Home theatre system that can't play Divx

[mr-scarface]

I currently have the Panasonic SC-HT700 home theatre system. It's a 5.1 surround system with 5 disc dvd player. The problem is that it cannot play Divx. This is a big problem for me. Now I know there are several ways to get by such as:

-Convert Divx to DVD video
-Convert Divx to SVCD

The problem with these solutions is that they consume too many CD-R/DVD-R's. Also, you will probably lose a bit of quality during the conversion. Divx files on DVD is infinitely more convenient.

So I'd like to know if it's possible to connect a 3rd party DVD player to this system WITHOUT having to disconnect the stock 5 disc dvd player (since it is still useful as it has many useful functions). I guess what I'd require is some kind of a switch that allows both DVD units to be simultaneously connected to the theatre system. If you check out this link, on page 10, it shows the connection between the DVD unit and the subwoofer:

http://service.us.panasonic.com/OPERMANPDF/SCHT900.PDF

I don't know what that wire is called, I've never seen it before.
I don't even know if there would be a switch for this kind of thing that allows 2 dvd units to be connected to the home theatre system.

If anyone has any suggestions plz let me know.
Thanks in advance.

[Nelson37]

You have Aux audio in for the Secondary DVD player. No Digital In, however, which means you downgrade to simple stereo. If your TV has HDMI or additional Component in, then you switch the amp to Aux audio and the TV to the secondary video input.

The Amp to Subwoofer cable is a proprietary, non-standard cable. If either the Amp or the Subwoofer fails, both units become completely worthless. The individual speakers, at least, can be re-used.

Having had a similar unit, never again under any circumstances will I lay out cash for such a setup.

[mr-scarface]

So what you are saying is that I can connect the 3rd party dvd player to Aux in, but I will lose dolby sound and will lose the subwoofer sound as well? (that is, if im running it off the 3rd party dvd player)

[johns0]

Might wanna check if your system has has video and audio in so you can just plug a second dvd player in,there might also be a second audio in connector for 5.1,then it would run thru the audio system as dolby.

[jagabo]

The PDF shows an optical input on the back of the unit.

[Noahtuck]

So what you are saying is that I can connect the 3rd party dvd player to Aux in, but I will lose dolby sound and will lose the subwoofer sound as well? (that is, if im running it off the 3rd party dvd player)

I doubt it.... most xvid/divx only has 2.0 sound anyways... and any good decoder will be able to decode any good stereo source to dolby surround (having a brain fart here) and no, you won't lose the subwoofer... the decoder in the receiver or unit should automatically direct any of the low freq's to the subwoofer.

What do you think we all used to do back in the day when there was no such thing as 5.1 and all we had was VHS dolby stereo tapes to run through our dolby surround sound receiver's with only right and left phono cables to get surround sound though our 6 speakers 8)

[mr-scarface]

Might wanna check if your system has has video and audio in so you can just plug a second dvd player in,there might also be a second audio in connector for 5.1,then it would run thru the audio system as dolby.

If you look on page 9 of the PDF, it shows the following:
-Optical In
-TV audio in
-VCR audio in
-AUX
-Line out
-Video out
-S-Video out
-Component video out

Aux is being used by my xbox audio cable. And component video out is connected to the TV. The rest are free.
On my TV, I believe both component slots are used - 1 from the xbox video, 1 from the DVD unit.

What do you suggest I do?

The PDF shows an optical input on the back of the unit.

What can I do with the optical input?

[jagabo]

What can I do with the optical input?

Plug a DVD player's optical audio output into it. You'll get 5.1 channel sound. Although it's getting harder to find players with optical out.

[mr-scarface]

Actually I just checked and my dvd unit doesn't have the optical input, that was the other model which has the tower speakers...but the rest is the same.

[jagabo]

Then you're stuck with stereo and Pro Logic.

[mr-scarface]

Well is it possible to get audio by plugging the 3rd party dvd player into either the TV audio in or the VCR audio in?

Also my TV doesn't have any free component slots so I'd have to use S-video or regular RCA. S video would give better quality than RCA wouldn't it?