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HELP I THINK IM IN OVER MY HEAD

First time setting up system. Purchased Mitsubitsi HDTV rear projection tv,Denon AVR-4800 reciever ,Pioneer Elite DV-37 cd/dvd player,Hsu Research VTF2 subwoofer, (2)ACI Safire LEII for front speakers and (3) ACI Emeralds for center and rears. My problem is how to set this all up. I am thinking of purchasing D.H. LABS T-14 speaker cables and other interconects from them but have no idea what I need for leads on the different lines(banana plugs,rca,ect.)have been reading about power conditioners wondering if this is nessasary, being a rookie I would appriciate any and all feedback.

Thanks,
Dave
davidnspear
jim
418 posts
 
Re: previous post... I meant the HTS2000.
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,138 posts
 
Dave- Kweisner gave you a fantastic, detailed explanation. The only thing I might add is that you may want to consider sending the DVD video signal directly to your TV. I believe the DVD and TV have component video out and in, so connect them with 75 ohm video cables (doesn't necessarily have to be "component video" set up which is just 3 color coded 75 ohm video cables bundled together, but it does cut down the the spaghetti. Then send the audio signal from the DVD to the receiver. You will loose picture quality when you use s video and if you route the signal thru the receiver; the trade-off of going direct to TV is that you have to do some remote juggling when you change inputs. Also, if the subwoofer is powered, you would hook that up from the LFE (or subwoofer) line-level output from the receiver, via a male RCA terminated cable to the line level input on the HSU. If its not powered, then you would go with RCA cable to whatever amp you are using, and then speaker wire to the subwoofer itself.

Have fun.
john_l
782 posts
 
Way to go kweisner! Great guy for helping out like that! And +2's for all of you others too for being such helpful people.
One potential problem with denon's and spades is that some denon's (at least mine) have a little plastic shield around the speaker cable connector that would make it require a very small spade to work. Just make sure you get small spades if you go with spades. Some semi-sage advice: 1) before you turn everything on, re-check all the connections. 2) label the cables with little tags. It really does help if you start having to make changes. 3) buy those little plastic cable bundlers at radio shack to keep things clean ($2 for 25 or so), and 4) when you power the system up, make sure the volume is at zero, then slowly turn it up while keeping your hand near the power switch. This will allow you to shut it down if you start to hear static, or other problems.

I would buy at least a surge suppressor.
Have fun !
cwlondon
1,210 posts
 
Kweisner for President!!!
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