I am rewiring my home theater and would like to use the MX135 to control a Rotel DVD/CD player, HD TIVO, Sony Carousel DVD/CD player, Sony VCR, and Sony DVD Recorder. I am looking for a couple of answers.

Currently the HD TIVO is connected to the HD TV using a HDMI to DVI cable connection and the highest resolution I am getting is 1080i. (I don’t know if the Direct TV HD DVR is capable of 1080p.)

1. If instead, I run component video from the TIVO to the MX135, then component from the 135 to the HD TV, will I still get 1080i?

2. If I use component video from the HD TIVO, the Rotel and the Sony carousel into the MX 135, can I record from those units to this Sony VCR and Sony DVD recorder by using the MX 135 S-Video outputs for VCR 1 and 2?

3. If the answer to Question 2 is “Yes”, should I connect the VCR and DVD recorder output to separate TV inputs in order to monitor the recordings, or is there a simpler way to do this?

4. How can I get the MX135 to turn on/off a KRELL TAS?

I have a similar set up as you do, though I have the MX-119.

I actually just conect my Direct TV HD TIVO to my Samsung DLP TV via HDMI and then use the optical out (toslink) to my MX-119 if I want to listen to the TV through my system.

When I watch DVDs, I connect my Denon 3910 to the DLP via DVI (for the picture) and use the digital coax (for audio) to connect to the MX-119. This way I use the DACs in my MX-119 instead of my Denon's.

I then connect the analog connections from my Denon to the MX-119 for SACD listening.

I am not aware of any benefit that is obtained by running the video signals through your 135 unless you need to upconvert a S-video signal to component. But from what you describe that is not your situation...

l don't really know hot to answer your other questions unfortunately...

I too have a complicated set-up with a MX134, I could use more inputs/outputs, particularly component video and I wish I had a MX135 with balanced outs for my MC402, oh well.

Send the component out from the 135 to the TV. Upconvert all your video sources to component video.

Hook the DVD's multi-channel analog outputs to the External Inputs and hook the coax digital audio to a digital coax input. Hook the DVD's component outputs to the 135's component inputs AND hook the HDMI directly to the TV. Now you can view a clear signal to the TV or through the 135. Set up one DVD input with External as the input, set another input to the coax and THX, you can also set a third 135 input to the coax with a stereo input. Now you are set for DVD-V, SACD, and stereo CD. This is how I have it and I use all 3 input settings.

Set up the HD TIVO video the same way, HDMI to the TV, component to the 135 (if there is only one digital video in on your TV, connect the TIVo and use the 135 for the DVD.) connect the coax audio out to the 135.

Connect the Sony burner's video out to a component input on the 135 and an S-video out from the 135 to the Sony. Connect a TosLink digital audio from the Sony to the 135 and from the 135 back to the Sony.

Connect your changer's component output to the 135 and the coax audio to the last coax input on the 135.

Hook up the vcr using analog stereo an s-video. Upconvert the s-video signals in the set-up.

That's a start. It should all work. There may be issues recording on the VCR, at this point you'll have to play with it a bit further. Good luck!

JR

JR, Nice clear instructions!

Thank you from me as well!

My pleasure. Using multiple inputs for different set-ups from the same source is almost counterintuitive, but it can be very effective and convenient. It's great that this equipment allows you to do it.

JR

JR, Thanks for the help. I don't understand the reason for some of the connections but it is obvious that you know a whole lot more about this than I do. :)
I'll let you know how it turns out!

Thanks again,
Chris