Entertainment System Diagram
Products
The receiver powers both of the speaker sets and serves as a central hub to connect all of the sources. Generally, Apple TV and Firestick together is unnecessary. The Firestick is used for Jackbox portability and as a toy project.
I use a Chromecast to leverage Youtube for karaoke version of the songs. Everyone's mobile phone can connect to the Chromecast and queue up Youtube videos, AKA next up songs.
General System
Receiver: Yamaha AVENTAGE RX-A2A - This is the motherboard of all audio/video and powers your speakers.
Blu Ray Player: LG BD570 - It is always handy to play DVDs and Blu Ray discs
Firestick 1st Gen Alexa Voice Remote - Portable device for Jackbox games and streaming movies ;)
Apple 4K TV - Used for all streaming apps and casting Apple devices
Super Nintendo Classic - Old school Super Nintendo with all of my favorite games
Nintendo Classic - Old school Nintendo with all of my childhood games
Power Conditioner: Panamax M5300-PM - This serves as a surge protector and an audio/video performance enhancement by filtering AC noise and regulating voltage.
5.1 Surround sound speakers: Bose Acoustimass 10 Series IV - This 5.1 surround sound speakers are quite nice.
Floor standing speakers: KEF XQ-40 - This pair of premium high-quality speakers make the Bose look like little kids.
Speaker wires - This really depends on the power of your speakers. If you are buying generic speakers, then 16-18 gauge speaker wires will suffice. If your speakers are gigantic and it's pushing through lots of power, then get a 24 gauge speaker wire. The wire length between the receiver and the speaker should only contain some slack. The shorter the wire, the better the quality.
HDMI cords - Any brand HDMI will produce the same quality. I've tested a generic HDMI wire against the expensive Monster brand HDMI cable and noticed no difference in video nor audio quality.
Karaoke System
Google Chromecast - Chromecast uses Youtube, which has almost all of the songs with the karaoke version with lyrics.
HDMI Audio Extractor - In order to get the audio from the microphone, audio from youtube, and the video from youtube, you need to combine the audio splitter with a mixer.
Mixer: YAMAHA MG06X - This mixer handles the audio input and output. It helps set the volume of the background music, microphone, and other optional inputs.
Microphone: Heil PR-20 - A phenomenal wired microphone
Wireless Microphone - Shure SLX24/BETA87A - A nearly perfect wireless microphone. There are no distortions, hiccups, and issues with distance/blockage. It would be nice if there is an attached rechargeable lithium battery rather than using 2 AA batteries.
Microphone cable - Mogami - Premium quality microphone cables
2 sets of RCA-TRS cables are needed for the mixer input/output.
Hardware Set-Up
General System
- All of the powered connections are connected to the power conditioner (Panamax).
- The receiver HDMI OUT connects to the TV HDMI IN.
- The corresponding speaker will connect to the appropriate speaker input on the receiver e.g. Front Right speaker will connect to the front right input, Center speaker to center input, Rear Right speaker to rear right input, etc. This ensures a proper surround sound system. The 2 standing speakers and the 2 Bose front speakers both connect to the respective Front Right and Front Left input. This is a bit of an overkill, but the Bose speakers came with the house and I had to make use of all the speakers :)
- These devices are connected to the Receiver's HDMI inputs: Blu Ray Player, Apple TV, Firestick, Super Nintendo Classic, and Nintendo Classic.
Karaoke
- Connect the HDMI of the Google Chromecast to the HDMI input of the audio splitter.
- Connect the HDMI output of the audio splitter to the HDMI input of the TV.
- Connect the audio output of the audio splitter to the audio TRS 5/6 input of the mixer.
- The microphones are connected to the Mixer's microphone input (using the Mogami cables)
- I use a dual 1/4 inch TRS Cable to connect the audio output of the mixer into the receiver's audio input.
- The receiver AV mode will be set to receive audio signal from the mixer. The TV input source will be set on the input of the audio splitter instead of from the receiver's output display.