Connect a receiver to your home theater

What is a receiver?

A receiver is that big, heavy thing that you plug your speakers and other components (like a DVD player, TV, CD player, Xbox, PlayStation, iPod, etc..) His "brain" of the question, really. The idea of all the components to a receiver is the concept of audio, video switching, allowing you to different video sources (eg TV, DVD, camcorder) on your TV
and thus change the audio source – all without touching anything,but the recipient.

Of course, the main objective, audio / video switching with an audio receiver to the external speakers as the surround speakers or stereo is run.

Most receivers have a variety of inputs, and more specifically to 8 speakers and a subwoofer (, 5.1 or five speakers and a subwoofer), multiple video inputs, and even HDMI. You can plug Xbox, Plasma and DVD player to your receiver and use a remote to switch between all the different video sources(Games, TV, video) and have pumped your speaker surround sound. Start with the inputs and outputs. If you do not understand something, read the full how-to, most of which will be explained in detail.

Remember that a receiver is the hub for all your complete home theater, so this How-To actually perform the basics of connecting your home theater.

So what the hell is all this "stuff" on the back of the receiver?

I only goYou can find almost anything on the back of the receiver. The one I'm off base this guide is a Harman Kardon AVR-247, I'll start from the top of the camera left and on my way to the right, then I will start with the left next row and so on.

The first three entries are for antennas. An FM antenna cable would slide on the choice of the two first son, she could in the remaining slots for AM-plug. Of course, you do not need to connect your antenna to connect to, but if yousuch as AM / FM reception will be on your speakers, you want to go ahead and do it. These are standard connections, so if you lose one of your antennas, just go buy a new cheap.

You've probably heard of composite video. It is a very simple video connection is used by most components (TV, DVD, VCR, etc.). Its policy and affordable. As such, the very low quality.
Uses a composite RCA cable for video (yellow) and two RCA cables for audio (red and white stereo). TheProblem is that a composite video cable combines luminance and chrominance in the same cable, reducing the image quality. You lose a lot of sharpness and color begins to deteriorate from the original source. Be useful if you have the extra supplies or equipment that you need a composite video connection. Otherwise, use something else, like component video. Sounds like very different.

S-Video is the next in line after composite. It uses a different type of connector (five-pinin a circle) and offers a slightly better video quality. It is also just a video cable, you must connect audio separately in touch. In this case, you should probably use a pair of RCA cables, red and white for your audio inputs.

Next up: a ton of composite audio inputs. These inputs use left channel and right channel RCA cables, red and white. They look like the yellow composite video cable, and you can even them for video and the yellow for audio, but leave theColor scheme as it is;) Composite Audio is the bottom of the barrel-in audio. Its perfect for most, but if you are looking for high quality surround sound, you do not want composite. Game systems like the Wii or Xbox and DVD player very simple form a perfect combination for audio composite.

The same goes for VCRs, CD players, and everything that has only a composite audio output. Although it is not surround sound, or the receiver, only two channels (2.1, stereo), you canunable to use anything but composite audio. Please note that there is a composite audio input under each composite-video input, so it is easy to fit. Plug them in the entries are wrong and you do not have sound when you on this particular video input.

Here we have one of the least-used features of a modern receiver: 6 (or the direct preparation. It is only used for two purposes: SACD or DVD-Audio. SACD stands for Super Audio CD. It is a proprietary audio formatSony's designed for CDs that are special recorded in 5.1 surround. This means that you are) a CD or DVD / CD player, SACD, a receiver with SACD support (as seen in picture, and need, of course, Super Audio CD support. DVD-Audio is the idea of different brands, different media (sound of a DVD, not CD!).

DVD-Audio discs are special DVDs in 5.1 surround sound is recorded and can be played for them for any support. These CDs go all the way up to 7.1 surround sound, which meansYou need to have two front, enjoy two rear, two side speakers and a subwoofer, 7.1 surround sound. Most receivers support up to 7.1 now, but you will not find DVDs with that kind of capability for movies. 5.1 surround is still the de facto standard, so do not run out and buy more speakers anytime soon.

You can skip this next little item because it is unique to this brand of receiver (Harman Kardon). The bridge is a link property that they have developed to a compound
aiPod. You must buy a separate component that includes a docking station and special cables to connect to the iPod. It fits perfectly with the receiver, the display
Menus and songs on the LCD screen in front of the receiver. You can easily pump your tunes through the speakers, whether stereo or surround.

Of course, the music from your iPod is stereo sound, so the best that can happen is to simulate a surround sound or stereo surround sound, play the same musicboth channels before
is set through the rear channels and in the middle. Some receivers of this intelligent than others, but more on that later.

Here we have our high-end audio inputs / outputs. Basically, have the same performance, you need fiber optic connections (with the square) and digital coaxial (like a cinch) cable.
These two elements are digitally to 100%, while Composite is analog. The only way you can truly surround sound from any source with any of the followingConnections (or / option SACD DVD-Audio)

Almost all DVD players these days have either optical or coaxial digital outputs (sometimes both). Many high-definition cable and satellite boxes also come with these
Connections you 5.1 surround sound on HD channels. The choice between the two, there's really no difference between audio quality, so feel free to use
what you want (or what you are forced to).

I do not think that I have a picture for the next card. It is aCouple current inputs. One is to the receiver power and one for everything you want. In this way, when you turn
on the receiver, give power to another device (either a DVD player, CD player, cable or other). I'm not necessarily recommend, unless it specifically suits
Your needs. It is useful if you are short on outlets, of course.

Something else will you never use: D-bus RC-5 input / output. It is used for infrared remote controls to take care of your home theater -System. Frankly, this is not something to use what most of us never. Some of the real high-end junkies could with something for them, but I've never used a camera that uses this technology. Keep up on the remote that came with your device, or purchase a high quality universal remote. It is not necessary for this option. Or you can take this a bit more common: When the front of the receiver is locked (as in a cupboard), you might get hung an infrared transmitter on the frontthereof. This transmitter is to another device anywhere in your room, the signals accepted by the remote control attached. The receiving device then transmits the remote control of the receiver (via the channel you have connected to the front over the regular infrared transmitter).

Pre-outs, is located in the remote in / out. Pre-outs are used when an (increase amplifier to your system to power and thus) the volume and audio quality. Average
Users will notuse it for anything other than the subwoofer pre-output. You want to give a cable from the subwoofer subwoofer subwoofer pre-run-out to
Frequencies on the right. It is the right way to connect the subwoofer to your surround system. Other entries are not used to it if you want to add
an amplifier. This is very useful for home use. You can add an amplifier if you try to fill a space the size of a small house with a healthy enough, but do notright?

Here we finally get the meat of the system inputs are used loudspeakers! Harman Kardon query posts for connecting speakers, as shown in the photo. They
Work is in the row as it counter-clockwise, then sneak into the speaker wires under the CAP, and again draw released by turning clockwise. This will
Give your speaker cable adjustment Tug of Nice, which probably will not loosen on their own over time. Other brands may use other types of connections, butbind posts are very common.
You might be able to say this is a 7.1-channel receivers, because the speaker inputs.

They are for 2 front left and right, 2 rear left and right
a central channel and two on the left and right "surround" channels that are somewhere between the front and back side (side surround or 7.1). If you have enough
Speakers, you can go out and plug in the extra 2 side, but they will not play any soundall on one DVD 5.1. You need a DVD that supports 7.1
Surround sound, and this time there is simply no market for them. CD like blast stereo surround through all 7 speakers, but also for some larger rooms, it is a
Advantage.

Our last set of connectors for this receiver: component video. The best video you can change the composite or S-video. You will notice that (a set of all three cables for video)
Envoy Red, Green and Blue. Do not think that is what theCable is doing – if it separates the video signal luminance and two color channels. In the past component
Has he, in fact, R, G are, B (splitting the primary colors in the transmission and recombination) on the target device, but is not in the current component video
Connections. Component video can carry high-definition signals all the way up to 1080p, making it the most cost effective and easily accessible for entry into high definition.
Not seen on this receiverDVI and HDMI are the two all-digital video connections.

HDMI is the new, faster, stronger now, video and audio connection. It is the cable, which produces audio and video does not mention in one – that is in high definition.
HDMI is supported by the source and use the monitor to connect to all its properties. Not all DVD players, cable boxes, support or the recipient of both
Audio and video in HDMI. The more standard now support both.The advantage is obvious: less clutter, higher quality audio and video. You can
to 1080p high-definition video and 7.1 surround sound via an HDMI cable. The new cable and satellite boxes, DVD players, DVD players, HD receivers and more expensive
supports the full capability of HDMI. It's the best you can, like all non-digital goes.

The last link of this article is DVI. DVI is also all digital like HDMI, but it can not process audio signals. May HDMIprovide a picture technically superior
but I do not think you can make a difference. DVI supports HD video up to 1080p, and HDMI. His being is now used less frequently,
But if you bought a new computer or video card in your PC recently, it probably has a DVI cable (or two) connector on it. Most computer monitors use DVI now and video cards
have followed suit. HDMI is edge its way into the PC market, but its dominance is seen in the home theaterArena.

Now that you are familiar with common connections, let's plug it all together.

This part of the recipient's How-To will walk you through hooking a 5.1 surround sound guide (5 speakers and a subwoofer) with an HDTV, high-definition cable box or satellite receiver, DVD player and a version 5.1 receiver.

Your TV & Components

When you turn on your TV is dependent on how important it is, how big is your room where you sit. Ifits 50 inches, remain no more than 10-15 feet, but also no less.
A set of 60 "is perfect for 12-20 feet. If you have a set of 32 inches, try further than 8-12 feet sit. Your receiver, DVD player, cable and other components should obviously close but do not place them physically interdependent. They are all hot, especially the receiver. If you have no choice but to drag a piece of plywood between the components will help to do without heat.

PutNo Speakers

The first step is to define your configuration. Different rooms call for different locations for your speakers and subwoofer. If your room is a typical rectangle, go ahead and put the two front left and right anywhere with the TV flush on this side of the room. Your left speaker goes to the left corner of the right speaker to the right corner. Not with speaker cable does not interfere (unless your speakers come with speaker wire already attached, in this case,You can now hang). Please note that the President is right or left solely dependent on how you connect to your receiver. Your speakers are not really known as "left" or "right".

Depending on how you acquired your speakers, front speakers can be larger than your rear speakers. That's how you know them at the front. Otherwise, all speakers have the same shape and size, and you can each use for any purpose.

An exception is the central channel. Usually, aCenter channel is much shorter and wider than the other speakers. It should be used for the center channel. Sometimes, all 5 speakers may be the same, a configuration is usually very cheap. You can one of these speakers for a particular purpose.

Your center channel should always go directly above or below your TV. How ever you need to do is ask! They are called the central channel for nothing, you know. Each film will pump about 90% of votesTo listen to you and the rest of the sounds through the central channel. This is an extremely important component to the surround-sound setup.

Your subwoofer should always be on the floor. If you do not place on the floor, put it on the ground as possible to close. Placed behind the objections or the cabinet is to reduce its impact. In a perfect design, the subwoofer would be (on the floor near the TV to the left or right) in the line of sight. Nothing shouldBlock next to the subwoofer that air will leak out (usually by a grille to protect the subwoofer itself covers).

When it comes to a good place for your speakers, you can mount it. You can usually buy speaker terminals brackets online or in stores. You can also
existing shelves, my shelves or placed on tables or other objects. No matter how you do this, try to keep the speakers at ear level as close as possible. A loudspeaker mountedthe ceiling of the room you do not receive the optimal listening experience.

The last one, remember what they say about the plot, is the son of the housing. Perhaps at least 100 yards to become pregnant by the son, but even more often with the help if you
trying to thread through your ceiling, under carpeting, up through the basement or hidden objects. The measurements and buy the wire, at least 10% more than
You think you need. You probablyit!

Wiring

You need different types of housing available to the son to know you before you leave your home theater. If you have a (HTIB Home Theater purchased) in a box, it probably came with 100 feet of wire horribly cheap speaker. You do not want that! Do yourself a favor: buy a high quality, 14-gauge speaker wire. All that is higher than 14-gauge only thin and likely Interent, loss of quality and low quality over long distances. Fourteen gauge is a goodThickness and are suitable for most home theaters. Also, make sure its not too thick – some speaker wire simply not on cable outlets in speaker to get some receivers.

Some receivers use proprietary speaker inputs. Sony is an example. Many Sony receivers are equipped with special connectors for speaker cable, and will not accept wireless speaker standard. You either have to use the Sony-provided speaker wire to take the ends of Sony speaker wire and put it on your own, or buy some of these specificConnectors from Sony directly to place your speaker cables. My recommendation? Avoid any receivers with non-standard jobs Speaker Wire / connector / plug. Looking to link contributions, or other measures that you enable drag-and repression on a typical speaker cables.

If you have ordered your speaker cable, you need to do some cutting and stripping, if you chose to buy you. This is much easier than it seems, so do not worry!

Measure the length of each individual at a time, cuttingPresident of the son with scissors, either really great or a sharp blade. Now you need to strip the wire ends. Use either a stripping tool, or the good old scissors. You can use the scissors on the cable in place and easily Apply Some Pressure, how to use the scissors to cut the cable back carefully into the plastic liner. Finally, it is low enough that you can slide just by dragging it with your fingers. You need at least 1 / 4 "of exposed wire.

Now you can can make your connectionSpeakers. Note on your speaker wire the difference between the two ends. You must use a positive and a negative one. Sometimes the coating is in a different color between the two, or there is a text and not otherwise. Keep these – depending on which side you positive your speakers, use it positively to the receiver. Crossing the two can cause damage, either immediately or in the future. It might work this way, but you do not want itto!

Connecting the speakers is fairly simple. From left in front of the receiver, speakers on the left of center to center on your receiver, etc. .. Your speakers in May as a "surround" or "Surround Back" instead of just "back", but retain in mind if you have a 7.1 or 8.1-channel receiver "who surround" speakers can be side surround show no rear speakers .

Subwoofer

Your subwoofer is a bit more complicated. There are several ways to do this andmany variations of inputs and outputs on the back of the subwoofer. I go with the first method, the more standard and efficient.

You will need a cable to connect your subwoofer SUB connection. If you do not, or not to buy, you can replace a standard cable, red and white RCA (or a couple, because they are typically connected, leave the other hanging cables). It works, but really not the best way to do this. You also need an adapter called whats Y. On the back ofBecause your needs are a left / right input (red and white). Connect the Y-adapter with these compounds, and the cable from the subwoofer (or RCA cables) to the other end of the Y (Note: if you do not have a Y-adapter, you simply select the input left or right to, in conjunction connect to).

Now take the other end of the cable and plug it into your receiver
Subwoofer pre-output. I hope you have a powered sub, which means that plug into an electrical outlet. Everything you need to do now is plug-and-in yourSubwoofer is good, d '.

If you do not have RCA jacks on your subwoofer, or that speaker cable connectors (and very likely not powered), you must connect to the old way. Your front left and right ouput jacks plug into the subwoofer instead of your receiver. You can then speaker wire from the left and right inputs on the subwoofer to your left and right speaker outputs of your receiver. In this way the field is operated by the recipient and will notWorking as a power. Also some power away from your front speakers with this method. A good idea is to create a subwoofer, new in-line powered buy an RCA jacks.

Connecting the Dots

You have the stuff the hard way. Now it is finally connected to your TV, DVD and cable / satellite. Always try to see the options on first use. If your DVD —
HDMI and your receiver has to use. If your DVD S only via composite, S-Video and component, use componentVideo cable. When it comes to audio, you absolutely need
via the digital (coax are usually orange) or fiber optic (usually the socket built into the camera and a door on them when the door is open, a red light is visible). If you do neither, you will not get true surround sound! If all else fails, resort to composite (red and white) audio connectors.

Note: close to the terminals on your receiver look. Everything is like the first series of wordsEntries red, green, blue, and video can be labeled "Comp 1". If you use the composite audio-cablesfor your sound, you need to plug into an outlet that coordinate with "Comp 1st do not like this, by the recipients clearly understand manually into the receiver to the video inputs, audio reference-use inputs. In most cases you will be able to configure from internal menu of the receiver with the remote.

On some receivers, all video componentsInputs, for example, a composite audio-based input (usually "DVD"), so if you have more than one component input, you will be competing for sound when more than one device is active. That's why you want to configure the component inputs to use different audio inputs.

My manual is the only way to understand how. Composite video is generally in line with the composite audio inputs with naming conventions like Video 1 -> Video 1, Video 2 ->VIDEO 2, etc., but as Component and DVI cable may not work. You should also configure digital audio inputs to video inputs match, you want to use. For example, if you use a digital coaxial input (possibly "Digital 1"), and component video, you want to match "Digital 1" with "Comp 1". Again, consult your manual for how to do it.

Related posts:

1. Install a high-definition home theater in a very short time Until you have read this article, another new home...
2. The first HDTV in your home theater Feeding the system from high-definition video of a true...
3. TV Viewing Distance and Screen Placement in the Home Theater The optimum TV screen size is directly related to...
4. Unconventional Technology Makes Home Theater Even Better If people shop around high definition TVs, all too...
5. Satellite TV Receiver ViP 622 HDTV DVR TV with satellite service providers are coming at the...