How should these components be connected?

[admin_exported]

Hi,

As you know I'm fairly new to home cinema, and I decided to start my own home cinema project.

In a few months I will have all these components:

TV - Plasma Samsung D8000 (almost sure of this buy, however I will check out the panny VT30 as well)
Speakers - MA RX6 AV12
Receiver - Pioneer SC-LX83
My HTPC. (specs can be found here)
Synology DS1511+ NAS with 5x 7k3000 Hitachi Deskstar
PS3 (already own it)
Sky HD

I already have the following Network:

Speedtouch ADSL2+ 546(i) v6 Modem
Linksys E4200 Router
Hp ProCurve V1810-8G Switch

The modem is connected to the Router. The Router is connected to the switch. And whatever I need on my network will be connected to the switch as well. Everything is setup with CAT5e or CAT6 cables (mixture of the 2).

However I am unsure about how all the components will go together.

From the little knowledge I have, the PS3, Sky HD, Speakers and HTPC will be connected via HDMI to the LX83 AVR. The LX83 AVR will be connected to the TV via HDMI as well.

However when it comes to the NAS I am unsure of where or what will be connected to the network. I know that The NAS will be connected to the switch. But the AVR also has a LAN port. Should it be connected to the switch as well or not? Also, for the NAS I was planning on streaming to my HTPC and view the Movies from there. How can I achieve this exactly? I am thinking of using XBMC on the HTPC (will be connected to the switch as well).

I am pretty confused about all these connections. Also I am pretty unsure whether I should use 2 Gigabit connections from the NAS to the Switch? (I think the HDD on my main PC will be bottleneck - I have a Samsung F3 1TB hard drive which will be updated with a 120GB SSD if needed). I understand with 2 LAN wires to the Switch I will have faster transfer speeds and better for streaming?

If someone can shed some light how to properly set up all this equipment, that would be great!

Thanks

 

[Anonymous]

With a switch installed and if possible all components with a LAN interface should be connected to the switch. This means PC, NAS, AVR, TV, PS3 etc. If your PC is windows 7 it can also function as a DLNA server from which the AVR and PS3 can stream if given permission.

The Panasonic and Pioneer both have ARC on at least one HDMI port, not sure about the Samsung. This would allow you to connect HDMI equipment to the TV alone and let the TV pass the audio signal to the AVR which could simplify use since you won't need to change input on the AVR.

 

[Cofnchtr]

The Panasonic and Pioneer both have ARC on at least one HDMI port, not sure about the Samsung. This would allow you to connect HDMI equipment to the TV alone and let the TV pass the audio signal to the AVR which could simplify use since you won't need to change input on the AVR.

Hi,

This is the wrong way round - you'd be better off connecting all to the amp and using the amp as a switch for audio/video with one cable to the TV. This will allow HD sound to transfer to the amp. The TV probably won't pass through the DolbyHD/DTSHD from the PS3. Given the rest of the system I'd consider a dedicated BD player.

SKYHD will also need an optical or coaxial connection to the amp for 5.1 surround sound - the HDMI does not pass it along.

The PS3 can connect wirelessly to the network.

Cheers,

Cofnchtr.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the replies.

So far from what I understand, everything will be connected to the AVR and the AVR to the TV.

Network wise, I'd like to have the PS3 wired since I can for faster downloads.

Also I understand having the PC, HTPC, Sky HD connected to the network, however I do not understand what the AVR and/or the Tv would gain on it. Can someone clarify this please? What would I gain by connecting the TV and the AVR to the switch as well?

About the BD Player, that is not an option for me, cause I stream the movies from my NAS (I don't like having physical media around... it became too much so am witching to digital media). Also the HTPC I am building will be far better than a lot of BD players out there as I understand. However why do you say it is a better option?

I appreciate every reply!

Thanks

 

[Cofnchtr]

Hi,

SKYHD cannot connect to the network.

The AVR can be updated through the internet if and when Pioneer release firmware or software - you can also listen to internet radio. DLNA certification means it can connect to your media stored on the network.

Cheers,

Cofnchtr.

 

[daveh75]

Hi,

SKYHD cannot connect to the network.

It can if the box has had the'Darwin' update for Anytime+, though admittedly there's not much point unless your a Sky b/b subscriber.

 

[Cofnchtr]

Hi,

daveh75 - I stand (well sit at the PC) corrected.

Does this update allow further functionality other than the Anytime+ feature?

abriffa - you don't have a soundcard in your list - will the HTPC decode HD audio via the motherboard?

Cheers,

Cofnchtr.

 

[Anonymous]

No I wasn't planning on getting a sound card.

The 5450 GFX has sound built in, thus, I will connect the 5450 from the HTPC to the AVR. With the 5450 there is no need for a sound card.

Given my AVR and speakers... LX83 and RX6 AV12... would I benefit from a sound card?

Thanks

 

[daveh75]

Hi,

daveh75 - I stand (well sit at the PC) corrected.

Does this update allow further functionality other than the Anytime+ feature?

Not ATM no, though allegedly with 'future updates' it will allow recorded content stored on Sky+HD boxes to be streamed to the new single tuner/non PVR SkyHD 'multi-room' box ( Amstrad DRX595). Though i wouldn't hold my breath, the interactive slot (remember those

) and USB and SATA ports were all touted as being for future use/enabled with future updates and it never happened...

 

[Cofnchtr]

Hi,

daveh75 - I do remember the interactive slot being touted for future use...would have thought the USB/SATA slots could have been used for external storage but hey-ho. I suppose if you recorded on external HDDs, encrypted stuff could be watched on other boxes where no subscription for that channel was authorised. I suppose some sort of check could be made on the card in the digibox to ensure entitlement?

abriffa - as part of an HTPC, a sub £30 graphics card won't do any justice to BD titles either for sound or video. It may do OK on a 14" PC monitor but to link it to your Samsung TV would show up it's limitations IMO.

The motherboard you are buying has built in graphics that are very nearly on a par with the dedicated card you've chosen and onboard sound.

Cheers,

Cofnchtr.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the reply, however I want to build my ow HTPC due to the above reasons, and I've always wanted one.

So what GFX should I be looking for? Something like the ATI 5770?

What about the sound card?

Thanks

 

[Anonymous]

Hi,

This is the wrong way round - you'd be better off connecting all to the amp and using the amp as a switch for audio/video with one cable to the TV. This will allow HD sound to transfer to the amp

In most circumstances that is correct, and it's true that bitstream is not supported on ARC. However, PCM is. Using the capabilities of ARC simplifies use a lot and also ensures that the AVR doesn't need to be powered on for every component, only when surrond sound is wanted.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi again,

I have been looking at the GTX 460 graphics card for my HTPC which will play 3D and bitstream True HD and DTS-HD MA as well. And I think the audio would be decoded by my Pioneer SC-LX83 AVR. Is this correct?

Is that GFX the best option for my HTPC? (I don't think I would need a sound card since I am not using analogue)

Thanks