Input Needed With My Current Set Up & Toshiba HD DVD Question.......
 

Ok I am fairly new to the whole HD DVD/BR world and I need some input:

I have a 2 year old Hitachi 50v500 LCD HD set. Also going with a Infinity home theater system and Onkyo amp, Panasonic Recordable DVD player and PS2. Nothing major there.

I am looking to get the Toshiba HD-A1 HD DVD Upconverting DVD Player http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-HD-A1-...&s=electronics

My Hitachi TV only comes with 1 DVI input which is hooked into my Comcast box.
Can I just run a HDMI to DVI from the Toshiba to the Comcast box, then a DVI from the Comcast box to the TV? (If my Comcast box has 2 inputs I will have to check) Would that give me the full picture/sound quality that is capable from the Toshiba player?

What I am basically asking is, is it worth it to get the Toshiba player and use it with my set up?

On the flip side of this argument, I have a guy interested in maybe buying my TV, I thought of selling it and getting a new LCD that has 2 HDMI inputs, and save the headache (if there is one in the first place) and go that route. Would this be better.

Can you guys give some input on my set up, and if the Toshiba player would work well with it. Or should I sell my current TV and get something with duel inputs.

Input is very appreciated.

I'd use the HDMI input for the Toshiba and use component input for your cable box. That's what I do and it works perfectly.

Thanks for your reply DFNYC,
So Toshiba HDMI to the Comcast box, then component from the Comcast box to the TV? is that right? Won't I lose some quality if I am just using component from the Comcast box to the TV?

Actually, he means use an HDMI->DVI adaptor straight from the Toshiba to your TV. Then, quite separately, use component cables from your cable box to your TV.

If you've got the money to spare on a new TV (I presume you will want to spend money above what you get for selling your current TV), then that might not be a bad idea.

Thanks Supr, that makes sense. I appreciate the input.

If you are in fact interested in a new TV, there is a very good thread in this forum where we discuss several different TV options.

Also, for audio, the optimal setup is to run analog cables from your Toshiba directly to the receiver, if it supports it. If not, I'd say upgrade your receiver before your TV.

I'm sure your tv appreciates the input as well ;)

Your Comcast box is only going to have outputs, not inputs. It's a video source, not a video processor. You can't input anything into it other than the cable TV feed.

Like digi says, run HDMI from the Toshiba to the TV, then separately run component from the Comcast box to the TV. Comcast receivers tend not to have a big difference in quality between Component and HDMI, unlike the HD DVD player which will be much better over HDMI.

Is there anything else I can do to boost sound to the center speaker? Using the 5.1 analog setup, dialog takes a back seat to the surrounds. I have the center db level +10 on my receiver, as high as it will go. all 0s on the rest. I'm one of the few who prefer to use a optical cable because the dialog sounds louder to me. And with True HD, my ears cannot tell a difference between it and DD+. And yes, I'm naturally on 2.0. However, optical/coaxial also causes major distortion in sound if I use it with HD DVD. I still haven't found anyone on the boards who has the same problem. To understand what I mean, when you watch a HD DVD, just think of everyone talking in the "Charlie Brown" teacher voice. Wah, wah, wah....that's what it sounds like.

I'll be upgrading to a HDMI capable receiver in a few months, so hopefully that will do the trick. I'm more into video than audio, so if I get a HDMI receiver prior to 1.3 version, no big deal for me. Speaking of those, Circuit City has an Onko under $400 that uses HDMI. I think Best Buy has a Panasonic HDMI as well for a similar price. Under $400 is kinda what I would likely spend.

Can you try raising the volume through the Toshiba's speaker volume control?

using the 5.1 setup? On my lunch break, I'll try and see if I can.

It seems using the receiver, no matter how low I set the surrounds, they simply overwhelm the center speaker. So raising the volume level on the receiver doesn't help since it continues to crank up my surrounds. I live in an apt, so I'd rather dialog be higher than blasting music, racing cars, and gunfire...

Your receiver may not alter the individual levels on the analog input, rendering that +10 setting meaningless. You should adjust this in the player, as Freak said.

Spiky, what do you know about Onkyo receivers? Reliable? The one I mentioned seems like it would fit my needs. HDMI 1.3 is not a necessity for me.

My receiver is a JVC that's 6 years old. thankfully it has analog outputs to compensate for my optical problems I mentioned.

I don't think you can go wrong with Denon/Onkyo/Yamaha receivers. I 've had them all and have had no problems.

Onkyo is great. I've been very happy with mine. I also had a Yamaha from 1989 that is still working perfectly for my sister.

When using the 5.1 set, the db level doesn't go past 0. It's from -12 to 0. That's not helping any as the center was set at 0 to begin with. I was kinda looking for a +10 max, something along those lines.

This is the Onkyo receiver that I was thinking about.

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Onkyo...oductDetail.do

After rebates, it'll be $339.00

Lower all the other channels by -10, and leave your center at 0. Also, be sure all the speakers are set to the correct distance. Also, you should seriously consider investing in a sound level meter. That way, you'll get balanced levels from all the channels.

Can I assume you don't have this problem from regular DVDs or other video sources? What you describe almost sounds like you've wired the center speaker out of phase.

Looks like that is the only option. That may allow me to raise the volume level some and not get bombarded with the surround effects. I will be getting a house next year so sound won't be a problem, but for now, I kinda need to keep the explosions to a minimum.

talking about the distortion or the lower center volume?

DVD dialog does sound louder to me than HD DVD. I'm far from an audiophile. Not sure what "out of phase" means in terms of wiring. sorry. :) The center speaker wire I'm using came with a 2 channel surround speaker set I had gotten years ago. It's a small black wire. Probably not the greatest of quality.

Out of phase would mean reversing the wires between receiver and speaker. Make sure black goes to black and red to red.

pretty sure that's connected correctly. one thing I forgot to mention, when the Warner Bros. HD promo comes up, the voiceover sounds very loud. Is dialogue lowered on HD DVD releases? When I play dvd, I don't have to turn the volume up any extra to hear the dialogue easily.

How did this turn into receiver talk?? LOL -smile-

Anywho thanks for the input all, I am still pondering what I want to do, damn technology.....I think i may just shit can the HD DVD iea all together and go with a Betamax machine..

This looks cool!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Sony-Betamax-Bet...QQcmdZViewItem

Cool! Just go down to BB and ask for Blu-Ray. The blu-shirts should be able to help you out. :)

FWIW, I've seen some things recorded on Beta machines and it kills me how good the quality is/was.

Circuit City mislabeled that Onkyo I linked to. Doesn't have HDMI. The 604 series has 2 inputs, 1 output for $499. I think I'll get this one:

http://www.onkyousa.com/model.cfm?m=...s=Receiver&p=i