I have the following equipment but I am not sure of the optimal connections in setting up the system.

Sharp Aquos LCD HDTV
Toshiba DVD Recorder D-R400
Dish Network HD Receiver VIP 622 R
Onkyo TXDS656 Audio Video Control Receiver

The HD receiver, LCD TV and DVD recorder all have HDMI ports as well as other ports. I would like to watch movies in surround sound as well as record movies from the HD receiver or directly from the TV. I do not want to use the surround sound every time I watch TV.

What would be recommended connections? Should the DVD recorder be connected to the TV or should I run it through the satellite box, etc?

Thanks for any help.

The recorder should go between the Dish and the TV.
And the surround sound between the recorder and the TV. It should also "play through" so if you want to watch just the TV you can leave it powered off.
I hope this helps.

Negative!

The correction should be:

Cable

HDMI (Out) >> AVR >(IN) HDMI (Cable)
HDMI outputs >>>
TV > HDMI (IN)
DVR > HDMI (IN)

HDMI ports carry both Video and Audio.

For best results, Set the ONKYO for (Mim) Dolby Digital 5.1. Max DD 8.1. Personally, depending on the size and ahape of the room buying the three extra Rear spearkers may gain you nothing exta cost for speakers and wiring.

Did I get this a clear as mud?

There's one issue with that I think Don. The DVR doesn't have a HDMI input, only an s-video input, and an HDMI output (if I was looking at the right thing).

I think I'd go..

HDR:HDMI(out) >> AVR:HDMI(in)
HDR:svideo/audioLR(out) >> DVR:svideo/audioLR(in)
DVR:HDMI(out) >> AVR:HDMI(in)
AVR:HDMI(out) >> TV:HDMI(in)

HDR = High Def box
DVR = DVD recorder
AVR = Audio video receiver

This would allow you to watch either a DVD or your HD box through your receiver in surround or not and keep the TV on the same video input. And you can record onto the dvd recorder simultaneously, or while your away etc. The beauty is you can watch higher quality video while you record in svideo, but then when you want to watch what you've recorded, you can just as easily as an original DVD.

Kings,

Did you visit the manufacturer's websites or were you trusting like I was and believed the OP when he/she said they all had HDMI ports?

Thanks for the feedback guys. King is right... the satellite receiver has only one HDMI port and it goes out. The DVD recorder also has one HMDI port which also goes out. The TV has 2 HMDI ports, both of which go in.

I haven't had the opportunity yet to set it up. That is one of my weekend plans. I'll let you know how it goes.

Thanks again.

Scott

Quote:

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Originally Posted by donf

Kings,

Did you visit the manufacturer's websites or were you trusting like I was and believed the OP when he/she said they all had HDMI ports?

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I know the OP answered already, but I went to the manufacturers sight just to see, otherwise I would have agreed with your post. I didn't think there was a dvd recorder that recorded over HDMI. I'd love for there to be one some day. Maybe a HD-DVD or Blueray recorder that'll actually record HD from a sat in its original resolution. Maybe someday...

Kings,

Actually I have both a standard (that's a joke son) DVD and a BluRay. IN and out on the BluRay.

I swear one of these days, I'm going to move all my toys out into the center of the room and photograph the connection points.

You just wait, one of these days I will do-it! That's just like me reading the book my lady gave me in Texas, circa 1990, regarding procrastination. I'm going to read that one day also!