Home Theater Plasma TV or Video Projector Wiring
Diagrams and
Connection Guide
Hooking up a plasma tv or video projector for a Home Theater is not a difficult
task. The first items you should learn is the different connectors you will
be using.
Please click here for a basic summary or
what you need to install a plasma or projector.
Please click here for a basic summary of connection types.
When selecting video and audio cables it is important that
you do not get cheap junk, There is no need to spend $500 on a 3 foot
component cable but don't try to get away with $5 dollar junk either. Name
brand cables such as Monster , Phoenix Gold etc will work well for a
reasonable price. Expect to spend about $100 to $150 for a full 6 ft kit of
all the necessary cables and $200 to $300 if your run is
around 18ft.or so. Runs above 18 ft for video will require very
expensive cables and possibly video boosters.
There are three basic methods of hooking up a plasma display or video
projector.
Free standing with no surround receiver. Sound is
provided by optional plasma or computer speakers
Using a regular stereo or surround sound receiver without
component video switching
Using a home theater surround sound receiver with component video
switching* to provide sound and act as a video switch. * For full HDTV operation the
surround receiver should be capable of 100 mhz video switching but
it many unit that are not 100mhz will work fine
Your plasma display or video projector can be powered by
DVD player, HDTV receivers, Analog satellite, digital
cable box , personal computer (PC or MAC). In order to watch regular cable
you will require a external tuner box of some form. VCR's can be used
on a plasma screen to watch video tape but only if S-VHS. A
standard VHS vcr will look terrible on a plasma or a projector.
Wiring Diagram for Plasma tv with no stereo
or surround receiver Click on image to enlarge
Wiring Diagram for Plasma tv with surround
receiver with component video switching Click on image to enlarge
We have prepared the following charts as a guide to help
you purchase the correct video and audio cables.
In the examples we will
presume that the plasma is 6 ft from your sources.
Direct to Plasma, No Stereo receiver
Surround
sound receiver with component switching:
Please allow 1 component cable and 1 S-video from receiver to plasma (
6ft)*
