Help requested for connections in home cinema system

[admin_exported]

Following much advice and testing, I have now purchased a Sony 40W4500 panel, a Panasonic BD55 Blu Ray player, a Yamaha AX863SE receiver and some KEF 3005 SE speakers. I have ordered SKY HD but don't have the new box yet. In order to get the best audio/ video from the components, could anyone please offer any advice on the best connections?

I understood that HDMI leads between each element would be sufficient but have been told that I may need optical digital connections too. Is this true? I thought I'd need 4 HDMI leads; blu ray/ panel, Sky HD/ panel, blu ray/ receiver and Sky HD/ receiver.

I want to get the best from the set up and don't mind buying decent connections but I don't want to be doing something that has no value. If anyone could recommend tried and tested leads, I'd be very grateful.

I'm new to home cinema systems so any help that you may be able to offer would be most appreciated.

Many thanks and a Happy New Year to all on the forum.

 

[oldleodensian]

You will only need 3 HDMI leads; BD player needs only one HDMI to connect to the 863, Sky HD can use one HDMI to either TV or the amp and only one HDMI is needed to output to the TV from the 863. As Sky HD only sends stereo sound over HDMI, most people prefer to connect the skybox direct to TV with HDMI and use an optical lead to send 5.1 sound to Home Cinema amp. Best HDMI lead to buy is currently the QED from play.com at an amazingly cheap (for this good a cable) £17.99.

 

[Sorreltiger]

If you want to use your amp all the time, it would make life easier if you connect the Sky box to it. ÿIf you have Sky HD there are quite a few programmes which have Dolby Digital sound. ÿOne of my best investments (with a similar system to you) was a Harmony One remote, which has made the whole thing extremely family friendly.

 

[oldleodensian]

Sky broadcasts lots of programmes, in both standard and high definition, with 5.1 soundtracks, but only the stereo version is able to be sent via HDMI cable. That's why most people seem to prefer to link the HDMI direct to TV and then send the 5.1 sound from dkybox th amp with an optical digital cable.

 

[Anonymous]

Many thanks to you both for the advice, I can now see where the HDMI v Optical Digital comes in.

Have a Happy New Year and thanks again.