AV Set Up - Help Please.

Ok, I have bought myself a basic AV Receiver and Surround Speaker package.:

The Sony STR-DH800:


http://www.sony.co.uk/product/hcs-home-cinema-receiver/str-dh800

and  KEF 1005-2 Speakers



I want to know what is the best way to connect my DVD-A/SACD Playing DVD Player as I believe DVD-A and SACD require different connections.







I can see that there are connections at bottom left for "SA-CD" but I was wondering if the HDMI connection would do the trick, or am I missing the point?

Also, in respect of any connected equipment, do the HDMI pass-throughs carry the audio as well as the video or would I need to attach audio separately?



Thanks in advance.



Edited by Tony R - January 04 2010 at 08:40

I think the HDMI inputs could be a key here Tony, though this is  different  from my own 5.1 six-pairs-of- cables-out-from-the-SACD/DVD-player-into-the-amp setup,    the bottom left inputs may suit stereo-only  SACD , the following review may be helpful - they recommend setting to amp-only instead of default TV to amp  setting ...

Edited by mystic fred - January 04 2010 at 10:32

I take the video feed direct from my DVD player to the TV. The 5.1 surround feed is taken via optial cable/co-axial  from the DVD player to the amp.

I don't see the point in putting the video through the amp when you don't have to.

Sacred 22 wrote: The question I ask is does your DVD/A SACD player have a HDMI output? If so, then you can hook it up to the HDMI input on the processor and get your high res audio out of the analog outputs of the processor as the audio and video is transmitted in RAW digital format via HDMI. However if your player does not have HDMI output then you are restricted to analog only output from your DVD player for the audio portion of the SACD signal. SACD or DSD because of copy right laws can't be streamed directly or digitally converted to PCM but it can be sent via HDMI and processed in the processor. The HDMI output must be present on your DVD/ SACD player though.

I've read the instruction manual for my DVD player and it says that SACD cannot be processed via HDMI.

Sacred 22 wrote: Tony R wrote: Sacred 22 wrote: The question I ask is does your DVD/A SACD player have a HDMI output? If so, then you can hook it up to the HDMI input on the processor and get your high res audio out of the analog outputs of the processor as the audio and video is transmitted in RAW digital format via HDMI. However if your player does not have HDMI output then you are restricted to analog only output from your DVD player for the audio portion of the SACD signal. SACD or DSD because of copy right laws can't be streamed directly or digitally converted to PCM but it can be sent via HDMI and processed in the processor. The HDMI output must be present on your DVD/ SACD player though. I've read the instruction manual for my DVD player and it says that SACD cannot be processed via HDMI.   You might look into getting a player that has HDMI output. Most of the newer ones do today and that will solve the SACD problem and get the nessesary digital info sent to your processor. Your processor is really designed for a player with HDMI output.

The player HAS got an HDMI output but the instruction manual says that SACD CANNOT be processed through the HDMI connection. Having done some digging this is apparently normal for SACD players.

The Oppo 981HD and the Oppo 980HD both support HDMI 1.2 and they can be had used as they are no longer produced anymore. I have seen a few around however which can be bought for a resonable price. I have the Oppo 981HD and it does DVD/A as well SACD and even HDCD. Great player!