Connections and set-up for HD TV, Sky+ HD, Blu-Ray, iPod and 5.1 Surround Sound
How to set up an HD TV system with 5.1 surround sound.
Elements Include:
- HD TV
- Sky + HD Satellite Receiver
- Blu-ray Disc Player
- Multi Channel AV Receiver
- Home Theatre System 5.1 Speaker Package
- iPod
- Various cables and connectors
- Universal Remote Control
The goal was to get 5.1 surround sound from both the blu-ray disc player and the sky plus HD satellite receiver.
Some connections are obvious; simply use an HDMI cable to connect the Blu-Ray disc player to the AV receiver and another HDMI cable to connect the AV receiver to the television.
Others are not quite so obvious. The sky plus satellite receiver still uses HDMI 1.1, which does not carry 5.1 surround sound. Therefore the connections required to get 5.1 surround sound on your home theatre system are:
- Use HDMI to connect he Sky Satellite receiver to the Television
- Use an optical cable to connect the Sky Satellite receiver to the Multi Channel AV receiver.
Prior to the HD setup I used to watch video podcasts via an iPod on television. I already had the Apple iPod composite AV cable (red, white and yellow connections) which would plug directly into the television. Now, however, I want all sound to go through the AV receiver and the Home Theatre Speaker system. This requires the following connections:
- Use Apple AV cable to connect iPod to AV Receiver
- Use Monitor Out (Yellow) from AV Receiver to the Yellow connector (of the red, white and yellow connectors) of the AV input on the television. This requires a digital audio/composite video 1 RCA to 1 RCA cable. This is a cable with just one connector at each end.
The shopping list:
HDTV
My System
Current version
Sony KDL-46EX503 also available from Amazon.co.uk
Sky + HD Satellite Receiver
(from Sky)
Blu-Ray Disc Player
My System
Sony BDP-S360 Blu-Ray Disc Player also available from Amazon.co.uk
Current Version
Sony BDP-S370 Blu-Ray Disc Player also available from Amazon.co.uk
Multi Channel AV Receiver
My System
Sony STR-DH800 Receiver also available from Amazon.co.uk
Current Version
Sony STR-DH810 7.1 Channel Receiver also available from Amazon.co.uk
Home Theatre System 5.1 Speaker Package
My System
Harman Kardon HKTS7 5.1 Home Theatre System Speaker Package also available from Amazon.co.uk
Current Version – This is still the current version.
iPod
My System
Current Version
New Apple iPod touch 32GB Latest version (Launched Sept 2009)
Various Cables and connectors
Note that the Harman Kardon HKTS7 5.1 Home Theatre System Speaker Package does come with the following speaker cables:
- 2 x 12mtr for connecting the rear surround speakers.
- 3 x 6mtr for connecting the two front speakers and the centre speaker.
- 1 RCA cable for connecting to the sub-woofer.
These are the additional cables I bought:
3 x Sony DLCHD20HFCAE 2M Mid Range HDMI Cables – Black
Fisual Digital Optical Cable – 3m – Pro Install Series
Fisual Subwoofer Cable – 5m – Pro Install Series
3 x Fisual Easy Fix Banana Plugs – 4 Pack (2 pairs)
1 x IXOS XHD408-100 (105) 1m Digital Audio Coaxial Cable
(Note theIXOS 1 mtr cable is a little short for me and I would rather have a 3 mtr cable)
as an alternative you could try the:
1 x Profigold PGD483 3 mtr Digital Coaxial Cable
Universal Remote Control
My System
Logitech Harmony One – Advanced Universal Remote Control also available at Amazon.co.uk
Current Version – This is the current version
Happy Viewing and Listening… 
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