I thought connecting my new Outlaw 770/990 would be snap, but with all of the component/digital/analog/DVI connection options I am more confused than ever. Do I have to route my video signals through the 990? What are the advantages or disadvantages?

I have a 32" Sony XBR TV that has component video inputs, but no component outputs. Do I connect my DVD player video outputs to the TV or the 990 or both?

The owners manual does not provide a diagram for connecting a monitor. Any help in trying to get this connected simply would be greatly appreciated.

Routing video through the 990 gives you a couple of benefits: convenience (no need to change the TV's input when you switch between sources) and transcoding s-video and composite video to component. You don't have to route the video through the 990, although you'll need to connect at least one video output from the 990 to the TV to get access to the 990's setup menu (component will work if you are routing component sources through the 990, but if you were to bypass the 990's video switching entirely you could just run the composite monitor output to your TV to get access to the menus). I would recommend routing the DVD player's video to the 990 right along with the audio (and the same with any other sources such as cable or satellite receivers, VCR's, game consoles, ...), then connect the component monitor output to the TV's component input.

Hi, Gonk, thanks for the response. You've convinced me that I need to use the 990 for video routing.

However let me make sure I understand this:

Cable line (no box), connects to VCR
TV IN (Y, Pb. Ps) connects to MON OUT (Y, Pb, Ps) on 990
VCR REC & PLAY connects to Video 1 OUT/IN on 990
DVD connects to DVD IN composite on 990

Do the TV OUT jacks get used?

Is that it? My VCR (primarily for playing tapes only, not recording) and DVD are older models of which just the DVD has a digital output.

Thanks!

You've almost got it worked out. Try this:

- Cable line to VCR
- VCR "play" cables to Video 1 in (left and right analog plus composite video)
- Optional VCR "record" cables to Video 1 out (you can't record from the DVD player anyway because of copy protection, so you won't be using that connection currently; left and right analog plus composite video if you do make the connection)
- DVD to 990 (either coaxial or optical digital audio plus component video)
- 990's component video monitor out to TV's component input
- Optional TV audio out to the 990 (left and right analog audio; do this only if you ever find yourself watching cable TV through the TV's tuner while recording something on the VCR, which from your post and the way you've hooked up the cable I'm guessing never happens)
- 990 pre-amp outputs to the 7700's inputs, of course...

I think you could leave off both "optional" connections and never miss them. Once it's all set up, just leave the TV set to the component input and let the 990 do its thing.

Thanks for making the connections work. However something seems looney.

I did the auto test (5.1) but afterwards I got the follwoing message:

Surround is disconnected but surround back is connected. After turning power off, check surround and surround back speaker connection. And then retry.

Why is this a problem? Why does the 990 think I want 7.1?

Thanks again.

OK. I think I understand. Even though a standard (in my mind) 5.1 set up uses the surround speakers in the rear, the 990 calls these the extra 7.1 speakers, even though they are placedbehind me.

Why is that?

When 5.1 became 7.1, the surrounds (which were often installed on the rear walls but were actually intended to be on the sides) often became "side surrounds" and the speakers on the rear walls (which were new) became rear surrounds. If you only have a 5.1 setup, use the side surround connections for your surround channels.

Did it and the sound is great! This is a very musical preamp/amp combo. The sound is extremely clean and detailed. And humless!

Thanks for your help and guidance!