Home audio & video: Do I need a new receiver for HD?
Do I need a new receiver for HD?
by da_alman - 2/12/07 12:46 PMI just bought a new LCD tv and have Directv (non-HD receiver). Not sure at this point if I want to go through them for HD, especially if I have to commit to a 2 year contract.
My question is, do I need to buy a new receiver to take advantage of my progressive scan dvd player (Philips DVD 963SA)? My receiver is about 10yo (Sony DA333es). The picture is ok, but want to see if it can be improved.
The dvd player is hooked up through the receiver for surround sound and picture using component cables.
Is there a way to hook up the dvd player to the new tv to get a better picture, while having the sound go through the receiver or should I buy a new receiver with HDMI and other newer technologies?
Thanks
re: Do I need a new receiver for HD?
by E Petey - 2/12/07 2:59 PM In reply to: Do I need a new receiver for HD? by da_almanYou will want to check your DVD player's output options. Some upconverting players only upscale via HDMI, but you can still output your audio to your receiver via the traditional RCA cables.
What I would do is buy an HDMI cable (you will need one no matter what in your situation), hook up the DVD player to your TV using HDMI and leave the existing audio connections running through your receiver.
You can choose to buy an HDMI AV receiver, but I would start with the minimum and see if you are satisfied with that setup.... then take it from there.
Re: Do I need a new receiver for HD?
by DDG1914 - 2/12/07 3:26 PM In reply to: Do I need a new receiver for HD? by da_almanDo you meanyou have your DVD player hooked up to the Sony with composite cables, rather than component cables? Component cables have three plugs, and only carry video. Assuming you meant component cables, you can connect your DVD player to your TV with the component video cables. If you have either an optical digital or coaxial digital audio out jack on your Directv box, you can connect the audio from the Directv box to your Sony receiver using the appropriate cable.
Re: Do I need a new receiver for HD?
by da_alman - 2/12/07 3:36 PM In reply to: Re: Do I need a new receiver for HD? by DDG1914Correct, my dvd player is hooked up via composite (yellow, white, red) to my receiver. My receiver doesnt have component (blue, green, red).
Can I just buy a dvd player w/HDMI and/or component and have the picture go directly to the tv, while having the surround go through the receiver?
Thanks.
Re: Do I need a new receiver for HD?
by E Petey - 2/12/07 4:16 PM In reply to: Re: Do I need a new receiver for HD? by da_almanI just looked up your DVD player (Philips DVD 963SA). You can hook up component (red, blue green) and have the audio from your dvd player (or the audio from your tv) run to your reciever.
For your dvd player, it does not have any upscaling / upconverting functionality... So for now I think your are limited 480p output. Some AV receivers do up convert a 480p signal and claim to clean it up.... but the cheap option many people take is to buy a new upscaling / up converting DVD player - usually around 100-200 US$. I think there was a recent review on such a player from Oppo on CNET.
If you want improved DVD viewing this might be the cheapest way to get there, and some even include the HDMI cable.
There are also HD-DVD and Blue Ray players which can up convert as well as play the newer true HD formats, but I think most people would advise to sit this option out until the market matures.
Yes
by DDG1914 - 2/12/07 4:30 PM In reply to: Re: Do I need a new receiver for HD? by da_almanI googled the Philips 963SA DVD player and the specs say that it has component video out, so I don't think you need another DVD. There is little if any difference in video quality between component and HDMI. Depending on the equipment, component may look a little better. Audio, however, definitely sounds better through optical digital.
Then again, since you have an HDTV now, you might want to buy an upsampling DVD player to take advantage of the increased resolution. I would guess that any upsampling DVD player you buy will have both component and HDMI out. In that case, you can connect either one of them to the TV.
Thanks guys!
by da_alman - 2/12/07 5:44 PM In reply to: Hmm... by DDG1914I checked the Oppo dvd player and the one with the HDMI looks good, but I also want the option of getting one with component also, in case some freaky thing/connection might hinder one or the other.
Any other suggestions on a good inexpensive player @ $200?
Thanks again...you guys are very helpful!
upconverting dvd player
by E Petey - 2/13/07 9:14 AM In reply to: Thanks guys! by da_almanThere is a decent sony that is available at local best buys for something like 100-120, I think this was also reviewed on CNET (don't think this includes HDMI cable). If I was to buy one, I would look at the Sony DVP-NS75H (I have no first hand experience with this one so take my input with a large grain of salt).
There are a bunch in this price range. (LG makes one I have seen, that does ok).
The reason I bring up the HDMI cable thing is that many players will not send a higher resolution picture via component output, due to copyright / DRM issues and protecting video studios. So your desire to have component higher-def DVDs might be a tough search. Also when you go to buy the HDMI cable, they are a rip off unless you buy from an online sight like monoprice.com (I recommend) or bluejeancable.
Ok...I bought the Oppo DV-970HD
by da_alman - 2/15/07 8:34 AM In reply to: upconverting dvd player by E PeteyI just picked this up directly from Oppo yesterday and hooked it up. Now my receiver wont play audio at all.
I have my dvd hooked up via HDMI to the TV for the picture and the audio to my receiver (DA333es) via RCA (white/red) cables, along with a digital coax and the receiver is not recognizing anything.
Do I need to buy an optical cable and use it along with my digital coax for it to play through my receiver and not use the RCA cables?
I dont understand why it's not playing.
Thanks again for any help.
please clarify
by E Petey - 2/18/07 3:12 PM In reply to: Ok...I bought the Oppo DV-970HD by da_almanyou mean the video shows, but the audio does not work... or you are not getting anything from the new dvd player???
more info on the oppo
by E Petey - 2/18/07 4:53 PM In reply to: please clarify by E Peteyreading user manual... looks like you need to change audio settings to stereo or "v. surround" on your dvd player to use the setup you have. Did you do this?
I figured it out and read the manual...Thanks!
by da_alman - 2/21/07 7:36 AM In reply to: more info on the oppo by E PeteyI did read the manual again and figured it out. For some reason, I had to put in my digital coax cable from the receiver to the dvd even with my component audio connected.
I think the same thing happened to my old Phillips player. Unfortunately, I've had the same stereo set up for about 8 years, so trying to connect something different, such as this dvd player is a whole new task. Thanks again.
This player is definitely sweet.
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