Hook up question Optical, Composit and S-Video

[Bigpeat]

Looking for the best way to connect all components ....I'll try to make this as easy as possible.

Components:

Sony 32" TV ( 1- S-Video in, 1- Composite in )
Sony STRD-A5 Receiver ( 4- Optical in, 4- S-Video in, 8- Composite in, etc..)
Sony SLV-N80 VCR ( 1- Composite in, 1- Composite out)
Sony DVP S570D DVD ( 1- Optical out, 2- S-Video out)
Tivo / SAT (dual tuner) ( 1-Optical out, 1- S-Video out, 2- Composite out)

What I am trying to achieve:

1) Being able to watch and hear TV / Tivo wwithout the receiver being on.
2) Being able to watch VCR without the receiver being on.
3) Have the option to watch and hear TV / Tivo through the receiver
4) Record from Tivo to VCR.


Question:

1) Should I run everything through the receiver then from the receiver to the TV ?
a) I am guessing that you will need the receiver to be on for this to work
2) DVD has a Component out and receiver has Component in but TV has only S-Video in. Should I even bother using the Component since the S-Video will be the weakest link in the chain?


Possible connection: Open for advice.

1) Run the Tivo and the DVD into the Receiver using optical and S-Video.

2) Run the Tivo into the VCR using Composite.

3) Run the Tivo into the TV using Composite

4) Run the VCR into the Receiver using Composite

5) Run the S-Video from the Receiver to the TV.

[Martyva]

I would try
1. run your VCR to your TV using F connector
2. run your tivo composit out to the VCR
3. run your tivo S-video and Optical out to your
receiver
4. run your DVD S-video and optical out to your
receiver
5. run your receiver S-video and composit audio
to your tv

[Bigpeat]

What is an F-Connector ? ..is it coax ?

My Tivo is a dual tuner model. Using your suggestion from above, it looks like the only way I will be able to hear audio when viewing the Tivo is if the receiver is turned on.

Is it possible to run both the F-connector from VCR to TV
and S-Video / Composite from VCR to Receiver ? This would give me the option to watch the VCR via Coax or hear it through the receiver if I wanted. I guess I would have to switch between channel 03 for the coax and channel 90 for S-video.

Thats how my RCA 31" TV allows you to switch btw inputs. Channel 03 for coax, channel 90 for s-video and channel 91 for composite.

[Martyva]

Running the Tivo thru the VCR allows for recording to the vcr. Routing the Coax (antenna 'F" connect) to the TV allows for audio and video on TV channel 3 or 4 for the VCR and the Tivo