Do I connect video out thru receiver or to TV?

If you have enough video inputs on your TV, you will always have a cleaner video signal by avoiding adding extra components in the signal path. Conceptually, video switching can be helpful if you don't like having to separately change your TV to the right input *and* your receiver. I.e., you just click "DVD" on the A/V receiver instead of clicking "DVD" on your receiver and then selecting SVIDEO1 on your television. I use a theta casablanca to switch video as well as audio and do find it easier.

Come to think of it, however, if I remember right, AV receivers don't "switch" or convert s-video to composite (single RCA), so you will need both connections from your receiver to your TV and may have to do a little TV adjustment anyway as you go from s-video sources to composite sources. (This is where the Philips pronto comes in handy). I don't think there are many devices, if any, that switch component video and can't think of why you would want to do that anyway.

Optical cable is used to send 5.1 or more channels of sound, not for picture. Atleast that I have seen before. Typical video transfer cables are composite (RCA), S-video, and component (Red,Green, and Blue Cables). A better connection would be directly to the TV from the source. Component is the best choice for connection of video at this point in time. The less components in the chain, the better off you are. I don't own a surround reciever, but I believe the reason for the multiple video inputs on the back of the reciever are in case your TV doesn't support multiple inputs. Hope this helps.

Thanks for the answers I really appreciate it! In fact I got more of an understanding from your responses than from at least 10 visits to Sound Advise and Best Buy while purchasing my TV and stereo equipment.
I was talking about optical for sound only. I gather that optical was the best, coax next and then RCA but that is from the people making the connectors and I didn't know if it was because the optical was the most expensive or if it was because it was more practical. For video I use the component cables for the psx2 (it does have optical out) to the TV and plan on using the component cables for the direct TV as soon as I get a HDTV receiver and there are enough channels in HDTV to make it worthwhile, otherwise I use s video connections. I guess I will rum directly to the TV as I only have three components so far. The DVD goes to the CD plugs on the amp and the PSX2 is going to the other DVD on the amp. I will then run component cables from the DirectTV to the component #1 and the psx2 to component#2. I guess I’ll have to get a component switch box because I only have 2 of the inputs on the TV or I could use a S-video line foe either the DVD or the PSX2. Is there much difference between the three separate component cables as opposed S video hookup? To tell the truth I can’t see any difference so far. But have heard its much better? I’m not sure I understand what was referred to as video switching or why I would need to adjust the TV when using a RCA connection and then using an s-video connection so if Edesilva reads this post could you please explain that? Also, what is a Phillips pronto and a theta casablanca? Thanks again for all your help. Charlie

Glad we could help Sailinfla. What Edesilva may be referring to is the difference between composite and S-video in that S-video separates the color and picture detail into two different carriers whereas composite does not. I have noticed a big difference in picture quality in certain applications between these two methods. The S-video was brighter and more detailed, while the compsoite signal was darker and plugged up in the shadows. But, the difference between component video and S-video seems to be much narrower as you've found.

As for which is better, optical or coax for your digital audio? Well, although I built a home theater system before I built a 2-channel music system, music reproduction has displaced HT as my true passion. And it seems audiophiles almost always choose a coax digital connection over an optical one with the exception of when using a CD changer because often times optical is the only offering with these units. I know that Bel Canto Designs promotes the use of optical cables when using a DVD player as a CD tranport when hooked into their DAC1.1, but I've heard many owners of the DAC, which I am, mostly prefer the results when using a coax cable.

But this really all comes down to personal taste. If you can, I'd suggest you borrow both types and compare them.

I just retired a Denon AVP-8000 preamp and used its internal switching with S-video cables as a convenience. On my EAD preamp I replaced the optical connection with a good coaxial cable and it sounds much better.
Entech (Monster) makes a neat little product (Director AV4.1) for S-video (which can be adapted to component) but I just got the JVC JX-S777. It does S-video and composite matching as well as having component and digital I/O. I wanted something where I could record from Direct TV to TIVO, then to a VCR if I liked the program. Still playing with it.
The audio RCA connection should go to the receiver so it can amplify the sound and do home theater for you. When I tried to connect Direct TV to the TV but run the audio thru the preamp there was a slight but noticeable delay in the audio.