Help me get more out of my setup

[leglez]

Ok currently my setup contains:

65" Toshiba DLP
Older Pioneer receiver w/ all pioneer speakers except for the sub which is a fisher audio subwoofer.
Xbox 360 for games and netflix (component)
PS3 for games and bluray (hdmi)
PC via DVI-HDMI adapter along with a 3.5mm to RCA.

Right now I know the way I have it hooked up I am not getting what I should. I have everything's audio ran to the TV via RCA except for the PS3 which is HDMI. Then everything is sent to the receiver via RCA from the TV audio out to the Receiver TV/SAT in. I just did this when I rearranged because it was the quickest way and I wasn't too worried about the audio quality. But I recently purchased the PS3 and am starting to order some blu-ray movies and am wanting to get the best possible audio. The receiver has optical in, and the TV has optical out, if I ran optical from the TV to the receiver would that improve anything? Or would it still be lacking since everything else is being sent to the TV via RCA? Anyone have any other ideas?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Is this a 5.1 setup? I'm going to assume so since you said "all pioneer speakers"

The easiest way to do this might be to run video to the TV and run audio from all sources to the receiver directly.

If you're running stereo RCA cables for 2 channel analog from the sources to the TV, you will not get surround sound out the optical output of the TV. The optical output from the TV might only give you dolby digital when using the internal tuner.

Do you have a link or model number of the receiver?

In addition to getting the connections set up properly (probably a digital optical cable from the 360, PS3, TV, and possibly even computer to the receiver), you'll want to optimize your placement of speakers and subwoofer. Up until now, you were probably getting Dolby Prologic II at best, so getting Dolby Digital / DTS from your sources should be a good improvement. To make sure you get the most out of them, you'll want your speakers in good positions.

Dolby has guidelines for placement that are helpful for setting up speakers
http://www.dolby.com/consumer/...inment/roomlayout.html

I have other tips in the sticky thread including a guide to basic subwoofer setup.

After you have the speakers in reasonable positions, you'll also want to try to level match their output. Depending on how old the Pioneer receiver is, it may have a setup program that will calibrate speakers for distance and trim level. Even if it doesn't do that automatically with a microphone, hopefully it has manual features for you to enter that information.

 

[leglez]

Yes it is a 5.1 setup. I have a Pioneer center, 2 Pioneer Floor standing fronts, and 2 Pioneer bookshelf rears.

The current receiver is a Pioneer VSX-D711.

I could definantly run the audio straight to the receiver. The only reason I didn't do that before was because I didn't want to have to switch the TV, and then the receiver, and then turn the device on. I am going to look at some of the Logitech universal remotes, and see what would would suite my needs best. I just need to check the receiver and make sure I have enough of the correct inputs. I know I have at least 1 optical, not sure how many though. I believe I also have 2 coax inputs, is that the same as optical?

Dolby's website seems to be having problems with the guide right now so I will try looking at it later.

Thanks for the quick reply!

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Looks like you have one digital optical and two digital coaxial inputs.

I believe both the 360 and PS3 are going to optical for your connection. Does the TV have the ability to take audio off the HDMI input and output that as DD/DTS to the optical output on it? Does it have additional digital optical inputs on it? There's a chance you may be able to route digital audio through the TV... I haven't been keeping up on TVs to know how common this would be.

I have a harmony that works quite well with my system. It's nice when you have a setup like the one you'll likely end up with. Switching sources on two devices can be a bit annoying.

 

[leglez]

I just ran threw the menu on the TV real quick and found this:

Optical Output Format:

[]PCM
[]Dolby Digital

I am not sure if the TV can take the audio off the HDMI and output it though. If it can't I know I can input the audio as digital into the TV and then output it as digital, would that work?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: leglez
I just ran threw the menu on the TV real quick and found this:

Optical Output Format:

[]PCM
[]Dolby Digital

I am not sure if the TV can take the audio off the HDMI and output it though. If it can't I know I can input the audio as digital into the TV and then output it as digital, would that work?

If you can input the audio digitally to the TV (HDMI, optical, or coaxial) and output it digitally with Dolby Digital selected, that should work.

The optical output may only be able to give dolby digital for the internal tuner though. Have you been able to test that yet?

 

[leglez]

Ok I am going to purchase some cables from monoprice and see if I can get it to work. One problem though, I just looked and my TV has no optical, or coaxial audio in. It only has one optical out and everything else is RCA. So could I hook the PS3 straight to the receiver with optical, hook the computer straight to the receiver with coaxial, and then get a converter like This to hook the xbox up to the receiver via coaxial?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Yes.

Note that depending on your source material and the abilities of your computer's sound, you may not get 5.1 from all sources.
For example, from games you might only get stereo out of digital unless your computer has Dolby Digital Live or DTS Connect.
It should work fine for just passing bitstream for pre-encoded sources (like DVD movies).

 

[s44]

Next step: buy a new subwoofer.

 

[leglez]

Ok awesome, yeah the PC I am not really worried about getting the best sound quality. The only thing it is usually used for through the surround sound is youtube.

Haha yeah I think before I get a new subwoofer is get a new receiver. I am actually looking for one that can upconvert to 1080p, and has the ability to run 1 single HDMI cable to the TV and then hook all my components straight to the receiver for video/audio and then be able to do all the switching through the receiver.