HDMI or Component for home theater?

Question

Trying to decide which way to go...I have coax, fiber and component inputs on my audio receiver, a hd directv receiver w/dvr and a hdtv.

How can I get HD video from my directv to hdtv? How do I hook up for 5.1 surround? Can I use component video and coax for audio? I don't have directv yet, but need to know if my setup will support hd and surround sound

Answer 1

Some say that HDMI is superior because things stay in the digital domain. That is a bit of a misnomer. HDMI is only really better for convenience (one cable instead of 4 - optical + the 3 RCA component bundle).

Direct TV will only be outputting at 1080i max. Component can handle that very well. If you want to hook everything though your AV receiver (AVR) you should go component to receiver and component from receiver to TV. You would then need to run optical from your sat receiver to your AVR for sound. The only problem with that is you would need to have your AVR on when watching TV.

Another solution would be to go HDMI directly from your sat receiver to your TV and run the optical out from the sat receiver to your AV receiver. That way you would have sound through your TV even when the AVR was off since HDMI carried audio as well. When you want "Big Sound" you would then just turn the volume down on the TV and turn on your AVR. You may have to change a setting in the sat receiver to switch from HDMI to optical (depends on model of DVR).

As far as quality goes, you shouldn't see any difference between the component or HDMI at 1080i.

Like the previous poster answered, stay clear of Monster Cables. They are a high margin item that stores make up their losses on. Check out http://www.monoprice.com for reasonably priced cables.

Answer 2

     Yes, HDMI to TV for video and optical to receiver for audio.

Answer 3

HDMI is 100% digital and carries 5.1 surround sound (upto 7.1)

HDMI is far superior to component

goto Job Lots or some cheap place and get a cable (my local store sells them for $12!)

don't bother getting a monster cable or a "brand" name with a hefty price tag....digital is DIGITAL

it's either perfect OR completely non-functional

it's 1's and 0's...binary data!!!

Good Luck!

Answer 4

HDMI from your satellite receiver to your TV.  RCA cables from your audio out on your satellite receiver to your stereo amplifier.