Setting Up a Home Cinema System - advice needed!

[clickstar]

Just about to set up a home cinema system in my lounge and would greatly appreciate advice on what cables to buy (and how to set it all up for optimum viewing / audio- as Manufacturers helpline was surprisingly unhelpful.

I have purchased:

Sony KDL-40V4000 - 40" Widescreen 1080P Full HD Bravia LCD TV ( I beleive 3 HDMI and 1 Optical Audio Out) Sony KDL40V4000 / KDL-40V4000 Review

Sony DAV DZ260 – Surround Sound System (I believe 1 HDMI and 1 Optical Audio Out)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0015S394U/ref=nosim/2009-mp3-player-02-2

Sony PS3 (80gb)

SKY +

Many thanks in advance

[inzaman]

Not DIY related so moved to the relevant area, welcome to the forums btw

[Andy98765]

AV to TV = HDMI
PS3 to TV = HDMI
SKY+ to TV = Scart (set SKY box picture settings to 16:9 and RGB)
PS3 optical to AV
SKY+ optical to TV
TV optical to TV
You will require a 3 way optical switch to achieve the above.
TOSLink Switch - Digital Audio Optical Switch Only £7.82 at TVCables and a total of 4 optical cables of varoius lengths.

[clickstar]

Is the last one Optical TV to AV (rather than to TV) (excuse my ignorance if not!)

[Andy98765]

Originally Posted by clickstar

Is the last one Optical TV to AV (rather than to TV) (excuse my ignorance if not!)

Yes! It is the sound output from the TV, in case you want Freeview on your cinema system.

[clickstar]

3 further questions:
1) Does using optical audio rather than hdmi audio reduce the quality of the sound and if so is it significant?

2) with the switch would this affect sky+ recording if optical audio was set to ps3 rather than sky?

3) The TV states it has 3 hdmi inputs - is this a generic term or do you have to use another cable to send images from tv to surround sound system?

[davepuma]

1) Digital is digital. Obviously for the newer HD audio formats, you have to use HDMI. HDMI will cut down on cabling as well.

2) No

3) You don't send images from the TV. The images are sent to the TV

[clickstar]

so the best solution is to get an av with 3 digital audio inputs and then no switcher is needed? would you still have to change viewing set up on the tv when you switched from watching standard tv and 1080p blu ray movies?

[Andy98765]

Originally Posted by clickstar

so the best solution is to get an av with 3 digital audio inputs and then no switcher is needed? would you still have to change viewing set up on the tv when you switched from watching standard tv and 1080p blu ray movies?

Yes a purpose built AV separates system will always be better, no you do not change anything on the TV it adjusts itself to what ever is coming in.

[clickstar]

What audio loss will there be if the only audio cable used is the optical output from the tv to th dav dz260. With sky+ and ps3 being connected to the tv with scart / hdmi respectively. A friend has this set up.

[davepuma]

Originally Posted by clickstar

What audio loss will there be if the only audio cable used is the optical output from the tv to th dav dz260. With sky+ and ps3 being connected to the tv with scart / hdmi respectively. A friend has this set up.

Put it this way, he isn't getting DD5.1 or DTS. He's getting a pseudo effect taken by mixing the 2.0 output. It's not true multi-channel audio. I would recommend him to get a switch and connect directly from source to amp.

[clickstar]

Ok cool - nearly there!. can you please reccomend an all in 1, 5.1 surround sound system like the dav dz260 but with 3 optical audio inputs and ideally auto callbration. Many thanks

[davepuma]

Originally Posted by clickstar

Ok cool - nearly there!. can you please reccomend an all in 1, 5.1 surround sound system like the dav dz260 but with 3 optical audio inputs and ideally auto callbration. Many thanks

I think you'll struggle to find that. I would head on over to the all-in-ones forum and see what is knocking around these days. Personally I would go for separates as it will ultimately give you better sound quality and more flexibility for future equipment.

[Andy98765]

I'mwith Davepuma, separates is the way to go if you want flexibility and loads of inputs.

[clickstar]

Sony STRDG820 Black (AV Receiver - With HDMI interface)

This has 3 optical audio inputs and 4 hdmi inputs . Please let me know best way to set up total system with tv / ps3 and sky+ using this reciever.
Many thanks again