AV Amplifier/TV connectivity query

[TEKNOPUG]

Looking at maybe getting a an AV receiver in the coming weeks. I have a question about the connectivity between the receiver & TV. I've been looking at the Marantz 1501 (although probably applies to most others). It has HDMI inputs for Games, BR, DVD etc and 1 output to the TV. So I presume that you run your Xbox and BR to the receiver via the HDMI, the reciever sends the audio to the speakers and the picture to the TV via the 1 output HDMI?

My TV has built-in HD TV/Freesat. So in order to play the audio via the receiver, do I need to send a seperate output HDMI from the TV back to the receiver? Or should I input Xbox/BR to the TV via HDMI and then send one HDMI back to the receiver for just the audio? Or some other method (Optical outs etc)

[Plotloss]

On the first point yes, it just switches the HDMI signal from the sources up the one HDMI.

To amplify the broadcast audio, you simply have an audio out running from the television to the amplifier.

[TEKNOPUG]

Plotloss said:

On the first point yes, it just switches the HDMI signal from the sources up the one HDMI.

To amplify the broadcast audio, you simply have an audio out running from the television to the amplifier.

That's how I have it currently set-up with my non-av amplifier. However, will there be reduced quality in running analogue connections between the TV and the receiver, compared with running an HDMI from a seperate freeview/satelite receiver?

[Plotloss]

ARRGGHHH!!! Digital is not better because it's digital.

You didn't mention a seperate sat tuner initially.

[TEKNOPUG]

Plotloss said:

ARRGGHHH!!! Digital is not better because it's digital.

You didn't mention a seperate sat tuner initially.

I don't have a seperate sat tuner, that's my point. If I had say, a Humax, I would connect that to the receiver via HDMI (as per Xbox, BR etc) Because my TV (G20) has HD tuners built in, I'd only need to connect the audio to the receiver.

So.....to rephrase, would there be any difference in sound quality between connecting the audio via analogue-to-analogue and via a digital feed (optical, coaxial etc)?

[Plotloss]

That depends on the ability of the audio decoder inside the set.

Freesat has the capacity to broadcast DD5.1, whether it does or not and whether your set decodes it and dumps it out of an optical audio output I couldn't say without looking.

[TEKNOPUG]

Plotloss said:

That depends on the ability of the audio decoder inside the set.

Freesat has the capacity to broadcast DD5.1, whether it does or not and whether your set decodes it and dumps it out of an optical audio output I couldn't say without looking.

Hmmm.....OK. A lot of "what ifs" in my proposed scenario. Can I confirm that it's better to connect sources directly to a receiver via HDMI and then output to the TV, rather than connect the sources directly to the TV via HDMI and then from the TV to the receiver via and HDMI ARC connection?

[Plotloss]

Your television, I'm fairly certain, won't have an HDMI output.

[tankplanker]

You could however connect back from the TV to the AMP using an optical or coax audio cable hooked up to the relevant output on the back of your TV, assuming it has one.

[TEKNOPUG]

Plotloss said:

Your television, I'm fairly certain, won't have an HDMI output.

HDMI 2 is definitely ARC

"HDMI Input/ Support Feature 4 (1 side, 3 rear)/ Audio Return Channel (Input 2)"

[tdm34ds]

TEKNOPUG said:

Plotloss said:

Your television, I'm fairly certain, won't have an HDMI output.

HDMI 2 is definitely ARC

"HDMI Input/ Support Feature 4 (1 side, 3 rear)/ Audio Return Channel (Input 2)"

Only of any use if your amp supports ARC the Marantz NR1501 doesn't

upcoming amps that do are

Yamaha RXV467/567/767
Pioneer VSX820/920/1020/2020

[headcase]

TEKNOPUG said:

Looking at maybe getting a an AV receiver in the coming weeks. I have a question about the connectivity between the receiver & TV. I've been looking at the Marantz 1501 (although probably applies to most others). It has HDMI inputs for Games, BR, DVD etc and 1 output to the TV. So I presume that you run your Xbox and BR to the receiver via the HDMI, the reciever sends the audio to the speakers and the picture to the TV via the 1 output HDMI?

My TV has built-in HD TV/Freesat. So in order to play the audio via the receiver, do I need to send a seperate output HDMI from the TV back to the receiver? Or should I input Xbox/BR to the TV via HDMI and then send one HDMI back to the receiver for just the audio? Or some other method (Optical outs etc)

All you need to do is connect the HDMI's from your devices to the amp then 1 HDMI from the amp to your TV as you have already said.
To get your TV sound to go back to the amp then your going to need to connect an optical from the TV to one of the amps optical inputs. Optical in your situation is better not because its digital but because it supports 5.1, some of the freesat channels do broadcast 5.1 on the odd program (BBC HD Preview for example)

[maturin23]

Hi Teknopug

I've got a G20 - and do the above - bought a £10 TOSLINK cable and the audio from the onboard tuners, PS3 and PVR all output via the TV to the AV amp. Works a treat

Ian

ETA - my amp doesn't support ARC

Edited by maturin23 on Friday 9th July 21:46

[steve999]

Sorry to jump on the bandwagon here with elementary questions, but can I just clarify my understanding of the points above?

I have a simple set-up with a TV a receiver(that does nut support audio over HDMI) a DVD player and Sky HD.

Currently I have an HDMI cable going from each source going to the TV, and an optical cable going from each source going to the receiver. However, it seems the advice is to have both sources going to the receiver then an HDMI cable going to the TV.

I'm particularly un-educated in this, but the only advantage I can imagine to changing would be if I had a shortage of HDMI inputs on the TV - am I missing something??

Thanks for your help.

Edited by steve999 on Saturday 10th July 09:13

[headcase]

There are different ways of doing it depending on the capabilities of your equipment, if you run everything to the AV reciever then 1 cable from the reciever to the TV then you will use the AV remote to do 90% of the work (or 100% if its programmable) if you run everything to the TV then opticals to the reciever then you are going to need to use both the TV remote and the reciever remote together to work it all.