Small Home Theater Setup

[Merlin2000]

This looks like a place to get some good input. Let me start with my system and current setup.

Admiral TV - (Has Video/Audio IN only) - Very cheap TV, around 7 years old
Scientific Atlanta - Cox Digital Cable Box - (Has S- Video Out, Video Out, L/R Audio Out, Digital Audio Out, Cable Out, Cable In)
Receiver: Denon AVR485S
Speakers: Infinity Primus TP 5.1 Surround
Sub: Infinity PS8

Everything is plugged in, and works! Here is my current configuration:

TV has a Video In that is coming from the receiver.
Cable Box has Cable in (coming from the wall), Video Out (going to the receiver), L/R Audio Out (going to the receiver).
Sub connected to receiver using 2-RCA cable connection that only uses one of the two cords.
Cheap Radio Shack 16 gauge speaker wire

I have about no more money left to spend on the system, so I am using some cheap RCA cables to connect everything, and my speakers wires currently do not have tips.

I was thinking to myself, what is next to do to my system?

First, I would like to know if everything is setup fine. I was not quite sure why I would use "Digital Audio Out" from my Cable Box to Audio In on Receiver, compared to just using the L/R (red/white) RCA cable to Receiver. Is that just the difference between a 1-RCA cable vs a 2-RCA cable? Basically the same sound quality, just a little cleaner with the cables?

Also, (S-Video Out vs RCA Video Out) to receiver. Which one is best to use?

As far as what to do next, should I get a true sub woofer cable? Should I get wire tips?

I thought about getting buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=90131268&dcaid=1688 and buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=90122607. Should I do this as a small next step? If so, where is the least expensive place to buy? Seems like these prices at buy.com are actually pretty decent.

Are these the wire tips that I should get? Also, what is involved in seting up the wire tips? Do I basically just put it over the wire (right now the wires are just placed inside the receiver without using a nice connector)?

Lastly, I paid a total, with tax $828 for the entire system. How well did I do? I was looking at "Kenwood HTB-S715DV DVD Fineline Home Theater System" for awhile, but decided to go for a real home theater system, was this a mistake?

Sorry about the messy links, fortunately I am not a spammer, but this forum will not allow me to post a real URL just yet.

I look forward to your advice.

Thanks,
- Bobby

[Merlin2000]

Just wanted to add...

My receiver has two AC Outlets on the back, should I plug my current cable box into one of those, and later on when I get a DVD player, plug that into my receiver ac outlet too?

[URMarc]

If I'm understanding you correctly. . .

The digital out from your cable box (is it a coax or optical out?) to the audio in on your receiver would be used to achieve 5.1 sound on channels that support it.

From your post it sounds like you only have your L/R speakers playing from your cable box b/c of your current connection. Is this correct?

From what I can tell, right now you don't have the optimal connection from your cable box to your receiver. You'd want to connect it using the digital out/in option I described above to take full advantage of the sound options your cable provider may have (such as 5.1 sound on some channels). Even channels that don't display in 5.1 but may display 2 channel Dolby Digital you could play in PLII and take advantage of your surrounds.

[Merlin2000]

The digital out from your cable box (is it a coax or optical out?) to the audio in on your receiver would be used to achieve 5.1 sound on channels that support it.
- Digital Audio Out (ONE connection) is just an RCA jack. I have the option to use that, or use the Video L/R (that has two jacks).

From your post it sounds like you only have your L/R speakers playing from your cable box b/c of your current connection. Is this correct?
- Correct, using 2 RCA red/white cable. However, my receiver is showning PLII.

Do I need a special cable for the Digital Audio Out to receiver in?

I thought about getting buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=90131268&dcaid=1688 and buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=90122607. Should I do this as a small next step? If so, where is the least expensive place to buy? Seems like these prices at buy.com are actually pretty decent.

[Merlin2000]

I really figured I would get much faster responses here. I have figured everything out that I needed to know.

Thanks.

[DMF]

Whew! Saved me all that effort. Thanks.

[John Robert]

Originally posted by DMF
Whew! Saved me all that effort. Thanks.

:D