If you've ever tried to connect an AV receiver, it's fair to say you've probably got a bit lost. While the front of any device can seem pretty straightforward to navigate, the back is where the puzzle begins. Only i thing is articulate, all cables have to exist connected to the receiver. The receiver so transforms the audio and video data and sends it the loudspeaker or Television set. But now comes the question, which cables vest to which ports? Read on as we explain the multiple setups for various devices and ports.

Connecting a TV to a receiver via HDMI

When it comes to dwelling house entertainment HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) is frequently the go-to. The transmission standard offers the necessary bandwidth for high-resolution images and transmits video and sound data. The starting time question when connecting an AV receiver is if both devices support HDMI. If yes, and so the AC receiver'southward monitor output should be merely continued to the Television set input for HDMI.

It'southward vital that with HDMI to know if ARC is supported. With modern Television set sets that should exist the case. The abbreviation ways "Audio Return Aqueduct" – and this feature makes it possible for the TV to transmit sound data via HDMI and not just receive information technology.  In various connection scenarios, for case, an additional (previously often optical S/PDIF) audio cable becomes unnecessary, for example, when …

  • … the audio signal is to exist sent to the AV receiver via a DVB-T receiver integrated in the TV set so that a sound system can output the sound.
  • … a Television cable is connected to the television and the audio data for 5.1 surroundings sound is transmitted to the receiver.
  • … a hard disk is continued to the TV set via USB or content tin can exist played back via a USB stick, simply y'all desire to bask the high-quality sound of a surround sound system
  • … 1 likes to playback the audio of a game console connected to the TV externally.

Without ARC the additional cables running between the receiver and the Tv set must be laid. Normally, a coax-cablevision or TOSLINK is used. The HDMI ports that back up ARC are oft labelled accordingly. When there are more HDMI ports of your Goggle box, usually merely one supports reverse aqueduct transmission.

List of HDMI cables that do and don't support ARC:

i – HDMI 1 two – HDMI 1.3 three – HDMI 1.four iv- HDMI 2.0
Yes No Yes No

hdmi cable

Connecting your Boob tube and receiver without HDMI

When the TV or receiver don't support HDMI, in that location's a Program B.Many older Television set models don't back up HDMI, merely in most cases have an analogue port. The disadvantage is that they can't achieve HD quality. These are the possible ports:

  • Component-Video: this carries the point via iii separate cinch cables. The colour of the socket is Green (Y) Blue (Pb/Cb) and Scarlet (Pr/Cr). The standard supports analogue signals for HD playback.
  • S-Video: Colour and brightness values are transmitted via the cable.  The quality of the transmitted signals is significantly lower than that of component video.
  • Composite-Video: This method of indicate manual happens via a SCART cablevision, as well as via a cinch port. The signals are merely in PAL quality.

Analogue Plan B may as well work if older input devices – such as a video recorder – are continued to the receiver. If the receiver cannot convert the analogue video signals into digital signals, these must exist transmitted counterpart to the television.

✔ Tip: You can learn more most how HDMI and SCART are transmitted here.

Connecting playback devices to a receiver

The same rule normally applies to Blu-ray and DVD players every bit it does by TVs. In the ideal situation, you would be able to connect via HDMI. The same for projectors or computer consoles. Whoever uses a DVD actor or play a computer without HDMI has to connect to the receiver via counterpart. Past multiple playback devices, it can happen that there aren't enough HDMI ports on the receiver. In this case, it's possible to connect the video signal straight to the Television and connect just the audio via an audio cable to the receiver. The disadvantage of this setup is that more than cables are needed. When the receiver has a USB port, you tin connect external hard drivers, iPods and MP3 players.

Connecting a loudspeaker to a receiver

When it comes to surround-sound systems multiple speakers must all be simultaneously connected to the receiver.  Each loudspeaker contains a cable with two wires (ane for + and the other for -) that leads to the receiver. Minor clamps attach the wires to the receiver. So newcomers shouldn't have any worries – the setup is non too technical.

It's just important that the copper cables are make clean and that the copper ends are not frayed. As well as this, you must ensure that the plus and minus are correctly connected, zippo major happens when it's incorrectly connected, but the sound quality would be compromised. The labels on the receiver clearly state where each loudspeaker port is. Lookout the video below to more nigh connecting to AV receiver.

✔ Tip: You lot rarely detect a port for the subwoofer on the back of a receiver. In most cases, the port is labelled "sub-out" and is often connected per mono-cinch cablevision.

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Onkyo TX-L50
Onkyo TX-L50

▶ Onkyo TX-RZ840: This powerhouse is the ideal command center for your home theatre. With 215 watts of power output per channel, it'll heat up your organisation. The Onkyo supports everything you could wish for: Fifty-fifty Dolby Atmos and THX are no trouble. And with vii HDMI inputs and 2 HDMI outputs, you'll have plenty of room to run cables.
▶ Onkyo TX-L50: This slim companion is much less noticeable. Withal, you don't take to worry about full sound. Information technology'due south platonic for modest rooms up to xx square meters and will be happy to control your v.1 system with 80 watts of output ability per aqueduct.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (gratuitous version)

Conclusion: HDMI makes everything easier

  • The AV receiver connects easiest via HDMI to TV devices.
  • Through ARC an additional sound cable is omitted between the TV and receiver.
  • Playback devices like Blue Ray tin can connect via HDMI to the receiver.
  • Counterpart alternatives to HDMI are Component-Video, South-Video and Composite-Video.
  • Loudspeakers are connected via copper cables (2 threads) to the Receiver.

Paradigm 1: ©E3uematsu certain rights apply to this image. Source: Wikimedia
Epitome 2: ©RobertKuhlmann sure rights apply to this prototype. Source: Wikimedia