I just got this and hooked up and I need some help!
I believe I have hooked up everything correctly. I think the set-up I have is rather complicated because I use two A/B switches to toggle between the game system and home theater.
1. Sony TV a/v video inputs (3) hooked to A/B switch Output.
2. Sony TV audio out to Video 2 of HT-1700 Tuner/Reciever (thus when I hit video 2 function, it plays in surround) **only thing is, the sound goes in and out of the speakers, i believe isolated to surround speakers, but think it may be all of the speakers. Is this due to analog channel signal of cable system and thus virtually every channel through the surround system may fade in and out?
3. HT-1700 DVD player output to Tuner/Reciever DVD video in, both audio and video
4. VCR input to Receiver output
5. 2 inputs of A/B switch to game console and HT-1700 Reciever respectively, with this connection I am able to listen to game through reciever because TV is output of A/B switch.
I know this is all confusing, but I figured someone in this forum might be knowledgeable to help. I am not that and kind of back-assed my way into connections through trial and error and just want to see if I am correct or way to do MUCH better.
If anyone can help, I would appreciate greatly.

Also, I think the fading in and out of sound when in TV or Video 2 mode maybe be due to video in connections of old Sony TV. IS this possible and would a new tv seemingly correct my sound problems?

You don't give much information about the gaming system. No gamer I, but I'm sure there are a lot of gamers on this forum, and possibly some who may have had similar problems. With more info someone might even tell you how to integrate your gaming system better.

I take it the Tuner/Reciever you mention is the Sony HT-1700D Home Theater in a box Minisystem?

IMHO You really want to keep breaks/terminations in your signal chain to a minumum. Straight cabling from device to device is the best practice. It's not always a rule one can follow with things like multi-room audio distribution and other "pleasantries". I wouldn't sacrifice one bit of signal integrity with an intentional, permanent break in my cabling just to make my gaming experience "switchable". You need to ask yourself what's the system's first purpose, HT or gaming, then serve that purpose first.

Try taking ALL the A/B switches out of your signal chain and see if your problem clears up. Don't you have to walk up and toggle the switches manually anyway? If so then what's the overhead of walking up and plugging your game into the front inputs of your receiver? (Don't tell me, no front inputs.)

If you still have fading problems after you've taken all the bogies out of the signal chain then check the receiver's effects settings. Past that it may be a problem with the receiver itself.

This message was edited by Sheik_Yerbouhti on 05/20/02 11:15.01.

Thank you so much for replying, I really didn't think I had a chance. I actually could care less about the game system. I didn't even think that I could avoid one A/B switch by hooking the game system directly into Receiver Video 1 input, correct? I was having game into input of switch and yes, walked to toggle back and forth, but just hooked it all up because I thought that is only way and didnt really think it all through, but honestly, all I want the Gamecube to do is play the game and don't really care if it goes to surround or not, would rather have tv, dvd player have full effect of sound system.
The 2nd A/B switch in the whole connection is so I can watch an analog station and tape a station through cable box, I think this one is unavoidable, but the 2nd one I can take out.
I think also that the problem mainly is focused when the tv is on and the surround sound and that is when it fades in and out, but when I play with video inputs on back of tv and apply slight pressure it comes in good, thus I was thinking it is a problem with the old connections in an old Sony Trinitron.
So with what I have said the game can be hooked into Reciever (yes, it is one from mini-all-in-one-system) Video 1 Input or as you said front inputs which it does not have, correct?
Thanks again for the reply and the help, it was very useful!

Sheik_Yerbouhti ,
I want to simplify dilemma...right now TV inputs go to output of A/B switch (middle ports)
Game sytem and Reciever to the A/B switch inputs.
How can I make the tv sound come in when the Reciever is not on? How can I make tv sound come through surround when Reciever is on?
How do I make game system play with and without Reciever on?
How do I make VCR play with and without Reciever on?
I am not sure if I simplified, but maybe a little clearer as to what i am looking to do.

Dude, where's my signal!


If the receiver is not on you're only going to hear your TV's speakers.


Does your TV have an audio output? If so run a cable from it to your receiver's (dedicated we hope) TV input. Any audio signal your TV has to offer will then go to your Sony system.


In your "Simple TV to Reciever question.." post you make it sound like your TV has multiple inputs. If that's so, connect your game to one of them and select that input when you play it. As long as the TV is on (and the correct input selected) the game will play regardless of the state of the rest of your system.


Same as the game - if you pipe your VCR through the receiver, receiver power off = no VCR signal to TV.

Having said that, how many times do you watch a VHS movie that you DON'T want it to come out of your surround speakers? (Never?) What's the overhead of having your receiver on? I could send you a quarter for the extra electricity. In the model number of your receiver the first two characters are "HT", take your first que from that, it's HOME THEATER DUDE.

In other words IGNORE the advice I've given, and try letting your receiver switch all the inputs if you can tolerate it being on. (AGAIN: Whats the overhead???)

And getting back to your game, if there's an open input on the back of your receiver you could also "fib" to the reciever and tell it your game is VCR-2 or AUX. Your receiver won't know the difference, it's just transferring signals, and we won't tell it, so your secret's safe.
Not being a gamer there may be some unintentional untruth to my words. Someone with more game time could probably tell you if there are pitfalls to this strategy.

Let me take a shot at this, too. Assuming I understood your descriptions:

1) Plug the DVD, audio and video, into the receiver's DVD inputs.
2) Plug the VCR, audio and video, into the receiver's Video1 input.
3) Plug the TV's audio output into the receiver's Video2 input.
4) Plug the receiver's video "monitor" output into the first of the three video inputs on your TV.
5) Plug your game into the second of the three audio/video inputs on your TV.

Now you should be able to play as follows:

DVD: Surround sound via the receiver DVD setting, video in through the receiver DVD setting and out from there into your TV's first video jack. (note: you can't play the DVD with only TV sound, but I didn't see that as one of your requirements.)

VCR: Surround sound via the receiver Video1 setting, video in through the receiver Video1 setting and out from there into your TV's first video jack. (note: as with the DVD you can't play the VCR with only TV sound, but I didn't see that as one of your requirements.)

Regular TV: Nothing special required.

Regular TV with full surround sound: Picture as per normal, turn down/mute the TV internal speakers, surround sound out from the TV's audio output into the receiver's Video2 inputs.

Game with Regular TV sound: No receiver, just set the TV's input to the second audio/video jacks.

Game with Surround sound: Picture as above via the TV's second A/V input jacks. Surround sound via the receiver's Video2 inputs. (Sound comes from the game into the TV's second A/V input, then goes back out the TV through the audio outputs into the receiver's Video2 jacks).

Hope this helps! -Bruce

Sheik, Bruce..looks like a lot but i appreciate so much any more advice....
You guys give amazing advice for the novice like me and you both sound like you actually know what I AM talking about.
Bruce..the tv only has one video input and two separate audio, one with the video in and then audio left and right alone and that is it. does this make a difference?
I think I have done all that you mentioned with components, but still a little hazy on the tv connection itself, i think right now i have tv video solely to reciever "monitor" port and am doing nothing with the audio input, is this correct? the tv second set of output i believe is only audio l and r and i think i have that going to video 1 or video 2 input, i believe video 2 and game system which i forgot to mention plays through reciever when video 1 function is set and tv/video button on tv or remote is pressed. game does not show visually only sound comes through reciever when tv/video button on tv is pressed and tv internal speakers are back on..so only game sound with tv picture...is this correct? or do i have something messed up?
Basically, i have surround sound (from all system speakers, but nothing from tv speakers) when reciever is on for dvd, when set to dvd/ld function, same with vcr when set to video 1 and same with game system when set to video 2..i am wondering from all this am i NOT supposed to hear the tv speakers at all when all these functions are performing, meaning that if i am understanding correctly surround sound deals with the units six speakers (5 satellite and sub-woofer)and should not be generated through the tv at all?? i am wondering if i am right about that becuase though when a function is set i do hear good surround sound, no tv speakers and when function is not set and tv is on solely, just hear tv speakers and does not filter through unit speakers at all. Also, tv sound does play through reciever only when vcr is on and function video 1 pressed and no tv internal speakers are heard...
Am I correct or should the tv internal speakers be on while the unit speakers are generating sound for wach function, meaning should i hear the tv internal and unit speakers at the same time for a truer surround sound or no??
i guess you can see my confusion and just want everything to be perfect and how it should be so i can enjoy the most from it and not be half-assed about it..
i think i am almost there and would appreciate so much if either of you can just clear up my brief confusions and we can put this puppy to rest. make any sense? hope so and thanks again guys, i really appreciate!!

bruce..one last thing..i think i understand you..tv full surround sound means that the tv internal speakers should not be playing or have sound coming through it, correct? if that is the case then i think i got it all becuase that is what is happening not when set to vcr function while vcr is on can hear tv sound through speakers..i know i talk a lot, but just trying to figure it all out..sorry for all the trouble and confusion..i just want to take full advantage of what little i got...

Scott,

Let me answer the easy one first. If you have a good receiver and a full set of speakers including a center channel speaker, you should not be using your TV's internal speakers when playing surround sound. Your center channel speakers and front speakers carry those signals instead.

Okay, I did not understand your description of your TV's input. I thought you had three _sets_ of audio and video input jacks! Obviously you cannot plug the receiver's monitor output and the games video output into the one video input jack on your TV.

Since you only have a single audio video input to your TV, two possibilities occur to me. The first is what you're doing now, running the signals from the reciever and game into a switch and from the switch out to the TV. Drawback: This solution may degrade the signals.

A second possibility is to run the game into your VCR, if the VCR has compatible input jacks. Set the VCR to those inputs, the receiver to VCR input. Drawback: You will "have" to play the game in surround sound, and I saw you wanted to play it using the TV only.

Your switch may be the best bet. Sorry about the confusion.