Ok, I'm a little confused about this who HDMI thing and need some clarification...?

Question

I'm going to be getting a new HD Samsung TV with 3 HDMI ports to work with. I'll also have a Blue Ray DVD Player and an Xbox 360. I already have a surround sound system that's at least 5 years old now, but still works great. I understand that HDMI is 1 cord for sound and video, but how does that work exactly when trying to hook up to an existing surround sound system, especially one without HDMI ports to work with? I'm just a little confused how to get all of this stuff to play nice together. Thanks for the help!

Answer 1

IN your case you will be able to use the functionality of HDMI at first for video, and later for audio.

You hook up should consist of the following, HDMI cable from source devices that have 1080p resolution to your TVs HDMI inputs. (audio we will get into later)

From each of these sources you will need to connect a discrete audio cable as well, one for the blue ray, one from the xbox, etc as well as one from the TV as well (if you want DD surround sound)

When you are ready to upgrade or replace the surround receiver in a few years you will have lots of options with HDMI being better implemented, as it is now a curiosity.

Depending on your set up you may need to get digital audio switchers,etc.. to complete your installation. You will need to give more detail on exactly what you are getting to get specific help on interconnects and setup, include model numbers for best results.

Answer 2

Run HDMI straight to the TV from each device. Use the TV speakers for casual listening.

Run optical or coaxial digital straight to the receiver from each device. Fire up the receiver for more serious movie & game fun.

OR: Does that TV take the HDMI input and feed optical output? If so, run an optical cable from the TV to an input on the receiver. This way the video and sound switch by simply changing the TV inputs.


XBox 360: Note: the HDMI port on the xbox is so cramped, you cannot plug into the audio jacks. They sell a $49 extender that splits the HDMI jack into a little "Y" cable that includes L/R analog audio. You may have to buy this and use L/R analog output for the games.

Answer 3

HDMI is convenient in that one cable carries audio and video. It is becoming essential for HD video, but there are other equal quality options for audio. In other words, you can use HDMI for video and audio, but you don't have to.

I suggest you hook up video to your TV via HDMI from the Blu-Ray and XBox to HDMI inputs 1 and 2 (and then use the TV remote to switch sources for the picture). Then take the audio from the Blu-Ray and XBox via optical or digital coax to your surround system. You will have to switch the inputs on the surround receiver (for audio) and the TV (for video) seperately.

Alternatively, if the HDTV has a digital audio output take an optical or coax lead from the XBox and Blu-Ray to the TV inputs and from the TV output to a suitable input on the surround receiver (e.g. DVD) to power the speakers.

Hope that's clear.

Answer 4

That's a lot of answers. Your picture may or may not look better with HDMI for picture (audio isn't even an option with your current receiver). Click this link: http://www.avtruths.com/hdmi.html

Now with your optical and coaxial audio cables you can NOT decode any of the new audio formats that are on Blu-ray and HD-DVD. You have no choice with the XBOX but there's a better way with your Blu-ray. Click right here: http://www.avtruths.com/uncompressed.html

Answer 5

You are not going to be able to hook up your Surround Sound system if it doesn't have any High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) Inputs/outputs. What you're going to want to do, is hook up your Blue Ray player, and Xbox 360 to an HDMI capable reciever like this one.
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Onkyo-TX-SR705-7-1-Channel-Home-Theater-Receiver-Black-TX-SR705/sem/rpsm/oid/185975/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do
That one has 3 HDMI inputs and 1 HDMI output which you would send to your TV.

When it comes to home theater, remember, it's only going to be as good as your weakest link. You can spend thousands on a reciever and speakers, but if you hook it all up with cheap cables, you're just wasting your money.

If you really want to get the most out of you HD components, go out and get your self a nice reciever which will take advantage of all the new technologies out there.

Answer 6

I just use the 1080p high def instead of the HDMI- you cant even tell the difference. YOu could run Audio cords from the surround sound to the tv and run everything else to the surround sound- it is hard to know what to say without being there.