Some amplifier questions

Everything has arrived and I have it all connected and set up although not correctly. I used rca plugs from the stereo outs instead of balanced XLRs. I will change that when I get everything as it should be so I can order some cords.

So far, I have played a music dvd and it plays fine with a good picture. The two problems I have are..

1. The center channel has yet to make a noise.

2. The television does not come through the Oppo. It is hooked to the TV by the HDMI cord only.

Number two doesn't make any sense so I will clarify. It appears the HDMI cord (from tv to Oppo) only benefits playing DVDs with the Oppo and is not in use when watching regular television. Regular cable television is not playing through my stereo set up. I have an audio out on the TV but no where to connect it on the Oppo that I can see. Do I need a preamp to connect the television audio to?

Wemfan,

I will respond to your hookup questions tomorrow. Going from memory your system consists of the following:

Panasonic VT65" plasma tv.

Oppo 105

KEF LS50 speakers

KEF center channel

I don't remember if you bought a subwoofer or not. Here's how to hookup the Directtv,Oppo 105 and VT65:

Connect an HDMI cable from the Directv 'Genie' or small 'client server' to the 'HDMI 1' input on the Oppo. Connect a 2nd HDMI cable (the 105 comes with a 6ft HDMI cable) from the Oppo's HDMI output to the Panasonic hdtv's 'HDMI 1' input. This hookup allows the satellite video signal to be processed by the 105's very good Qdeo internal video processor before being passed along to your plasma. The picture quality is excellent with this setup

I'm sorry but I've gotta go now. But I'll go over the audio setup tomorrow as soon as I'm able. If you have a subwoofer, you're goingto need an rca cable from the Oppo to the subwoofer and 3 rca cables from the Oppo to the Parasound(if you want the best audio, you should get one pair of xlr cables to run from Oppo to Parasound amp and just get a single rca audio cable for the Oppo to your amp). You'll need speaker wires: Parasound to left and right front speakers and center channel speaker, too. Please have these cables in the correct lengths by tomorrow afternoon and I'll detail the audio hookup. I won't be able to reply until late tomorrow afternoon approx.4-5pm.

Later,
Tim

Hi Wemfan,

Sorry, had some things to do today and just got back. Anyway, here's how to hookup the audio once the Hdmi cables are hooked up:

1.Connect the 'Dedicated Stereo' Right audio output to the 'CH 1' audio input on the Parasound A31 with either a singlxlr or rca cable (xlr ispreferred if you have it).

2..Connect the 'Dedicated Stereo' Left audio output to the 'CH 3' audio input on the Parasound A31 with either a singlxlr or rca cable (xlr ispreferred if you have it).

3. Connect spkr wire between the spkr jacks under the A31's 'CH 1' label to your KEF LS50 located to the right side of your plasma.

4.Connect spkr wire between the spkr jacks under the A31's 'CH 3' label to your KEF LS50 located to the left side of your plasma.

5. Connect an rca cable between the 'Center Out' on the back of the Oppo and the rca input on the back of the A31 labeled 'CH 2'

6 Connect spkr wire between the spke jacks under the A31's 'CH 2' label to your KEF center channel spkr located under your plasma.

7. Press the 'Home' button on your Oppo's remote.

8. Scroll right to the 'Setup' icon (last one on right) and press 'Enter'.

9. Send me a p.m. with your phone# when you've completed the above and I'll call you and we'll go forward from step#8 on the phone. It'll be much quicker.

Thanks,
Tim

Wemfan,

The HDMI cable attached between the Oppo's HDMI input (will display as #3 'HDMI Back' once all has been hooked up properly) and the Directv box's HDMI output sends both your satellite signals audio and video to the Oppo 105. The Oppo has a built in decoder for Dolby digital 7.1 surround. You'll need to run an rca cable from the analog audio output on the back of the Oppo for the center channel to the rca audio input labeled 'CH 2' on the back of your A31 amp (the 'Dedicated Stereo' rca or xlr outputs on the Oppo's back panel carry the left + right front surround channel signal for surround sound and the regular stereo left +right signals when playing music. Connect the left 'Dedicated Stereo' output to the A31's 'Ch 3' input and the right output to the A31's 'Ch 1' input). You'll only be using 3 channels, or 3.1 channels if you use a sub, but that's fine. You'll just be hearing the front left + right and center channels.

The Oppo also has a built in QDEO video processor that will take the incoming 1080i satellite signal, up-convert it to 1080p and optimize it before sending it to your Panasonic plasma's HDMI input #1. You'll need to make sure both the Panasonic and Oppo are configured properly on their respective internal menu settings but I will explain these once the physical hookups are done.

Later,
Tim