Just bought my first HDTV!

[Brigadeer]

As most of you can see by my thread below from yesterday, I was looking at, and asking questions about the Platinum Mitsbuishi 55" set on sale for $2200.

I wanted to thank everyone on these boards for helping me out with all of my questions. After researching for nearly a day, reading the FAQ's, and everyone's experience and opinions, and determining how exactly I was going to use the set, I went a totally different direction from the Mitsubishi.

I always liked Hitachi as well, and found the 51F500 to be perfect for my needs. Given how I was going to use the set, I did not need or want an integrated HD tuner, and given the setup of my living room, I felt more comfortable with a 51" as opposed to a 55". Last but not least, I was very impressed with everyone's thoughts on my particular models performance vs price. That is, it certainly is not top of the line, but for the price, I got the feeling that it offered very good value and picture quality.

The best part of it all is that by researching through this site, I got a great deal (I think) on the set and bought it for $1699. Without this site, I would most likely have paid hundreds more.

Well, now that I got the big purchase out of the way, does anyone have suggestions on how to prepare for this Fridays delivery? That is, any certain type of cables and connections I will need? I have standard direct TV with a DVD play er now. I just want to make sure that I get everything ready for delivery.

Experts out there, please let me know what you think. Thanks again!

[woodman]

You don't mention whether or not you have a surround sound system - or ANY sound system for that matter to use with your new set. If you don't have anything but the TV to provide you with sound, you'll be missing out on at least half of what "home theater" is all about.

I bring this up because you're asking about hookup cables, etc. that you'll be needing. The best hookup(s) are dependent upon the equipment involved, and the capabilities of the various pieces.

[Brigadeer]

Woodman, I don't have a "complete" home theatre system as of yet. I just got a new house and have to get it "surround sound" wired. I do however have the following components:

Sony 80 Watt Dobly Digital 5.1 Receiver (approximately 3-4 yrs old)

Sony DVD with Dolby Digital 5.1 Chip (approximately 3-4 yrs old)

Average Pioneer speakers, and average center channel and rear speakers.

I eventually plan on replacing every component that I just mentioned. I believe my receiver is adequate now, and will be for some time, so the first thing to do will be to have the house surround sound wired. After I do that, I will then use the receiver and speakers that I have now. I will most likely replace the speakers first, and then the receiver last.

What do you think?

[woodman]

Brig:
Let me begin by warning you about any and all well-intentioned but in actuality misguided advice you might get about cables and wire. There is a ton of misunderstanding regarding these issues ... the most insidious of which is the idea that spending vast sums of cash for "better" cables and wire will somehow be "worth it". Although in some cases (not all), upscale cables and wire CAN provide improved performance of some obscure amount, the idea that this will prove to be a GOOD idea is in the minds of many (including yours truly) is in a word - foolish. In other words, spending $100 for 50 cents worth of "improvement" makes no sense, and that's about all there is to it. So, when you go shopping for wire, do NOT let any "salesman" talk you into buying Monster brand products, which are a leading contender for the title of "World's Most OVERPRICED Products" (running a close second behind Bose).

Now then, the best hookup for you would depend primarily upon the inputs provided and the switching capabilities of your Sony receiver. If the receiver provides for -2- S-video inputs and an S-video output to the TV, then you can run ALL signals through the receiver and use it to control the entire system. You have NO need for a "component video" cable at this point in time. Without any HDTV signal sources, and a DVD player that doesn't provide "progressive scan" output, such a cable is not needed, and would just be a waste of your money.

If the receiver does not provide the needed inputs and outputs as outlined above, then you'll probably want to use the TV set as the switching center for the system.

Have further questions? Just ask.

[Brigadeer]

Wow, those were some pretty hot sports opinions, which is exactly what I was looking for. I probably should not admit it, but I went to best buy today and walked out with $75 Monster component cables.

Well, those are going back.

I had planned on hooking up my regualar Direct TV box into the back of my HDTV directly. If I do that, what sort of connection/cables would you suggest, and what brand if any?

Also, I did not fully understand what you meant about running everything through my receiver. Do you mean to run my direct TV cable box into the back of my receiver, and then from the receiver into the back of the HDTV?

Let me know what you think. Thanks again for responding!

[woodman]

Originally posted by Brigadeer
Wow, those were some pretty hot sports opinions, which is exactly what I was looking for. I probably should not admit it, but I went to best buy today and walked out with $75 Monster component cables.

Well, those are going back.

You must have gone shopping before reading my advice about same, eh? Well anyway, glad you're gonna be taking them back. You won't need such a cable until you get an HDTV signal source, or a new progressive scan DVD player.


Also, I did not fully understand what you meant about running everything through my receiver. Do you mean to run my direct TV cable box into the back of my receiver, and then from the receiver into the back of the HDTV? I had planned on hooking up my regualar Direct TV box into the back of my HDTV directly. If I do that, what sort of connection/cables would you suggest, and what brand if any?

The best hookup depends upon which component in the system is gonna be doing the switching of signals and the control of the sound volume. It can be either the receiver or the TV set, depending on the necessary inputs and outputs being provided - and by the "user-friendliness" and capabilities of the remote control that's gonna be in charge. The A/V receiver may be adequate today, but not when you upgrade your sat system or your DVD player - if and when you do. Another factor that comes into play is the routing of sound signals IF the television set is gonna be switching the signal sources, in which case ONLY stereo analog signals can be accomodated - or else you'll be stuck with operating your system with two remotes or buying a new more capable remote that will control EVERYTHING in the system.

I hope this clears your mind a bit, and it doesn't sound overwhelmingly complicated. We're here to help you navigate what seems like muddy waters right now, but will become second nature to you as time goes on. Then, you'll be able to come on board here and help others - won't that be something?

[57U]

Glad to see you read the FAQs, but there's a lot of information there. You may wish to revisit the "cables & connections" FAQ

[Brigadeer]

Tell me about it. The day that I can get on these boards and actually feel competent enough to offer up some of my own advice will be a glorius day indeed.

By the way, I did infact purchase those Monster Cables BEFORE I read your post, and then promptly returned them last night AFTER I read your post. $75 for some component cables......what was I thinking.

Well, I looked at my receiver last night, and it is WAY outdated. No component inputs or outputs, no opticals either. All it has are the red, yellow, and white inputs, whatever those are called. That said, I am most likely going to either go with the TV sets speakers, or hook up my receiver in some other fashion. I don't have my house wired yet for surround sound, so if I do hook my receiver up, it will only be hook it up to my two fairly large loudspeakers. No center channel, sub, or rear channel speakers to speak of at the moment.

I do have one question about S-video though. I already have an S-video cable, which I am currently using now for the connection from my Satellite box to the rear of my TV. I will also need to get another one for my DVD player. My DVD player does have component outputs and S-video, but from you put down, component will be of no use as it is not progressive scan. Anyhow, my question is this. I looked at my satellite box, and I have the S-video going from the box to the back of my TV, but I also have some cheap red and white cables going to and from as well. Is the S-video only for video, and do you still need cables for the sound? If so, are the very cheap red, white, and yellow wires good enough, or should I be using something else?

Thanks again!

[57U]

Although Woodman said you didn't need component video cables to connect your DVD player to the TV, there's nothing wrong with buying some component video cables (Acoustic Research, or RS for example) for about $25 and hooking it up that way. That way when you upgrade your player, you'll already have the cables.

Yes, the S-video is for video only.

The red & white (RCA) cables are for sound. (R for right channel, white for left typically, although it doesn't matter). The "cheap" RCA cables should be fine for the sound. Eventually, you'll be listening to the digital sound from the DVD player via optical (Toslink) or coax (SPDIF) cable anyway.

The yellow cable is called "composite video".

[Brigadeer]

Man, I feel by the time I finally learn all of this and get it down, I should get some sort of degree, don't you think?