Video Asylum

Posted by williak (A) on December 31, 2002 at 14:45:32

In Reply to: Thanks to both of you -- one more question posted by Jim Johnson on December 31, 2002 at 12:49:25:

Jim,

TV will get "processed" video feeds from both the cable box and the DVD player. TV may or may not get "unprocessed" feed directly from incoming cable. Let me explain this.

"Digital" cable channels are added onto the existing analog channels. The physical cable wire thus carries both the analog and digital channels. If you split the cable into two feeds (one directly to the TV and one to the cable box then via S-video or composite to the TV), you will be able to watch the analog channels either directly on your TV or via the cable box. You will, of course, only be able to view the digital channels via the cable box input. In many cases, the cable box degrades the picture quality of the analog channels. Therefore, to watch analog channels, you would switch away from the cable box and onto the direct feed to your TV. If this is not true in your situation, you may do away with the direct feed and view all your TV through the cable box.

As far as audio, everything goes into your receiver and on out to your bookshelves. You've already seen (heard) that running ANY audio to your TV speakers is a waste of time. The only exception is the "wife" mode configuration where you allow viewing of direct fed analog channels and audio via the TV's speakers.

Let me know how it goes - I think you might be very impressed with what you end up with once you shitcan the TV speakers.

Austin