Please help me hook up my home theater!

Factual Questions
1

I suppose this is a factual question, right? Although it’s kind of about art, and there might be opinion, I dunno…

Anyway, I am a total moron about this stuff. I’ve never been able to get it working all the way right, ever, in any configuration - there’s always been some dumb little problem. Now we have this fine-ass new TV and I just got a little home theater in a box system (thinking that would be SIMPLE) and now it isn’t simple and the boyfriend runs his own video production business but doesn’t know a thing about how to make this stuff work. I need help!

I have:
This TV - Insignia 50 inch class plasma, only 2 HDMI ports (we have a switch on the way)
This HTIB, recommended by reviews. It’s got a Blu-ray player, speakers, you know, that stuff.
Media computer, DVI output (had it working before we got the HTIB)
XBOX 360
Wii
Surveillance camera DVR (no sound, not an issue)

The home theater system came today, so I put it together, no problem, very easy. Set it up, told it how far it was away from itself, it worked like a charm, plays Blu-ray, etc. Except that’s the only thing it plays sound out of.

It was my understanding that HDMI worked both ways - that I don’t need anything that says 'audio out" from the TV. Is that right? I can’t try the media computer because of the damned switch we’re waiting on, but the Xbox doesn’t play out of the speakers either. I found an audio setting in the receiver/Blu-ray that said “HDMI sound” which was put on “no”, so I changed it to “yes” but nothing happened. I switched the TV from “TV audio”, which was working, to “External speakers”, and nothing happened.

The manual is absolutely no help at all. Whatsoever. Who writes these things these days?

So do I need some other cable? What about the other stuff - do I need to run audio from each of my machines into the receiver thing? Because I don’t think it has very many inputs in the back at all.

I know this is probably a really stupid question, but I just can’t figure it out - I thought the manual would tell me, but mostly it just reads the menus to me. What concept am I not grasping?

2

No; why would you think that? If the port says “out,” it means “out.” Hook up one of the available TV outputs to the appropriate IN port on the box.

3

Yeah - you have a pretty severe lack of inputs. Here’s what I recommend:

HTIB –> HDMI cable –> TV (HDMI 1)
360 –> HDMI cable –> HDMI switch
Wii –> component cable* –> TV (component 1)
Computer –> DVI cable –> DVI(F) to HDMI(M) adapter –> HDMI switch
HDMI switch –> TV (HDMI 2) (do you need another cable for this?)
TV –> toslink optical audio cable –> HTIB optical audio
Surveillance DVR** –> yellow RCA –> TV

No cable TV?

*monoprice.com has component cables for the Wii for very cheap. Get yourself some color coded controller sleeves, some speaker wire, an extra HDMI cable, etc. while you’re at it

**how are the neighborhood hooligans treating you these days?

4

It’s absolutely infuriating - we get cameras and nothing happens. We really ought to put out some bait. I still have their rock to return to them.

ETA - TV-wise, am I understanding right that everything can go to the TV if the TV then has an audio out to the HTIB box?

5

That’s the general idea. There are some stray models of TVs out there that don’t accept audio through HDMI, but I think you’re clear. There should be a setting that let’s the TV know to send a signal out the digital out, and you’ll be set.

6

If the computer is running DVI out, I think that means that you still have to run a separate audio cable, or just run audio through the computer speakers.

7

Does the TV have an audio input for each of the analog video inputs? Best Buy didn’t say. I’m not sure you need the switch. Try this-

HTIB -> HDMI
PC ->DVI to HDMI adapter
XBOX -> Component 1
Wii -> Component 2
Security DVR - Composite

How did you previously get audio from the PC? If there is an audio input for each analog video input, then you could use the audio input meant for the DVR for the PC. The TV probably has a menu that will let you set which audio input goes with which video input.

Take the TV optical audio out to the aux in of the HTIB. It seems to me the ideal however would be a receiver that takes video inputs and switches between them, sending them out thru HDMI. I don’t know how much it would cost if you can find one that has all the inputs you need.

If you have an HDMI switch, then when you are done watching a Blu-Ray you will have to change the TV input, then maybe change the switch input, then change the HTIB to Aux. Then pick up the Media Center remote (or whatever you are using on the PC). A Harmony remote would be a good thing to buy if you don’t already have one.

8

They only look simple because they are slim and have very few inputs (which actually makes it complicated because you have to work out how the heck you’re going to connect everything.) A proper stand alone receiver looks very complicated at the back but if you can afford it it’s a better option because you can run everything to the receiver then a single HDMI from the receiver to the TV. That’s particularly useful if you want to mount it on the wall or just don’t want all of those leads going to the TV. Edit: It can also mean that you need just one remote as receiver remotes have the ability to learn basic commands for your TV.

I realise you’ve already bought you’re equipment but when it’s time to upgrade, don’t be shy of getting a receiver with a lot of inputs. Many modern receivers have an auto calibration where you plug a small mic into it and place it at your listening position. It will then tell itself how far away it is from itself and set the balance for each speaker as well as adjusting the EQ to make up for any sound problems in the room.

Yes, you can basically use your TV as the receiver. You still need to have an input from the HTIB to the TV so you can play your blu-ray movies.

9

Sorry I haven’t been able to test all your good advice, guys - the audio cable’s supposed to get here tomorrow.

10

Okay, I’m about to throw all this shit out the window and go back to the stupid TV speakers that actually work. The HDMI switched worked when I plugged everything in… and now it doesn’t. The TV now thinks it isn’t there and nothing’s plugged in. Oh, but how the Blu-ray player won’t shut the fuck up! The TV is connected through the digital audio cable out to the Blu-ray, but it doesn’t care and still only works through the TV speakers. (And if you let that Blu-ray play it’s Harry Potter over your Every Other Damned Thing, you better believe it. Better dive for that remote!)

In other words, no improvement except for the five seconds the HDMI switch worked.

11

This is the little HDMI switch I got, by the way. Got good reviews and was inexpensive and is supposed to work with my preexisting Harmony remote.

12

Sigh. I unplugged the HDMI and replugged it and now it works, for now. This is SO infuriating and why we always have shitty sound on our TV. What’s so hard about handing me a system in a box that just works? Harmony manages to do it with its remotes!

13

Okay, now I’m ready to keep the HTIB and throw the damned Harmony remote out the window. This has completely fucked it. It worked beautifully until I started fixing it to go with the new components, and now it sucks ass. I can’t figure out any way to tell it to not mess with the inputs on the receiver thing - just stop it! I can’t find a single option to tell it yes, we use this piece of equipment, but it’s already on optical and if you try to PUT it on optical you’ll put it on AM RADIO. Or coax. Or some stupid thing. And I’m about to stop you into circuit boards.

Also, for some reason it just will not control the volume when I use the media computer, although all the settings are right for it. A whole Saturday wasted and I still have six remotes.