HELP!! I'm stupid and can't figure out my surround sound system!!

[Uppie1414]

Hey AT'ers! I need some help...

I had my yamaha htr-5790 set up in our old house to a regular TV...and it worked great through the cable receiver (tv didn't have audio out).

Now, I want to hook up my vizio 42 inch plasma w/ analog audio out to the receiver. I have:

Vizio 42 inch plasma HD w/ audio out
Yamaha HTR-5790 receiver w/7 speakers (all set up and working)
Comcast HD cable box

-HD wires going from my vizio to the back of the hd cable box
-AV wires going from the audio out in the vizio to the "Cable" setting in the back of the yamaha receiver.


PROBLEMS:

Back at my old house, you could hear the speakers at about -30 decibles...which was great. Now, you can't really hear anything until about 0, and when it's maxed around 17db, it's not loud enough and the speakers are fuzzy.....and these things used to be LOUD...so I know it can kick out the sound. The speakers all have monster cables...

What do you think the problem is? Do I have to "reset" the receiver or do I have the wires hooked up wrong?

Thanks!!

uppie1414 on AIM

 

[Narmer]

maybe something broke on the trip. I remember when I went to Japan for three weeks and returned, my receiver was never the same. I had similar problems as you. I eventually replaced the Onkyo with a new one.

 

[tatteredpotato]

Try adjusting the volume on the TV. It might change it's output level. Also possible that it just outputs a really weak signal.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

step 1: connect either digital output of the cable box to the reciever
step 2: connect the stereo outputs to the TV
step 3: cable box > audio setup > optimal stereo > yes, audio output > advanced, compression > none, light, heavy (pick one you like), stereo > stereo
step 4: reciever > effects, enhancements, presets, whatever > turn all that crap off
step 5: TV > see step 4

 

[Nohr]

Maybe you wired the speakers out of phase, double check their connections on the receiver and speakers.

 

[vshah]

you shouldn't be connecting the audio out on the vizio to anything. the sound should go from the cable box to the receiver using either digital (optical or rca, preferable) or analog (red/white, less desireable)

if your receiver has component inputs, then connect the component from the cable box to one of the receiver's component inputs, and connect the receiver's component output to the vizio. (if it only has svideo, keep the cable box connected directly to the tv)

 

[Uppie1414]

Everyone was very, very helpful--thanks! The vizio output was not good at all. Thanks again!!!