Questions Regarding Setting Up My New T.V. Home Theater System, Blu-Ray or HD-DvD and Possibly a PS3 Please.?

Question

Hi, I know my title might be a bit confusing but I have some general questions. I might sound like a noob because I am fairly new to all this HD/Blu-Ray Technology going on with all the electronics selling at the stores these days but if anyone can answer a few questions for me I would appreciate it.

I recently bought a Sony Bravia KDL-46W3000 HD-TV which has 3 HDMI outputs and I plan to buy a Sony Home Theater System, along with an HD-DVD or a Blu-Ray Player unless I also decide to get a PS3 along with the HD-DVD player.

Ive been searching the internet and read somewhere that you cant connect Home Theater systems to a HD-DVD player or a Blu-Ray player... and was wondering if this was true or not?

And if I do decide to purchase all these items will I have enough HDMI outputs from my T.V?

One last question does the PS3 play only Blu-Ray Discs, because so far not every movie is in Blu-Ray so I didnt know if I would have to buy both or if buying a PS3 only would be solve my problem?

Answer 1

Okay nine hours left to answer I hope I can make it for this long question that needs a long answer lol.  

If I was you I would only get the PS3.  Blu Ray will probably take over it only makes sense because if not what is hd-dvd going to do about all the new 1080p tv's many people are getting?  Make a HD DVD 1080 p upconverter player?  Silly huh?  Plus I've researched it and many experts claim the ps3 actually does a better job with its blu-rays than other blu-ray players.  Big surprise huh?  Blu-Ray is sony's technology.  

HD DVD does have its own exclusive movies so if thats really important to you then I guess cough up some more money for one.

As for an up converter.  Make sure you go to stores and see them in action.  I've been in the TV industry since the beginning of HD so my eyes are really accustomed to nice pictures and I can honestly say I don't like the upconverters.  I would rather watch my regular dvd's in 480p on my set as well do my colleagues but to each their own.  

If you decide on an upconverter and hd dvd then definitely get a unit with both features built in.  

Sweet choice on set by the way!  However Sony is one of the kings of video they definitely are not in the audio department.    If you are wanting to stick to a home theater in a box then I would go Yamaha.  They offer packages that you can really build off of.  in other words if you get it you can swap stuff out later for upgrades or whatever like the speakers or the dvd player or the receiver even and keep the speakers.  With a sony all in one system if one thing goes out or if you want to replace one thing you'll be replacing everything.  If you want to build a system just email me for more things to think about.  I'm more than happy to answer.  You can build a sweet system for pretty inexpensive.  If i missed somethingyou were asking just email about that too hope i helped

below is a link to yamaha's all in one systems

Answer 2

"...does the PS3 play only Blu-Ray Discs"

It will play standard def disks as well as BluRay.  The PS3 is also one of the better BluRay players out there so it is a good choice.

"...and read somewhere that you cant connect Home Theater systems to a HD-DVD player or a Blu-Ray player"

Ok - some of the cheaper systems have a built-in DVD player and dont give you connections for external Sat, CATV or DVD players. (This is why  I dont often recommend them).

As Species7 said - as long as that system has 1 spare optical inputs it works. Run an optical cable from the TV to the  system and things will work well.

ENOUGH INPUTS:

3 is a good number. BluRay, HD-DVD and a HD cable or Sat box will be handled nicely.  For $200 there are some outboard HDMI switches you can get.

CABLES:

You can get good cables from BlueJeans or MonoPrice.  I use the MonoPrice cables for short runs behind my rack, but I bought a good $38 cable for the run to my TV from BlueJeans.  If you have runs pushing 15 ft get the slightly thicker HDMI cables.

Answer 3

As long as your home theater system has optical, you are fine to connect it. HDMI would be better, but optical is the one you really need.

The PS3 is only a Blu player. You would need a seperate HD DVD player. You should be fine with HDMI ports, because that would be 2 and your tv has 3.  

You are making a good decision to go with both formats. The format war could go on for a long time, and why miss out on certain movies just to support a single format.