I have just purchased a VSX-816 receiver and so far I love it. I do have a question regarding hooking up multiple video sources.

I currently have an XBOX, XBOX360, and a PVR hooked up, all using component video and a combination of optical and coaxial digital audio. I would like to hook up a DVD player as well, preferably using S-Video and coaxial audio. Is this possible and which inputs would I need to use?

Thanks for your help!

I would connect your equipment as follows:

XBox output -> Receiver input: component and optical audio
XBox 360 output -> Receiver input: component and optical audio
PVR output -> Receiver input: component and optical audio OR digital coax
DVD output -> Receiver input: S-Video and digital coax
Receiver output -> TV input: component

Enjoy!

Also, if your DVD Player has Component outputs then I would suggest using these instead of S-Video as you will achieve a much better picture. As your receiver is limited to three Component inputs you would need to connect your DVD Player directly to your TV via Component (but the digital coax would still connect to the receiver of course). :)

Thanks for the quick reply :)

The suggestion to hook component up to the TV directly would work but I wanted to avoid that if possible. I am willing to take the hit in picture quality to go to S-Video but I will not give up the surround, which is equally important IMO.
As far as I can tell, the DVD input for example is called this whether it is hooked up via component, S-Vid, or composite. Since I have this used already via the component, if I hook the DVD player up via S-Vid under this name would the receiver automatically use this if the XBOX for example was shut off. Also the input assign menu for the digital audio does not seem to recognize the S-Vid inputs, it only mentions component.
I think I am missing something simple here!

I hate to reply to myself but can anyone help me figure this out? :o

Remember that the audio and video travel separately. As you mention, the digital audio inputs on most receivers can be or must be "assigned" to certain inputs. Check the manual for how to do this. You should not be "restricted" to CV inputs.

I'm not sure if that's what you're driving at.

Thanks 57, I will investigate this more fully on the weekend. The manual is pretty cryptic about this, trial and error will have to figure it out!

I don't believe that the 816 upconverts from s-video to component (only composite up to s-video), so you would need to run both s-video and component to your TV from the receiver.

If you are already using "DVD" for a component input, you will need to use another input for the s-video from your DVD player. For example, I have my computer hooked up to the DVD input since it is the only one that allows 5.1 analog input -- my DVD player is hooked up as "CD".

If you need to, don't forget about the inputs on the front of the 816. I don't think they can be accessed from the remote though -- you need to select "video" from the front panel of the receiver to access those inputs.

Also, you can download for free an update for your Xbox 360 that will enable it to run most popular Xbox legacy titles. That would free up one of your inputs :)

The 816 has 3 video inputs, each with component, svideo, composite. It does not do video conversion unfortunately, but there is a possible workaround.

It will use the best signal available.

So this means you can hook up something to component, another different device on the same input to svideo. If the component device is turned off then the svideo signal will be used.

Same principle for audio, it will use digital if available, otherwise default to RCA left/right.

eg I have my DVD hooked up digital audio and svideo. On the same input I have Ninendo using composite video and RCA audio. It's an older tv without component inputs. With the DVD powered off I see/hear Nintendo, otherwise I see/hear DVD.


edit: Re-reading your original question, if you want to use all 4 digital audio inputs, you would have to assign one of the digital inputs to a non-video source (eg CD or CDR) and plug your DVD audio into that and then run svideo directly from DVD to TV.

edit: Re-reading your original question, if you want to use all 4 digital audio inputs, you would have to assign one of the digital inputs to a non-video source (eg CD or CDR) and plug your DVD audio into that and then run svideo directly from DVD to TV.


This what I ended up doing, I actually got another component cable and hooked the DVD directly up to the TV and then used an unassigned optical input for sound. It works good. Thanks to all who replied.

I've just picked up this receiver as well, and for $298 I might add from my local FS. 2001AV had them marked down to 299 - I had FS PM it, plus the extra 10%.

I did my research - and for a reciever with decent sound power and component switching, I think the 816 is a top value.

Any other thoughts or people with this model to share their opinions?

Mine just blew up after 3 months and I'm still waiting news from BB to see if they will fix it or give something else because they dont carry this model anymore. With all the problems I had with this one, I will not recommand it.

Can you outline what time of problems you've had?
If your model is only 3 months old, why don't you have it replaced under the manufacturer's warranty program?
I know these receivers are can only handle speakers between 6 and 16 ohms ... did yours blowing up have anything to do with this?

Well, time to time when I was opening my unit, there was not coming out from the rear left speaker. Also, I was getting a very annoying noise from all speakers at startup. When doing the MCACC things, the volume of my centre channel was so low compared to the other speakers. Took it back to bestbuy under the extended warranty since over 3 weeks now and still waiting news from them about what they gonna do.

yeah, i've read about this buzzing in other threads here... could it be a grounding issue?
wow, you've been waiting 3 weeks? i commend your patience ... seeing that you PAID for this warranty, I'd demand a quicker turn-around.
I've yet to hook mine up... I'm still trying to canvas for a speaker package.

Well, the worst in that is they told me that they will only take a decision in 3 weeks to see if they will replace it or fix it.