Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Harmon Kardon AVR-525 vs AVR430/630

Dolby Pro Logic II is an extension of Dolby Pro Logic. It is, in essence, a better translator of the DPL signal.

Hawkson is essentially correct about video upconversion, but I would point out that if all your devices are s-video (for example), you only need a single S-video connection between your receiver and TV. If you have different devices with different inputs, then you would need multiple connections.

Composite video is a video signal transmitted on a single RCA cable. S-video splits the signal out to 4 parts (I don't remember which) and transmits over a similarly sized cable, with different connetors. Component video uses 3 RCA cables/jacks (I believe it's similar to S-video in which signals are transmitted. Could be totally wrong).

Your coaxial cable is a different sort. That is an RF (radio frequency) signal that carries audio and video, and is therefore the lowest quality. You should be using composite or S-video between your DirecTV receivver and the TV, as the DTV receiver will translate the signal. (someone else want to step in here?)

A big question is what kind of TV you have. What inputs are available?

TV's a piece of trash.
I was originally thinking of buying a cheap receiver for music only...thinking the receiver would become outdated by the time I had a full fledge HT system.
Then I started looking at upgrading...If the receivers don't change too much in the future I might as well put the extra money in now, and I'll already have a receiver capable of expansionn, along with front speakers (probably m60's). The better TV, VP150, QS8's and sub could come sometime in the future.
I can't see HT expanding much beyond 5 speakers, maybe one or two in the back...but then who knows.
I just wanted to make sure on the receiver. I might just get the Denon 1804 for ~$350, and plan on replacing it when I get more serious...at least the speakers should be good for a few years.