Trying to hook up all those audio and video components in your 7.1 surround sound system can be confusing. Many times it can be difficult to even determine where to start; there are just so many terminals and cables. Think about where you want the audio and video to go and start making connections; you'll find that it's actually simple once you've gotten organized.
Instructions
1. Take a moment to determine where your audio and video are originating and where they need to go. Check available inputs and outputs and plan your connections accordingly. You need to get your video to your TV and the audio to your speakers via the home theater receiver.
2. Before you get started making connections, note that only an HDMI cable is capable of transmitting 7.1 audio formats. Other digital audio cables, such as optical and coaxial, only support 5.1 audio. Opt for an HDMI connection whenever available to enjoy true 7.1 surround sound. Ideally, you'll want to connect each component in the system capable of utilizing a 7.1 format to an HDMI input on your receiver and then run a single HDMI cable from the receiver's output to the television to route the video there. This could be a problem if your receiver only has one HDMI input. If this is the case, you'll want to connect the component, most likely to use 7.1 formatting to this input, to probably your Blu Ray or DVD player. Many television programs, movies and music utilize a 5.1 format. This means you'll only be getting blended channels in the additional two speakers anyway, so the lack of sufficient HDMI jacks for all components shouldn't be a problem. However, you should be aware of it and plan accordingly.
3. Connect your cable or satellite receiver to your TV. If you are connecting to a high definition television, use one of the following video connections: HDMI, DVI or component video. Locate the appropriate output on the receiver and plug the cable into it, then plug it into the TV. HDMI and DVI cables use single ports while component video uses three separate terminals that are color-coded (red, blue and green). For standard definition, you could also make the connection with an S-video or composite video cable (yellow RCA cable).
4. Output the cable or satellite receiver's audio to your home theater receiver. Use a digital output for surround sound. This could be an HDMI cable, which carries both audio and video, a digital coax cable (orange jack) or an optical cable. Each connection requires a specific cable designed solely for that one connection type. Connect the appropriate output on the receiver to the input on the receiver labeled "TV" or something similar. When using HDMI for audio as well as video, connect an HDMI cable from your programming receiver to your home theater receiver's input. Run a second cable from the home theater receiver's HDMI output to the television.
5. Connect your DVD or Blu Ray player. Use an HDMI cable to allow for a full seven channels. Connect the HDMI output on your media player to the HDMI input on the home theater receiver. Be sure a second HDMI cable is connected from the receiver's output to the television. If your player doesn't have an HDMI output, you can use a digital coaxial or optical cable to connect the audio to the receiver. Just remember you won't be getting seven discrete channels and will only be able to transmit 5.1 formats. Connect video separately using component video cables.
6. Connect any music players. These players don't have video so they simply need to be connected to your home theater receiver. Use a properly labeled input and run RCA cables (red and white) or digital audio cable for each component. If you plan to use surround-sound formats with any components (some music is recorded in surround), then opt for a digital connection over RCA.
7. Connect the speakers. Connect each speaker to the labeled speaker terminals on the receiver. Each speaker has two separate terminals, one positive and one negative. Use speaker cable to connect terminals of the same polarity from the receiver to the appropriate speaker. Repeat for all seven speakers. Connect your subwoofer to the subwoofer or LFE output on the receiver using an RCA cable.
Tags: HDMI cable, home theater, home theater receiver, theater receiver, audio video