Listening to one source, watching another. How?

I am sure this is really basic, and I only realized I didnt know how until someone suggested "Hey Do this." and I could not. If I want to watch TV, I currently dial in TV (through my Denon 3805) so the video is passed through. The audio comes as well, obviously. Well, what if I don't want it to. What if I want to watch the TV (picture only) and hear audio from tuner or CD?

Any pointers would be great, as I am sure this is an easy thing once you have seen it done once... THANKS

Your Denon 3805 does have multi-room/multi-source capability. This means you can be watching a movie in the main room and listening to music in a separate room. Unfortunately, there's no way to simultaneously play two sources in the same room, which is what you'd have to do to watch video from one source and hear audio from a second in the same room.

The only way to do it is to set up a second zone in the same room as your main speakers. That way you could direct CD audio to a separate pair of speakers while you watched muted TV with the main setup.

The other way to do it would be to program the reciever such that your video source was the TV and the audio source was the CDP. That would be a pain, and you might run out of possible settings (DVD, Vid1, Vid2, etc) before you got all the permutations that you wanted.

All you have to do is go to the source you want to listen to and then hit the video select button on the front of the 3805. You change the video source via the function dial. Your audio output stays the same. You just change the video source. I do it all the time. Listen to the CD output and watch TV. You don't need to do anything with Zone 2 etc.

D'oh! Shows what I know.

Maybe it's because I'm using antiquated equipment: an almost 5 year-old Onkyo receiver

Yup. Time to get a new receiver. Ha hahahahahaha!

NeverHappy is right. You can do it from the reveiver's front panel but not with the remote. Older Denon models had a "video select" function on the remote (shame on Denon for leaving it out on the 3805 remote). Fortunately, I have an older 3200 and was able to use the learn function from it's remote to put the "video select" feature on my MX-700 remote (and on the 3805 remote). If you have access to an older Denon remote you can "learn" the "video select" function to your current remote.

Thanks everyone. Denon sure seems to have missed the boat on this requirement, huh? Using the video select button (the button that is not on the remote) I got it to work in all modes EXCEPT Tuner (which is of course the one I need.) NeverHappy or MWC, could you test this out in Tuner mode? I can't imagine there would be such a restriction.

For those of you who are wondering why anyone would ever do this, I like to watch football but listen to the coverage on radio at the same time. Go DAWGS!

In reply to:
NeverHappy or MWC, could you test this out in Tuner mode?

I'll try it later today when I get off work.

In reply to:
For those of you who are wondering why anyone would ever do this

I often watch TV while listening to music (a habit held over from my hippie days.

). It's also handy for those long commercial breaks.

I'm at work also but I will give it a go when I get home!

Jeff,
I was able to switch video input in tuner mode by pressing the "video select" button on the front panel and then turning the big "function" knob. What a pain in the ass! Shame on Denon again.

I've never tried out the tuner section on this receiver until today. All I get is static. No reception at all. I don't have an antenna hooked up but shouldn't I at least get something from some of the stronger stations (middle of Dallas/FT. Worth)? WTF! My old Sansui pulls in at least half a dozen stations without an antenna. It is not crystal clear but at least its some signal.

Ahh... I see.. It wasnt working for me because I was in Pure Direct Mode. Strange, because other sources besides Tuner work ok even in PD mode. Oh well. As to the tuner, I am dissapointed too. I DO have an external antenna and I still cant get she-ite! I gues will have to run some coax to a bigger antenna in Attic! I was wondering if it were just me. THANKS for your help