Panasonic 50" Plasma 600a

[Guest daveskis1503561251]

Been an observer of this forum for some time. Became a member proper and joined today, excellent info for newbies to professionals........many thanks for that. Can someone explain the best way to connect a Toppy 4400(SD with HDD) to my Pana 600 plasma and Yammy 2700 AV.

I should add at the moment it is connected so.....Toppy STB into Yammy AV, Pana plasma into Yammy AV, el cheapo DVD player into Yammy AV.

I have used HDMI where possible or component connections if available........obviously the Toppy is SD the Pana is HD(or near to)and has an inbuilt tuner. The Yamaha RX 2700 upscales the signal to 1080, I think. However is this comromised by a SD signal from the Toppy( should I replace this with a HD STB?)

Apologies if this has previously been answered.

[Zacspeed]

I dont have that particular set up to make an accurate response to your question.

What kind of switching does your receiver have though? Component &/or HDMI?

Sounds like your set up is fine however, but as all your source equipment is SD I dont think you need any extra connections.

The Toppy is only DVI from memory isnt it? But using optical output if it has it and component/DVI to the Yammy would be fine also.

Why do you think you will need a HD STB? If you want to take advantage of HD FTA thats available then for sure. But if you're happy with what you have now, then I doubt its necessary.

Why not use the internal HD tuner?

The fact that the receiver has a video upscaler wouldnt really make much difference id have thought to what equipment its upscaling from.

Obviously however, High Quality In = High Quality Out. So the better the source equipment, the better the picture on your display.

[50mxe20]

To take advantage of the HD, an HD source would be of benefit.

Otherwise as Zacspeed has said, all looks fine.

As you aready have a PVR (albeit SD) maybe just get a HD STB for now.

If you find you love it, then think about other HD options like PVR, HD-DVD etc.

Edit: And as Dave L points out below I'd forgotten this plasma had an HD tuner.

So I'll mod what I said to say, examine what you watch normally and if HD is an issue, address the other sources accordingly.

Edited April 27, 2007 by Lyle

[Dave_L]

The Pana 600A has an inbuilt HD tuner, so you will be able to view HD TV via this, directly from your aerial (assuming you have a digital aeria setup).

Of course, to be able to record it, you will need a HD PVR.

The sound should be able to be sent from the TV to the receiver (when using the Pana's inbuilt tuner for the video feed). This would mean your current STB would not be of any use....unless you wanted to watch SD FTA TV (which the Pana's inbuilt tuner would also be able to pick up).

Not sure if I'm confusing things for you...?!?

[Guest daveskis1503561251]

The Pana 600A has an inbuilt HD tuner, so you will be able to view HD TV via this, directly from your aerial (assuming you have a digital aeria setup).

Of course, to be able to record it, you will need a HD PVR.

The sound should be able to be sent from the TV to the receiver (when using the Pana's inbuilt tuner for the video feed). This would mean your current STB would not be of any use....unless you wanted to watch SD FTA TV (which the Pana's inbuilt tuner would also be able to pick up).

Not sure if I'm confusing things for you...?!?

Thanks Dave L - Lyle - Zacspeed.......I should have added we mostly watch FTA TV and of course the Toppy has a twin tuner Hard Drive for time shifting....although only SD, this we use 90% of the time. Yes the Toppy is DVI.

Should I assume from your collective advice, the following scenario if I bypass the Toppy and take the aerial direct in to the Pana TV( HD tuner inbuilt) and then HDMI to the Yammy 2700 receiver the PQ will be improved, however slight.

Have been around Hi Fi all my life.......however I am finding it hard to get my head around his one, I think I may also be making this more complicated than it needs to be. Thanks in advance for your trouble.