How to set up a home theatre system ?

Considering a home theatre system, you will have to connect both the audio and the video cables of your home theatre system to your DVD player, so let us first start with the connection of the audio cable.

Step 1:Firstly you must find the digital output point on the back of your DVD player. It will be labelled as "COAXIAL" or "OPTICAL". Some of the DVD players may have both the Coaxial and the Optical output. In that case you must connect only either of them. Both the outputs require different kind of output cable. The Coaxial output uses a standard shielded RCA cable which is plugs in an RCA jack which is labeled "COAXIAL DIGITAL". The Optical output uses a fiber-optic cable which has a square shaped connector at both the ends. Both the outputs deliver almost the same quality of sound but the Optical cable sometimes allows us to prevent ground loops. Both these digital cables do not carry any video signals. Now connect either of these to the digital audio input which is at the rear of your reciever.

Step 2:Now you must connect the video cables. Before you start doing that you must decide if you want to connect the video cables through the A/V reciever and then connect it to the TV or just directly connect it to the TV. By connecting the wires to the A/V reciever and then to the TV usind two separate cables has its advantages in which you find convenience if you want to switch the reciever to watch a DVD and also you will be able to see the on-screen menu on your TV. By directly connecting the cable to the TV you will find it easier but again you would not be able to see the on-screen menu.

Most of the DVD players will have three video outputs. Connect all three of them inorder to recieve maximum video clarity from a DVD. It is necessary to have component outputs on your TV and/or your AM reciever inorder to connect all the three video outputs. In case you dont have an component output then you will have to connect only one s-video cable to your TV input. This s-video cable is a single cable with a multi pin plug. In case there is an component output for your TV. then you will require three cables(RCA) which have different colour codes(which are sometimes binded togethr). the colours are usualy Red , Green and White. Using the component output gives you the best video quality next to which is using the s-video output. The DVD player may also have an HDMI or DVI connectors. These help in maintaining the video in its digital form rather than converting it to anolog form.

Step 3: Make sure you dont turn the volume of your surround sound too high in which case any one of the speakers might call attention to themselves. In other words, in case the volume of the surround sound is too high then sometimes one of the speakers on your rear may call your attention separately. Hence it is recomended to keep the volume in its optimum level. Many of you might even wonder if the surround system is actually functioning properly until you experiance an of-screen sound such as a phone ringing at the backround or the sound o thunder in case of a rainstorm . Hence you must know that a surround system is not for loud noises and rather to experiance a three dimensional environment in between a movie.

There are certain things which you can do inorder to experiance a better feel using your surround sound system. Few of them are as follows,

1. It is advisable to get a test DVD which will help you adjust the surround sound levels and make maximum use of the system. For instance get a Sound and Vision magazine home theatre tune up DVD. IT will help you in maximizing the effects of the system.

2. Always remember to keep the central channel speakers setting at low. In case the setting is high then there is a loss of clarity of speech.

3. Try changing the seating arangements around the surround speaker system. Sometimes you might feel better audio quality at certain positions.

4. Always keep the brightness of the TV on optimum range. This is better for viewing more particular details in the picture quality as well as increases the life of the TV. Hence high brightness will reduce the life of the TV as well as give u less details on the picture being viewed.

5. Always have the volume of the sub-woofer at medium when you play music and then gradually increase it to how much ever necessary.