Cabling to my Mounted LCD

stickman373 · 10-06-2009, 08:30 PM

I'm moving into my new house and plan to mount my 42" Bravia LCD above the fireplace. I'll have an electrical box above the fireplace and will put a second box with my TV connections there.

My questions is what should I run to this box? Right now I have the following:

HDMI DVD Player
HDMI Cable Box
Component Xbox360
Component Wii

What's the best way to run cables to the TV? I won't have surround sound in this room so I won't have external speakers, just the TVs speakers.

I'd love to run a single HDMI to the TV, but I'm not sure that will work with my component devices.

Thoughts?

Thanks!

m_vanmeter · 10-07-2009, 08:11 AM

the HDMI cables from the cable box and the DVD player will carry audio as well as the video. The component connections will require a cable, or cables to carry the audio from each device.

I believe the Wii will require the typical red/white stereo audio cables with RCA connectors (you may need "extension" cables with male/female RCA connectors to extend the red/white audio cables coming out of the WII - same for the 3 component video cables - or 3 female/female RCA adapters to connect male to male RCA connectors on the component cables to the standard wiring on the Wii). http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2 or for single RCA cables http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2

Not sure about the xBox 360 set up for component output --- an Toslink optical cable maybe ?????

You might want your electricial installer to put in a double gang box for all the low voltage audio and video cables....a single gang box will get crowded very fast.

A nice double gang box cover to consider http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16882290022

also, Monoprice is a great place to get your audio and video cables at extremely reasonable prices. I have used their cables on multiple installs for friends/family and here at work in our a/v equiped conference rooms. Very good stuff
http://www.monoprice.com/home/index.asp

One last comment....a lot of folks want to mount their flat screen TV "over the fireplace", but this really puts the TV to high for comfortable viewing and often, the viewing angle is wrong for someone seated on a couch or chair in the room. If you follow through on the fireplace mount, please make sure your wall mount can at least "tilt" the screen down a little to correct the viewing angle and that your furniture used for most of the viewing has high backs to rest your head on during long movies or you will notice a bit of sore neck syndrome after craining you neck for a couple of hours to watch a movie. Good luck.

stickman373 · 10-07-2009, 08:19 AM

Thanks for the reply.

I'm wondering if it's possible for me not to have to run a wire up to the TV for each component I have?

What I was think was getting a cheaper receiver like the Sony STR-DH700 ($200) and the connect all the devices to that.

Then run a single HDMI and single Component line from the receiver to the TV. That should allow me to pass everything through to the TV to display both the Video and Audio?

Does that work? Or is there a simpler/cheaper solution? Just trying to minimize the # of cords going through the wall.

m_vanmeter · 10-07-2009, 02:20 PM

in order to get a receiver that (1) handles audio over HDMI and (2) upconverts analog component signals to output digital HDMI you will need a receiver with a little higher price tag.

Some entry level units that can work would be the Denon 590 or 1610 and the Onkyo SR606 or SR607 (newer model) a factory authorized refurb is a good way to save some bucks http://www.accessories4less.com/make...eceiver/1.html

Of course, once you have an a/v receiver....you will need speakers - so the budget grows

stickman373 · 10-07-2009, 02:56 PM

Gotcha, so here is my new plan....feel free to tell me no.

I already have a component video switch (3in/1out). I will then get a HDMI switch (4in/1out) from Monoprice.

At this point I can run 1 HDMI and 1 component cable to the TV through the wall and have the switches pass the correct signal depending on what I am doing?

With this solution I'd probably spring for a Harmony remote that would let me at the push of a button select the right inputs for the right device.

Sound good?

m_vanmeter · 10-08-2009, 07:44 AM

will you be the "only" user of this system ? It is getting rather complicated for a wife or kids..... when dealing with other users, and periods where you are not there to set it all up, KISS is the only way........... (keep it simple, stupid).

Other than that, it will work for the video, but since you are using the TV speakers (still can't talk you into an entry level sound system

) you will still be running the audio cables as well, so you will save only 1 HDMI feed and 1 compontent cable set feed by adding the switches.

stickman373 · 10-08-2009, 09:45 AM

Haha, I'd love an entry level or beyond sound system, but for the upstairs living room it's just not doable. Now when I move down to the basement, I will certainly be doing that and much more!

So to just have it straight....I will run the following:

1 HDMI (video/audio over same cord)
1 Component Cable
1 Audio L/R Cable

Then have 2 switches, 1 for Components, 1 for HDMI. The plus side of the setup would be is I want to add more components, I don't have to worry about additional wires.

I think if I go this route I'll be getting a harmony remote to simplify the process for others besides myself.

How's that?

m_vanmeter · 10-08-2009, 03:26 PM

1 HDMI from switch to TV
1 component cable set (3 separate R-G-B video cables) from component switch to TV
1 red/white RCA audio from Wii to TV

since your TV probably does not have a Toslink optical "in" port (no need, it would not know what to do with the DD5.1 signal), the audio from the xBox 360 would also need it's own:

2nd red/white RCA audio cable from xBox to TV.......BUT.....now we have a problem. The separate audio inputs on the TV are matched to individual video inputs. The Wii (or xBox, whichever got there first) would have the audio red/white inputs taken for the single 3 cable component video coming from the switch. There would be nowhere to attach the red/white audio from the other gaming console to the one video input associated with the switched video. Does the component video switch handle switching audio as well....some do ???

stickman373 · 10-08-2009, 08:17 PM

Yes the Component switch transfers the audio as well.

So I'll have a single HDMI carrying both audio/video

And a single Component carry video

And a single audio (red/white) carry audio for component devices.

It's a bit complicated, but I think with a programmed Harmony remote it may do the trick as a sound system just isn't feasible for the room at this point.

10-06-2009, 08:30 PM	#1
stickman373 My plasma is High Def. Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 5	Cabling to my Mounted LCD I'm moving into my new house and plan to mount my 42" Bravia LCD above the fireplace. I'll have an electrical box above the fireplace and will put a second box with my TV connections there. My questions is what should I run to this box? Right now I have the following: HDMI DVD Player HDMI Cable Box Component Xbox360 Component Wii What's the best way to run cables to the TV? I won't have surround sound in this room so I won't have external speakers, just the TVs speakers. I'd love to run a single HDMI to the TV, but I'm not sure that will work with my component devices. Thoughts? Thanks!

10-07-2009, 08:11 AM	#2
m_vanmeter WD4JCM in KY Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 747	the HDMI cables from the cable box and the DVD player will carry audio as well as the video. The component connections will require a cable, or cables to carry the audio from each device. I believe the Wii will require the typical red/white stereo audio cables with RCA connectors (you may need "extension" cables with male/female RCA connectors to extend the red/white audio cables coming out of the WII - same for the 3 component video cables - or 3 female/female RCA adapters to connect male to male RCA connectors on the component cables to the standard wiring on the Wii). http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2 or for single RCA cables http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2 Not sure about the xBox 360 set up for component output --- an Toslink optical cable maybe ????? You might want your electricial installer to put in a double gang box for all the low voltage audio and video cables....a single gang box will get crowded very fast. A nice double gang box cover to consider http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16882290022 also, Monoprice is a great place to get your audio and video cables at extremely reasonable prices. I have used their cables on multiple installs for friends/family and here at work in our a/v equiped conference rooms. Very good stuff http://www.monoprice.com/home/index.asp One last comment....a lot of folks want to mount their flat screen TV "over the fireplace", but this really puts the TV to high for comfortable viewing and often, the viewing angle is wrong for someone seated on a couch or chair in the room. If you follow through on the fireplace mount, please make sure your wall mount can at least "tilt" the screen down a little to correct the viewing angle and that your furniture used for most of the viewing has high backs to rest your head on during long movies or you will notice a bit of sore neck syndrome after craining you neck for a couple of hours to watch a movie. Good luck. Last edited by m_vanmeter; 10-07-2009 at 08:22 AM.

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10-07-2009, 08:19 AM	#3
stickman373 My plasma is High Def. Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 5	Thanks for the reply. I'm wondering if it's possible for me not to have to run a wire up to the TV for each component I have? What I was think was getting a cheaper receiver like the Sony STR-DH700 ($200) and the connect all the devices to that. Then run a single HDMI and single Component line from the receiver to the TV. That should allow me to pass everything through to the TV to display both the Video and Audio? Does that work? Or is there a simpler/cheaper solution? Just trying to minimize the # of cords going through the wall.

10-07-2009, 02:20 PM	#4
m_vanmeter WD4JCM in KY Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 747	in order to get a receiver that (1) handles audio over HDMI and (2) upconverts analog component signals to output digital HDMI you will need a receiver with a little higher price tag. Some entry level units that can work would be the Denon 590 or 1610 and the Onkyo SR606 or SR607 (newer model) a factory authorized refurb is a good way to save some bucks http://www.accessories4less.com/make...eceiver/1.html Of course, once you have an a/v receiver....you will need speakers - so the budget grows

10-07-2009, 02:56 PM	#5
stickman373 My plasma is High Def. Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 5	Gotcha, so here is my new plan....feel free to tell me no. I already have a component video switch (3in/1out). I will then get a HDMI switch (4in/1out) from Monoprice. At this point I can run 1 HDMI and 1 component cable to the TV through the wall and have the switches pass the correct signal depending on what I am doing? With this solution I'd probably spring for a Harmony remote that would let me at the push of a button select the right inputs for the right device. Sound good?

10-08-2009, 07:44 AM	#6
m_vanmeter WD4JCM in KY Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 747	will you be the "only" user of this system ? It is getting rather complicated for a wife or kids..... when dealing with other users, and periods where you are not there to set it all up, KISS is the only way........... (keep it simple, stupid). Other than that, it will work for the video, but since you are using the TV speakers (still can't talk you into an entry level sound system ) you will still be running the audio cables as well, so you will save only 1 HDMI feed and 1 compontent cable set feed by adding the switches.

10-08-2009, 09:45 AM	#7
stickman373 My plasma is High Def. Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 5	Haha, I'd love an entry level or beyond sound system, but for the upstairs living room it's just not doable. Now when I move down to the basement, I will certainly be doing that and much more! So to just have it straight....I will run the following: 1 HDMI (video/audio over same cord) 1 Component Cable 1 Audio L/R Cable Then have 2 switches, 1 for Components, 1 for HDMI. The plus side of the setup would be is I want to add more components, I don't have to worry about additional wires. I think if I go this route I'll be getting a harmony remote to simplify the process for others besides myself. How's that?

10-08-2009, 03:26 PM	#8
m_vanmeter WD4JCM in KY Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 747	1 HDMI from switch to TV 1 component cable set (3 separate R-G-B video cables) from component switch to TV 1 red/white RCA audio from Wii to TV since your TV probably does not have a Toslink optical "in" port (no need, it would not know what to do with the DD5.1 signal), the audio from the xBox 360 would also need it's own: 2nd red/white RCA audio cable from xBox to TV.......BUT.....now we have a problem. The separate audio inputs on the TV are matched to individual video inputs. The Wii (or xBox, whichever got there first) would have the audio red/white inputs taken for the single 3 cable component video coming from the switch. There would be nowhere to attach the red/white audio from the other gaming console to the one video input associated with the switched video. Does the component video switch handle switching audio as well....some do ???

10-08-2009, 08:17 PM	#9
stickman373 My plasma is High Def. Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 5	Yes the Component switch transfers the audio as well. So I'll have a single HDMI carrying both audio/video And a single Component carry video And a single audio (red/white) carry audio for component devices. It's a bit complicated, but I think with a programmed Harmony remote it may do the trick as a sound system just isn't feasible for the room at this point.