Onkyo 606 and my HDTV

Here's my problem folks:

I have a Toshiba 46" HDTV that is 4 years old and utitlizes a DVI input rather than a HDMI input, but I am intending on buying a Onkyo 606 Receiver in the next couple months. Now after a HDMI-DVI adapter, a HDMI-in-out-HDMI adapter, and a HDMI splitter I was able to hook up one of my HD DVD players and my PS3 to my HDTV in June. However, I have had to run all the audio over the regular red/white analog cables. Is there any way to get the HD audio (True HD and DTS MA) with my present HDTV with the Onkyo 606 and Polk speakers and sub?

If you use a digital optical audio connection you may get some of the advanced audio if your player is set to PCM or LPCM. Other than that no. Optical will, at a minimum allow you to get Dolby 5.1 and DTS which you can't get via analog 2 channel audio.

If you use a digital optical audio connection you may get some of the advanced audio if your player is set to PCM or LPCM. Other than that no. Optical will, at a minimum allow you to get Dolby 5.1 and DTS which you can't get via analog 2 channel audio.

I figured it would have to be done via optical. So I can't get the advanced audio codecs until I get an HDMI compatible HDTV? Also, do the speakers have to ran with class 2 wiring or can they be ran optically as well? Finally, how much do optical cables run nowadays?

I figured it would have to be done via optical. So I can't get the advanced audio codecs until I get an HDMI compatible HDTV? Also, do the speakers have to ran with class 2 wiring or can they be ran optically as well? Finally, how much do optical cables run nowadays?

Well you will have a HDMI receiver and that is what can use the advanced audio codecs but yes you will need an HDMI TV to make the video connection.

Well you will have a HDMI receiver and that is what can use the advanced audio codecs but yes you will need an HDMI TV to make the video connection.

Looks like I'll have to wait another year or so before I can afford a new HDTV and of course the economy is not making it any easier. However, I can run DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 right? Also, is it wise to utilize your TV speakers along with your center and front channel speaks?

Looks like I'll have to wait another year or so before I can afford a new HDTV and of course the economy is not making it any easier. However, I can run DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 right? Absolutely, using digital optical or coaxial. Also, is it wise to utilize your TV speakers along with your center and front channel speaks? No it in not wise and may make things sound much worse.

In an ideal surround sound system, all of the speakers would be the same (matched) in size and sound. Adding another speaker to the most important center channel would probably sound much worse and could potentially cancel out some of the center channel sound and may make dialog unintelligible.

I am assuming you will be connecting the video via component which looks just as good as HDMI.

In an ideal surround sound system, all of the speakers would be the same (matched) in size and sound. Adding another speaker to the most important center channel would probably sound much worse and could potentially cancel out some of the center channel sound and may make dialog unintelligible.

I am assuming you will be connecting the video via component which looks just as good as HDMI.

I was intending to bypass the TV speakers anyway so I am glad I assumed correctly. Is there any benefit of me running HDMI for the video and optical for audio intead of running component for video? I ask this because if I use component won't I lose the upconversion of SD DVDs on my PS3?

I was intending to bypass the TV speakers anyway so I am glad I assumed correctly. Is there any benefit of me running HDMI for the video and optical for audio intead of running component for video? I ask this because if I use component won't I lose the upconversion of SD DVDs on my PS3?

Yes you will loose the upconversion ability of DVD's if you use component unless you have one of the hacked Oppo players (yes there is a hack that allows upconversion over component) or the Helios H4000. From your previous statements I did not believe your current TV to have HDMI inputs. Please excuse my incorrect assumption. After reading your signature I do see that you have DVI inputs.

Yes you will loose the upconversion ability of DVD's if you use component unless you have one of the hacked Oppo players (yes there is a hack that allows upconversion over component) or the Helios H4000. From your previous statements I did not believe your current TV to have HDMI inputs. Please excuse my incorrect assumption. After reading your signature I do see that you have DVI inputs.

Don't worry about it L2W. I have no clue if my Oppo 971 is capable of this hack. Do you possibly know the answer to that? I use it for SD DVDs anyway simply because it's fast loading and looks about as good as HDM players.

Here's my problem folks:

Is there any way to get the HD audio (True HD and DTS MA) with my present HDTV with the Onkyo 606 and Polk speakers and sub?
Absolutely, if you use the 606 as your primary video switcher! :yippee: The 606 can decode these Audio formats over the HDMI interfaces. You will only need the HDMI-DVI connector or cable on the 606 HDMI out connector. Ihe 606 should be able to manage the HDCP negoations, on behalf of your AV devices, over the HDMI to DVI interface cable.

This is exactly how I have my Onkyo 905 connected to my older RPTV Sony! ;)

However, I can run DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 right? Yes

Also, is it wise to utilize your TV speakers along with your center and front channel speaks?
Technically you can, but NO I would not recommend that you do it! :thatsit

The HDTV and separate speakers are not typicaly, sonically matched. And since the HDTV, typically, can not decode DD 5.1or DTS 5.1 accurately and your time domain between the speakers and the TV's speakers will be off somewhat, the result will likely be a slightly perceptible echo or delay. :eek:

Absolutely, if you use the 606 as your primary video switcher! :yippee: The 606 can decode these Audio formats over the HDMI interfaces. You will only need the HDMI-DVI connector or cable on the 606 HDMI out connector. Ihe 606 should be able to manage the HDCP negoations, on behalf of your AV devices, over the HDMI to DVI interface cable.

This is exactly how I have my Onkyo 905 connected to my older RPTV Sony! ;)

Omega, how is this possible? I thought audio could not be transmitted over a DVI connection.

Omega, how is this possible? I thought audio could not be transmitted over a DVI connection.
Audio..No it can not be sent over a standard DVI connection.

In the configuration that I am addressing, your HD source(s) would directly connect to the Onkyo 606 via HDMI and you would then have an additional HDMI cable coming from the Onkyo 606 to your DVI connected HDTV. All audio would be sonically output by the Onkyo 606 to your connected speakers (5.1 or 7.1). So the Onkyo 606 sits between the Video sources and the HDTV. The Onkyo 606 AVR has 4 HDMI (In - from Sources) connections and 1 HDMI (Out to HDTV) and can switch between them seemlessly.

Only the video would end up going to the display via the HDMI to DVI connection.

If you need audio to go to the HDTV's internal speakers (as opposed to the 5.1 speakers connected to the Onkyo AVR ), you would need to use either the digital input on the HDTV or the stereo RCA jacks. (I disable mine through the HDTV settings.)

But I would not recommend that you use both the HDTV's internal speakers and the ones connected to the Onkyo AVR , at the same time! :thatsit

There are three things to note in this configuration:

1. If your HDTV has an internal ATSC (OTA HD) tuner that you use or wish to use, you will need to connect the audio out (Digital or analog) from the HDTV to the Onkyo 606 AVR (Requireing a Video input assigment and an input switch to that video input, on the AVR) to hear any audio out, unless you enable/control the HDTV's internal speakers each time you want to use this capabilty.

2. The Onkyo AVR must be on preferably before the HDTV or the video sources, to hear any audio output from your video sources. A good programmable universal remote helps here A lot!

3. If your HTDV support an PiP feature, this configuration will not help you view two external to the HDTV video sources at the same time. If your HDTV has and internal ATSC tuner, you may be able to use the PiP picture between the currently selected video source on the Onkyo AVR and the OTA broadcast channel that is currently being decoded by the ATSC tuner. HOWEVER, since in the configuration, the audio is being output to the speakers on the Onkyo 606 AVR, the audio switching within this PiP feature will not work correctly for the two different PiP sources. Believe me when I say that it takes some serious cabling to use the PiP features of an HDTV in this configuration! :eek: One would figure that this (along with one or more high quality ATSC tuner(s)) would be incorporated into the AVRs functions ,since it is doing all of the video source switching. :what:

Audio..No it can not be sent over a standard DVI connection.

In the configuration that I am addressing, your HD source(s) would directly connect to the Onkyo 606 via HDMI and you would then have an additional HDMI cable coming from the Onkyo 606 to your DVI connected HDTV. All audio would be sonically output by the Onkyo 606 to your connected speakers (5.1 or 7.1). So the Onkyo 606 sits between the Video sources and the HDTV. The Onkyo 606 AVR has 4 HDMI (In - from Sources) connections and 1 HDMI (Out to HDTV) and can switch between them seemlessly.

Only the video would end up going to the display via the HDMI to DVI connection.

If you need audio to go to the HDTV's internal speakers (as opposed to the 5.1 speakers connected to the Onkyo AVR ), you would need to use either the digital input on the HDTV or the stereo RCA jacks. (I disable mine through the HDTV settings.)

But I would not recommend that you use both the HDTV's internal speakers and the ones connected to the Onkyo AVR , at the same time! :thatsit

There are three things to note in this configuration:

1. If your HDTV has an internal ATSC (OTA HD) tuner that you use or wish to use, you will need to connect the audio out (Digital or analog) from the HDTV to the Onkyo 606 AVR (Requireing a Video input assigment and an input switch to that video input, on the AVR) to hear any audio out, unless you enable/control the HDTV's internal speakers each time you want to use this capabilty.

2. The Onkyo AVR must be on preferably before the HDTV or the video sources, to hear any audio output from your video sources. A good programmable universal remote helps here A lot!

3. If your HTDV support an PiP feature, this configuration will not help you view two external to the HDTV video sources at the same time. If your HDTV has and internal ATSC tuner, you may be able to use the PiP picture between the currently selected video source on the Onkyo AVR and the OTA broadcast channel that is currently being decoded by the ATSC tuner. HOWEVER, since in the configuration, the audio is being output to the speakers on the Onkyo 606 AVR, the audio switching within this PiP feature will not work correctly for the two different PiP sources. Believe me when I say that it takes some serious cabling to use the PiP features of an HDTV in this configuration! :eek: One would figure that this (along with one or more high quality ATSC tuner(s)) would be incorporated into the AVRs functions ,since it is doing all of the video source switching. :what:


So the HDMI to DVI cable coming from my HDTV will hook up to the out HDMI port on the Onkyo?

So the HDMI to DVI cable coming from my HDTV will hook up to the out HDMI port on the Onkyo?

You got it.

You got it.

So then how do I run sound to my speakers/sub from the receiver? Is optical my only option?

The HDMI connection to the receiver from the equipment carries the audio.

So then how do I run sound to my speakers/sub from the receiver? Is optical my only option?
This is done with Speaker wires connected from the respective Speaker output terminals on the AVR to the +Red/-Black connectors on each respective speaker.

Optical cables carry the digital Audio signals between two digitial devices. (i.e. DVD player to the AVR)

HDMI cables carry the digital Video and the digital Audio signals between to digital audio/video devices. (i.e. the HD DVD player to the AVR)

Speaker cables (generally copper based) carry the analog Audio from the receiver/amplifier (AVR) to the Speakers. (i.e. the Left front, Right front, Center, Sub Woofer & L+R surround speakers)

Check out the http://www.highdefforum.com/images/statusicon/forum_new.gif Cables & Connections (http://www.highdefforum.com/cables-connections-41/) section for more details on AV cable hook up solutions or issues.