Need help setting up a theater on a budget.

dabarrie OP

If your receiver doesn’t have HDMI inputs you don’t need it. But you do need to connect an audio output from your TV (or source) to one of your receiver’s inputs to get audio.

HDMI carries both audio and video but you don’t need video to go from your TV to the receiver, only audio.

Whatever you are using as the audio source (TV, SAT box, DVD etc.) needs to be connected to one of your receiver’s inputs but doesn’t have to be via HDMI.

If the source doesn’t have RCA outputs and only HDMI or optical then you’ll need a separate converter box to go between the source and the receiver that will adapt the source’s output connection type to the receiver’s audio input connection type.

An ARC HDMI is ideal though because it will turn a receiver that has "ARC" HDMI inputs on and off automatically whenever is senses an audio signal from your source.

Awesome, thank you so much.  I have narrowed my search down to top choice Onkyo TX-RZ50 then Yamaha a4a. They both have the bells and whistle but the onkyo is more musical. I have a question, would I get better audio quality and home theater essential buying a processor that does the same thing with theater and streaming for the same price $900. Since I already have a integrated for the fronts later on pick up a small 3 or 5 channel for the rears. I am patient if I need to wait another month to pick up the other channel amp. Can you guys please give me suggestion of brands in that price range or a place to start.

dabarrie OP

I am confused by your question.

Are you asking if you should use your existing 2 channel receiver in conjunction with a separate surround processor or just a a/v surround receiver for all channels instead?

If so, I would say go with the surround receiver for everything.  Everything will work in concert with each other (Atmos, crossovers, levels adjustment etc.).  If streaming audio get an independent DAC and connect that between the source and the receiver for better audio quality.

Both the Onkyo and Yamaha look good, although I have not heard them.  I guess it would be a matter of personal choice.  Take a look at Marantz also! For what it's worth, I had a Marantz NR1510, their cheapest model with 2 subwoofers and although only 50 watts per channel was more than enough to fully enjoy anything I ever watched with it.  It only lacked Atmos, but I never missed it.  I upgraded since, but not because it sounded bad but because that's just my nature.  I wanted separate amplifiers for every single channel when I built my video room about a year ago.