flip a switch in order to get something to work or to be recorded.
Here are the details:
Plasma HDTV: <ul> <li>Toshiba (50HPX95) <li>3 sets of standard A/V composite inputs (optional S-Video for all 3 sets) <li>2 sets of component video and standard audio inputs <li>Standard A/V out <li>Variable Standard A/V out <li>Standard Audio In for devices with HDMI video and standard audio <li>Cable/Sat Coaxial In <li>Antenna Coaxial In <li>2 sets of HDMI inputs for audio and video <li>Optical Digital Audio Out <li>2 digital IEEE1394 ports <li>And some ports for connecting computers and home networks, which I won't be doing... </ul>
HD Satellite Receiver: <ul> <li>Direct TV (H10) <li>Satellite Coaxial In <li>Antenna Coaxial In <li>Component Video Out <li>2 sets standard A/V out <li>Digital Audio Coaxial out <li>S-video out <li>Optical audio out <li>HDMI audio and video out <li>Other data and phone jacks that won't affect these connections... </ul>
Dolby Digital Surround Sound: <ul> <li>Sony Home Theatre (HT-DDW670) <li>Digital Audio Coaxial (orange) in <li>Optical Audio In <li>Antenna (AM/FM) In <li>Standard Audio (red/white) in from SA-CD <li>Standard Audio in from DVD <li>2 sets of Standard Audio in from Video device <li>Monaural Audio Out for Additional Sub Woofer (which I don't have) <li>And all the standard speaker wire connectors for 5 speakers and sub woofer </ul>
DVD Recorder: <ul> <li>Digital Max(DMD-R0501) <li>Antenna Coaxial in <li>Antenna Coaxial out (for passthrough) <li>Digital Audio Coaxial (orange) out <li>Standard A/V in <li>Component Video out <li>Standard A/V out </ul>
VCR (will eventually be removed): <ul> <li>Memorex(MVR2031 - Series A) <li>Antenna Coaxial In <li>Coaxial Out <li>Video Out (yellow) <li>Mono Audio Out (white) </ul>
Atar/NES retro gaming: <ul> <li>these both send audio and video through a coaxial cable <li>I have a switch for these so we need only connect one coaxial to the TV to get them both to work. </ul>
HD SAT -> PLASMA = HDMI(Video) Optical/Coaxial(Audio to reciever) - This may not work. If not, use componet for video. DVD -> PLASMA = Componet(Video) Optical/Coaxial(Audio to reciever)
VCR/ATARI/NES -> PLASMA = Std AV to TV.
I would recommend the Harmony 880 remote and put some macros in it for your system if you want to avoid the switching. It works well for me.
So, basically, you're saying it is best for each devide to connect video to the TV and audio to the surround sound receiver?
I think my confusion comes from recording on the DVD-R... If all audio is running to the reciever, then how can the DVD-R record sound?
At first I thought that I should run everything through the TV, then send the A/V out to the DVD-R, but would that prevent sound from playing at normal times? Plus, the TV does not have an optical audio in, so with that option I'd immediately loose audio quality...
Possibly...I could run HDMI from Sat to TV. Optical audio from TV to Surround Sound. Component video from DVD to TV. Coaxial Digital audio from DVD to Surround Sound.
Then... Is it possible to run A/V from TV to DVD-R without messing up normal playback of audio? With this, would the TV have to be turned on to record things on the DVD-R???