advice plz...do's/dont's setting up reciever

[Apollo26]

I just bought my first reciever and 5.1 speaker setup. Everything should be here on tuesday... This will be my first time setting up a reciever. Any advice from ppl who reciently setup a Onkyo 605 with similar componets would be appreciated. Not sure of the settings for the reciever, my hd componets (ps3,hd-a2, and 360) to make them output the correct audio. Thx for any help guys.

Onyko 605...JBL Venue Speakers (2 towers, center voice, rear surrounds, sub)

My componets:
PS3 via HDMI
HD-A2 via HDMI
XBOX 360 via Component
Cable Box via Composite


One thing that confuses me already from looking at diagrams of the back, is how to get my 360 to connect correctly (no paired audio rca's with the componet inputs).

I still have yet to buy speaker wire and banana plugs. Any advice on those would be great too! (gonna get them at bestbuy...have $50 in giftcards to blow).

[Rishi]

Connect the 360 via optical (you will need to buy a cable).

[cmdrdredd]

For your PS3, use HDMI and set it to output via PCM not Bitstream.
For your 360 use HDMI if you have the option, if not use component and pickup an Optical cable. Plug it into your receiver and plug your xbox either into your receiver and link the optical to that video input or directly to your TV which would eliminate your receiver for the video. For your HD-A2 use HDMI and set it to bitstream the HD codedc such as TrueHD and DTS HD MA as the receiver you will be getting can decode them properly. Then run an HDMI cable from your receiver to your TV.

The speaker connections are easy, but here's a tip. When/if you use the auto setup microphone that the receiver comes with to adjust the speaker levels go back into the adjustments manually and make sure they are right. From my understanding you should hear the tone coming from each speaker and each speaker should be at the same volume level, so you would have to adjust it accordingly if you feel they are not all the same level. Also, make sure you do this from your listening position for best results.

[Apollo26]

so for the 360 i need to get an optical cable?? I looked at the back of the 360and i think theres a port for it. Most likely i want to have the video run thru the reciever (or at least try it out anyway). I would like to have all my componets run thru the reciever so i dont have to switch inputs on the tv. Will i be able to pair the componet/optical connection on the reciever? So its concidered 1 input. What i'm hoping is that i can just have 4 simple options on the reciever to switch between, cable box/ps3/hd-a2/xbox360. I'm not really worried about the 360 right now...dont use it for much gaming lately ever since i got my ps3.

Never used an optical cable however...will any cheapy do?? Suggestions?

oh also any suggestions on what kind of speaker wire/banana plugs to get?? Havent looked for anything yet, was just gonna wing it when i go to best buy tommorrow...yea they will probably screw me price wise but i have $55 in giftcards to blow (so as long as it doesnt cost more than i that i'm cool with it).

thx for the help so far!

[ATLFalconsFAN]

Any cheap optical cable will do. Since it is all just ones and zeroes you could buy a $.01 cable and be fine.

I think you will need 16 gauge wire speaker wire.

If you happen to run out of money or want to save your gift card for movies or something I would check out Lowes or Home Depot for the banana jacks, where I live I was able to get them much cheaper there.

[cmdrdredd]

so for the 360 i need to get an optical cable?? I looked at the back of the 360and i think theres a port for it. Most likely i want to have the video run thru the reciever (or at least try it out anyway). I would like to have all my componets run thru the reciever so i dont have to switch inputs on the tv. Will i be able to pair the componet/optical connection on the reciever? So its concidered 1 input. What i'm hoping is that i can just have 4 simple options on the reciever to switch between, cable box/ps3/hd-a2/xbox360. I'm not really worried about the 360 right now...dont use it for much gaming lately ever since i got my ps3.

Never used an optical cable however...will any cheapy do?? Suggestions?

oh also any suggestions on what kind of speaker wire/banana plugs to get?? Havent looked for anything yet, was just gonna wing it when i go to best buy tommorrow...yea they will probably screw me price wise but i have $55 in giftcards to blow (so as long as it doesnt cost more than i that i'm cool with it).

thx for the help so far!

Yes you can link an optical input on your receiver to a Video input in order to hear the correct audio for the video being displayed. I believe the Onkyo 605 will also do Component to HDMI conversion (if it doesn't please correct me as I haven't read all the details on it) so you can essentially link the HDMI output from the receiver to the Component input. Therefor you will just run 1 HDMI cable from your receiver to your TV and viola.

As for speaker wire, I'd go with a 16gauge or better which was mentioned above. Check Home Depot locally to you or Lowes. They sell this type of wire and the banana plugs as well much more cheaply than bestbuy or similar stores. Or you could always go to www.monoprice.com and get some wire from them in bulk.

[Apollo26]

heading out to home depot now...much closer than going to best buy (3 miles vs 25) plus it gives me an excuse to see rambo too lol...

Anyways i'm pretty sure the 605 is supposed to upgrade the componet to hdmi...at least thats what i'm hoping. My plan since the begining was to run all my componets thru the receiever - then 1 hdmi cable to tv - turn off the tv onboard sound so its basically only the display (never have to switch inputs on tv) and let the reciever control the whole deal.

Well thx for the help so far...looks like it should arrive a day early! Hopefully the installation goes smoothly and tommorrow night i'm watching The Invasion in HD finally with decent sound!!!