Hooking up component, composite, and HDMI through receiver: do I need all three video outputs to my TV?

Question

Here's the set-up: digital cable running through HDMI, Wii through composite, and DVD through component. All three plugged into their respective inputs on the back of my receiver. I know that the HDMI needs its own cable running from the receiver to the TV, so that's done. Does that mean that I would also need separate component and composite cables running from the receiver to the TV? If so, I guess I don't understand the benefit of running video cables through the receiver, unless you have more inputs on the receiver than on the TV and need to hook up more stuff. If not, then you're basically doubling the number of cables behind the AV stack running once to the receiver and again to the TV, instead of just going straight to the TV.

Answer 1

In my experience it is rare for a receiver to convert one form of input into another.  It should be clearly stated in the receiver's manual that HDMI inputs appear on the HDMI output only, and likewise for component, composite, and s-video.

If that is the case for your receiver, yes, you will need all those cables and you will have to switch TV inputs as well.  In that regard, it may not make sense to run the component, composite or s-video through the receiver; there is no benefit and a possibility of some signal degradation.  Run those directly to the TV inputs.  Run the (digital or analog) audio, however, through the receiver  to get the benefit of the receiver switching and processing.

This does not apply to the HDMI, however, since that carries audio and must go to the receiver and the receiver HDMI output to the TV.

Answer 2

that would depend on the unit that you have.  some receivers can convert from rca to component so you only use 1 set of cables from the receiver to the tv.  there are older models that can only pass through signals.. so you would have a separate component and rca cables connected to the tv. if your receiver can't convert video from rca to component or vice versa, then it would be best to run it directly to the tv and just have the audio cables run to the receiver.

Answer 3

If your receiver is compatible then you juts need an HDMI 1.3a output from receiver to TV, no matter what kind of video cables connecting to receiver. They called HDMI 1.3a switching or HDMI 1.3a repeater receiver that also decoding some new HD surround sound formats on Blu-ray movies, some expensive model upscaling analog video to 1080p. So benefits are only HDMI from receiver to TV and only one HDMI 1.3a from any HDMI sources ( compatible ) to receiver to get both audio and video. Hope this helps.