Humax PVR, old XBOX and Onkyo 605

Here is my current set-up

Downstairs
Humax PVR 8000
New Samsung M86 LCD TV
Old Philips DVD player
Son's old XBOX
NAD Stereo Amplifier
Tanoy R3 speakers

Currently the DVD connects to the Humax by Scart which then connects
to the TV by Scart. The XBOX connects with its red, white and yellow
phono cables to the TV. The TV's audio out goes back to the video in
of the amplifier. I could connect all the devices directly to the
amplifier but this set-up is convenient. As we change video source
the amplifier changes with it. However, for a significant quality
improvement I would give up this convenience.

Upstairs
Humax PVR 9200
Small Samsung standard definition LCD TV

I am planning to buy a surround sound amplifier and some extra
speakers. For the amplifier, I am seriously considering the Onkyo
605.

The question is what is the best way to connect the Humax to the Onkyo
which does not have Scart. What are my options and what are the pros
and cons? As you see, currently the main room has the older Humax
(complicated reasons for that) but if the 9200 would be somehow much
better with the Onkyo than the 8000 they could be swapped.

Ditto, what is the best way to connect the XBOX (note it is not the
new 360)?

I need to check the DVD player as well but I cannot remember the model
or connectivity options at the moment. Less important in a way since
it will probably get replaced soon. I have already checked that it
has a suitable surround output but I forget which one. I think that
the video out is only via Scart so it will probably get connected in
the same way as the Humax.

Oddly, despite the fancy video switching of the 605, it will be
slightly more complicated with the new set-up. We will need to switch
the TV and amplifier when changing between internal tuner and an
external source. That seems a necessary price to get the surround
sound.

You are welcome to suggest receivers other than the 605 but please not
more expensive ones. I am considering the 505 which is available a
lot more cheaply. I cannot decide whether the extra features of the
605 are worth the extra cost. The 505 looks like a bargain.

--
Seán Ó Leathlóbhair

On Sep 20, 6:45 am, Seán O'Leathlóbhair wrote:
Here is my current set-up

Downstairs
Humax PVR 8000
New Samsung M86 LCD TV
Old Philips DVD player
Son's old XBOX
NAD Stereo Amplifier
Tanoy R3 speakers

Currently the DVD connects to the Humax by Scart which then connects
to the TV by Scart. The XBOX connects with its red, white and yellow
phono cables to the TV. The TV's audio out goes back to the video in
of the amplifier. I could connect all the devices directly to the
amplifier but this set-up is convenient. As we change video source
the amplifier changes with it. However, for a significant quality
improvement I would give up this convenience.

Upstairs
Humax PVR 9200
Small Samsung standard definition LCD TV

I am planning to buy a surround sound amplifier and some extra
speakers. For the amplifier, I am seriously considering the Onkyo
605.

The question is what is the best way to connect the Humax to the Onkyo
which does not have Scart. What are my options and what are the pros
and cons? As you see, currently the main room has the older Humax
(complicated reasons for that) but if the 9200 would be somehow much
better with the Onkyo than the 8000 they could be swapped.

Ditto, what is the best way to connect the XBOX (note it is not the
new 360)?

I need to check the DVD player as well but I cannot remember the model
or connectivity options at the moment. Less important in a way since
it will probably get replaced soon. I have already checked that it
has a suitable surround output but I forget which one. I think that
the video out is only via Scart so it will probably get connected in
the same way as the Humax.

Oddly, despite the fancy video switching of the 605, it will be
slightly more complicated with the new set-up. We will need to switch
the TV and amplifier when changing between internal tuner and an
external source. That seems a necessary price to get the surround
sound.

You are welcome to suggest receivers other than the 605 but please not
more expensive ones. I am considering the 505 which is available a
lot more cheaply. I cannot decide whether the extra features of the
605 are worth the extra cost. The 505 looks like a bargain.

--
Seán Ó Leathlóbhair

I've got a slightly more complicated setup than you have, but
ultimately this is what I did with the older Onkyo 500:

Antenna to TV + TV to Onkyo receiver via TOSLINK (optical
digital) = HDTV + Dolby 5.1
DVR to TV via HDMI + DVR to Onkyo via TOSLINK = HDTV + Dolby
5.1
DVD to TV via component + DVD to Onkyo via coaxial digital audio
= 480p + Dolby 5.1/DTS
VCR to TV via S-Video/Stereo Audio + TV to Onkyo via TOSLINK =
NTSC + Dolby ProLogic II

My TV can pass all audio to the receiver via the TOSLINK connection,
but for any source except the antenna, the audio output is down
converted so I lose the Dolby 5.1 and get Dolby ProLogic II at best.
If I were happy without the discrete surround sound channels 5.1 gives
me, I could have simplified the setup and control significantly. Buy
why not get the best surround sound I can?

And, yes, the control requires quite a few button pushes, so I got a
Logitech Harmony 520 to run everything. Now the only time I ever use
the original remotes is when I want to do something like record a
program from the DVR to the DVD recorder. And that's only because I
haven't spent a little time to set up the Harmony to do the more
complicated control.

Dan (Woj...)

I have a Humax question for you.

My Humax runs hot, even with the switch off. Does yours?




On Thu, 20 Sep 2007 04:45:46 -0700, Seán O'Leathlóbhair
wrote:

Here is my current set-up

Downstairs
Humax PVR 8000
New Samsung M86 LCD TV
Old Philips DVD player
Son's old XBOX
NAD Stereo Amplifier
Tanoy R3 speakers

Currently the DVD connects to the Humax by Scart which then connects
to the TV by Scart. The XBOX connects with its red, white and yellow
phono cables to the TV. The TV's audio out goes back to the video in
of the amplifier. I could connect all the devices directly to the
amplifier but this set-up is convenient. As we change video source
the amplifier changes with it. However, for a significant quality
improvement I would give up this convenience.

Upstairs
Humax PVR 9200
Small Samsung standard definition LCD TV

I am planning to buy a surround sound amplifier and some extra
speakers. For the amplifier, I am seriously considering the Onkyo
605.

The question is what is the best way to connect the Humax to the Onkyo
which does not have Scart. What are my options and what are the pros
and cons? As you see, currently the main room has the older Humax
(complicated reasons for that) but if the 9200 would be somehow much
better with the Onkyo than the 8000 they could be swapped.

Ditto, what is the best way to connect the XBOX (note it is not the
new 360)?

I need to check the DVD player as well but I cannot remember the model
or connectivity options at the moment. Less important in a way since
it will probably get replaced soon. I have already checked that it
has a suitable surround output but I forget which one. I think that
the video out is only via Scart so it will probably get connected in
the same way as the Humax.

Oddly, despite the fancy video switching of the 605, it will be
slightly more complicated with the new set-up. We will need to switch
the TV and amplifier when changing between internal tuner and an
external source. That seems a necessary price to get the surround
sound.

You are welcome to suggest receivers other than the 605 but please not
more expensive ones. I am considering the 505 which is available a
lot more cheaply. I cannot decide whether the extra features of the
605 are worth the extra cost. The 505 looks like a bargain.

On Sep 20, 9:55 pm, dmaster wrote:
On Sep 20, 6:45 am, Seán O'Leathlóbhair wrote:



Here is my current set-up

Downstairs
Humax PVR 8000
New Samsung M86 LCD TV
Old Philips DVD player
Son's old XBOX
NAD Stereo Amplifier
Tanoy R3 speakers

Currently the DVD connects to the Humax by Scart which then connects
to the TV by Scart. The XBOX connects with its red, white and yellow
phono cables to the TV. The TV's audio out goes back to the video in
of the amplifier. I could connect all the devices directly to the
amplifier but this set-up is convenient. As we change video source
the amplifier changes with it. However, for a significant quality
improvement I would give up this convenience.

Upstairs
Humax PVR 9200
Small Samsung standard definition LCD TV

I am planning to buy a surround sound amplifier and some extra
speakers. For the amplifier, I am seriously considering the Onkyo
605.

The question is what is the best way to connect the Humax to the Onkyo
which does not have Scart. What are my options and what are the pros
and cons? As you see, currently the main room has the older Humax
(complicated reasons for that) but if the 9200 would be somehow much
better with the Onkyo than the 8000 they could be swapped.

Ditto, what is the best way to connect the XBOX (note it is not the
new 360)?

I need to check the DVD player as well but I cannot remember the model
or connectivity options at the moment. Less important in a way since
it will probably get replaced soon. I have already checked that it
has a suitable surround output but I forget which one. I think that
the video out is only via Scart so it will probably get connected in
the same way as the Humax.

Oddly, despite the fancy video switching of the 605, it will be
slightly more complicated with the new set-up. We will need to switch
the TV and amplifier when changing between internal tuner and an
external source. That seems a necessary price to get the surround
sound.

You are welcome to suggest receivers other than the 605 but please not
more expensive ones. I am considering the 505 which is available a
lot more cheaply. I cannot decide whether the extra features of the
605 are worth the extra cost. The 505 looks like a bargain.

--
Seán Ó Leathlóbhair

I've got a slightly more complicated setup than you have, but
ultimately this is what I did with the older Onkyo 500:

Antenna to TV + TV to Onkyo receiver via TOSLINK (optical
digital) = HDTV + Dolby 5.1
DVR to TV via HDMI + DVR to Onkyo via TOSLINK = HDTV + Dolby
5.1
DVD to TV via component + DVD to Onkyo via coaxial digital audio
= 480p + Dolby 5.1/DTS
VCR to TV via S-Video/Stereo Audio + TV to Onkyo via TOSLINK =
NTSC + Dolby ProLogic II

My TV can pass all audio to the receiver via the TOSLINK connection,
but for any source except the antenna, the audio output is down
converted so I lose the Dolby 5.1 and get Dolby ProLogic II at best.
If I were happy without the discrete surround sound channels 5.1 gives
me, I could have simplified the setup and control significantly. Buy
why not get the best surround sound I can?

And, yes, the control requires quite a few button pushes, so I got a
Logitech Harmony 520 to run everything. Now the only time I ever use
the original remotes is when I want to do something like record a
program from the DVR to the DVD recorder. And that's only because I
haven't spent a little time to set up the Harmony to do the more
complicated control.


Thanks.

Interesting but quite a bit different from my case. The Onkyo 605
offers video signal switching which I guess your 500 does not. It is
this video switching that is raising most of my questions. The first
is: is this something worth having at all? Until recently, I had not
imagined an amplifier would do this. I expected an amplifier to deal
with sound and ignore the video. The second is: supposing that this
is a desirable feature, how do I connect the older Scart orientated
sources to the Scartless Onkyo? If the feature is not worth bothering
and I am happy to tolerate multiple switching, is the sound quality of
the new Onkyo justification for its higher price tag?

I have been pondering these questions for a few weeks and I am no
closer to an answer.

--
Seán Ó Leathlóbhair

Which Humax? Well I have the older single tuner 8000 and the new dual
tuner 9200 so can answer for both. How hot? Both have been running
for a couple of hours now and I went to feel them. I may call them
"very slightly warm" but not "hot". So, unless your notion of hot
starts at a much lower temperature than mine, the answer is no. They
are probably a bit above ambient temperature but that could be due to
both having an active amplifier on top and these amps do get fairly
warm in use. In each room, I have my AV devices connected via
extension cables to a double socket. One socket is left on almost
always, this powers the Humaxes, the aerial amp, cordless telephone
base etc - devices that should be almost always powered (if the Humax
is not always powered it lose much of its purpose). The other socket
is turned off when we go out or go to bed, it powers the TV,
amplifier, DVD etc - devices which need no power at all if no one is
around.

--
Seán Ó Leathlóbhair

On Sep 22, 4:10 pm, valvejob wrote:
I have a Humax question for you.

My Humax runs hot, even with the switch off. Does yours?

On Thu, 20 Sep 2007 04:45:46 -0700, Seán O'Leathlóbhair

wrote:
Here is my current set-up

Downstairs
Humax PVR 8000
New Samsung M86 LCD TV
Old Philips DVD player
Son's old XBOX
NAD Stereo Amplifier
Tanoy R3 speakers

Currently the DVD connects to the Humax by Scart which then connects
to the TV by Scart. The XBOX connects with its red, white and yellow
phono cables to the TV. The TV's audio out goes back to the video in
of the amplifier. I could connect all the devices directly to the
amplifier but this set-up is convenient. As we change video source
the amplifier changes with it. However, for a significant quality
improvement I would give up this convenience.

Upstairs
Humax PVR 9200
Small Samsung standard definition LCD TV

I am planning to buy a surround sound amplifier and some extra
speakers. For the amplifier, I am seriously considering the Onkyo
605.

The question is what is the best way to connect the Humax to the Onkyo
which does not have Scart. What are my options and what are the pros
and cons? As you see, currently the main room has the older Humax
(complicated reasons for that) but if the 9200 would be somehow much
better with the Onkyo than the 8000 they could be swapped.

Ditto, what is the best way to connect the XBOX (note it is not the
new 360)?

I need to check the DVD player as well but I cannot remember the model
or connectivity options at the moment. Less important in a way since
it will probably get replaced soon. I have already checked that it
has a suitable surround output but I forget which one. I think that
the video out is only via Scart so it will probably get connected in
the same way as the Humax.

Oddly, despite the fancy video switching of the 605, it will be
slightly more complicated with the new set-up. We will need to switch
the TV and amplifier when changing between internal tuner and an
external source. That seems a necessary price to get the surround
sound.

You are welcome to suggest receivers other than the 605 but please not
more expensive ones. I am considering the 505 which is available a
lot more cheaply. I cannot decide whether the extra features of the
605 are worth the extra cost. The 505 looks like a bargain.