Question:
Dear Big Picture Big Sound,
I am in the process of preparing to upgrade to DirecTV HD satellite receiver w/ my Toshiba 52HM84 DLP HDTV.
I am planning on upgrading my current 3 LNB to the new DirecTv 5 LNB satelite dish for local HD broadcasts.
My question surrounds connecting my current Toshiba DVD and the new Directv HD receiver to the HDTV. I have a single HDMI input on the HDTV.
My DVD is a Toshiba non-HD SD-6915 with only the Component Video outputs - no DVI/HDMI. I currently have a Yamaha RX-V750 Surround Sound receiver and like the aspect of only having to connect one Component Video cable (via the Component Video inputs and upconversion output on the receiver) to the HDTV. I currently have my non-HD DirecTv Sat receiver connected via S-Video into the Yamaha and then have the DVD Component Video output into the Yamaha as well. Then simply connect a single set of Component Video cables to the HDTV via the upconversion output on the Yamaha. So I only have to change the source input via the remote on the Yamaha vs changing the actual TV input.
What would be the absolute best option for picture quality to connect my existing DVD (Component only) and the new HD Sat receiver (HDMI and Component outputs) to the HDTV? That said would it be OK to simply connect the new HD sat receivers Component video cables into a Component video input on the Yamaha receiver similar to how I have it today and keep only one Component connection to the HDTV?
I didn't realize until reading the previous answer on the website that HD receivers do send HD signals via Component video cables as well (I assume with no degradation in picture quality). Is running the HD signals over Component into the Yamaha first then out of the Yamaha to the HDTV again via Component going to diminish any picture quality? This is my biggest concern.
Or should I live with a little bit of extra remote button pushing to change actual source inputs on the HDTV when switching between HD Sat and DVD and run the HDMI output of the HD receiver straight into the HDMI in the HDTV? And then simply direct connect the DVD into one of the Component inputs on the HDTV as well? So nothing video wise going into the Yamaha. I did read the last part of the previous answer regarding the potential ICT issue regarding HD over Component video cables. So I need to keep that in mind.
Perhaps this a whole "try each option and see" type thing. I also saw from poking around the net there are some Gefen Component to HDMI signal upconversion switches. But not sure if placing one of those in the path between the Yamaha and HDTV would make any difference either or worth the extra expense. I'm wondering if those would make a difference on the non-HD DVD picture quality.
I also currently run Optical audio cables from these sources into the Yamaha so I wouldn't think anything would need to change there.
Appreciate any advice you can provide.
-Doug B.
Answer:
Hi Doug,
Thanks for your question. The simplest way to connect everything would be to connect the new DirecTV box to your Yamaha receiver via component video and optical S/PDIF digital audio cables. This means you can keep your current set-up exactly as is, without running any additional wires to the TV. And it will carry a high definition signal from your DirecTV box to your HDTV.
However, whenever there is switching or distribution of an analog signal (component video is an analog signal), you can have some image degradation. The Yamaha receiver's component video inputs are rated for high definition signals up to 1080i (60 MHz bandwidth), but this does not mean there will be no signal degradation. It's possible there would also be some small amount of degradation in the DVD's 480p connection by switching it through the Yamaha as well, but that would most likely be more subtle.
Also, as you have implied, the ICT (Image Constraint Token) could be activated on your HD content at some point in the future which would "downrez" your nice 1080i and 720p HD content to 480p resolution. This is not happening today but it could happen at some point in the future.
If it were my system, I'd use an HDMI cable between the DirecTV box and the HDTV, knowing that the full digital signal is going directly to the display with no degradation whatsoever. HDMI cables are pretty thin so it's not really going to be any more difficult to hide than the component video cable you already have hooked up. And don't be suckered into buying a $100+ HDMI cable when the cheaper ones carry the digital signal just fine. See our "HDTV hook-up" article for tips on where to get inexpensive high quality HDMI cables.
I'd probably keep the DVD player plugged in through the Yamaha so you can keep the simplicity of routing all the other audio and video sources through the receiver. Is this the absolute best quality option? No - connecting directly from source to display is always the best option, unless you have a high-end video processor that actually improves on the quality of the original source. But the receiver should be more than adequate to carry the DVD player's 480i or 480p resolution.
At some point in the future, when you get a second HDMI source component (Blu-Ray, HD-DVD or an upconverting DVD player), then it may be worthwhile to upgrade your receiver to one that supports HDMI-switching and HDMI upconversion of analog sources. This way all of the source components can be plugged into the receiver, and you'll have just a single thin HDMI cable between receiver and HDTV. But for now, your best bet is to connect the DirecTV receiver to the HDTV via HDMI, and you'll just have to press a couple of extra buttons on your remote controls.
Speaking of which, if you want to really simplify your life (and make adding new source devices like this a trivial exercise), then consider getting a Logitech remote like a Harmony 880 or Harmony 890. These remotes allow you to press one button ("Watch DirecTV") which would then power up your TV, power up the DirecTV receiver, power up your audio receiver, switch the HDTV to HDMI input, and switch the receiver to "Optical 1" input. Once the start-up process is complete, the channel buttons on the remote would automatically operate the satellite receiver, while the volume buttons operate the Yamaha receiver. Commonly used buttons like the TV's "aspect" control or PVR controls can easily be programmed to appear on your remote's LCD display. This way a single remote can perform complex tasks and allow simultaneous control of multiple devices concurrently.
I own a Harmony 880. I recently changed over my main home theater receiver from an Outlaw to an Onkyo, and updating the remote with the new receiver and modifying all of the associated activities took me about 25 minutes.
Regards,
-Chris
