Setting up an AV receiver means routing every source through it, running one HDMI cable to the TV, then running Easy Setup and Auto Calibration.
For the full breakdown, see our best 11 Channel Receiver guide.
Connecting a streaming stick straight to the TV is the setup mistake that leaves new speakers silent — the receiver never gets the signal, so nothing plays. The order that works for how to set up a receiver is the same across nearly every brand: sources plug into the receiver first, one HDMI cable runs from the receiver to the TV, and the on-screen setup finishes the job.
A receiver is the switching hub of a home theater. Every device connects to it, and it forwards the picture to the TV while processing audio for your speakers. You’ll need the full routine when you buy a receiver, when you move it to a new room, or after a reset wipes its settings.
Setting Up a Receiver: The Step Order That Works
The whole job takes about ten minutes when the wiring order is right: sources first, receiver-to-TV second, on-screen setup last. Follow these steps in sequence, and the receiver should appear on screen with working sound on the first try.
Before touching cables, check the back panel. HDMI inputs are numbered, and the receiver’s output port is usually labeled OUT or MONITOR. Matching those labels to the TV side makes the next steps easier.
- Connect each source’s HDMI output to an HDMI input on the receiver. Sources include cable boxes, game consoles, streaming devices, and Blu-ray players.
- Connect the receiver’s HDMI OUT port to an HDMI input on the TV. This one cable carries picture and sound for everything plugged into the receiver.
- Turn on the TV, then press its Input or Source button until the screen shows the HDMI port connected to the receiver.
- Turn on the receiver. On Sony’s STR-DH77, the first-time Easy Setup appears on the TV automatically.
- Follow the on-screen prompts for language and, if your model offers it, speaker terminal assignment.
- Run Auto Calibration so the receiver measures your speakers and room conditions.
- Test each source by selecting its input on the receiver and confirming picture and sound.
Crutchfield’s home theater receiver setup guide follows the same wiring order, so the logic holds across brands even when menu names differ. The connection map looks like this:
| Task | What To Do |
|---|---|
| Connect a source | HDMI out from the source into any receiver HDMI input |
| Connect the receiver to the TV | Receiver’s HDMI OUT into a TV HDMI input |
| Switch the TV to the receiver | Input/Source button, then pick the HDMI port from step two |
| Power on the receiver | First-time Easy Setup appears automatically |
| Open setup manually (if needed) | HOME > Easy Setup on the STR-DH77 |
| Assign speaker terminals | Follow the on-screen prompts for your speaker layout |
| Calibrate the room | Auto Calibration measures speaker levels and distances |
Use the TV Input, Then Open Easy Setup
The receiver’s setup screens only appear when the TV is tuned to the HDMI port where the receiver is connected, so switch the TV before you start. Then follow whatever appears on screen.
Sony’s documentation for the STR-DH77 says Easy Setup launches automatically on initial power-up or after a reset. If it doesn’t appear, open the Home menu and choose Easy Setup. Sony also notes that the TV input must be switched to the receiver before Easy Setup will display and function correctly.
If the TV’s HDMI port is labeled ARC or eARC, that label only adds audio-return features — the port still works as the receiver’s display output. The full procedure, including every supported setup item, is on Sony’s STR-DH77 Easy Setup page.
How Does Auto Calibration Work?
Auto Calibration plays test tones through each speaker, measures how the room affects them, and sets levels and distances so the sound arrives balanced. Run it once during first-time setup, then again any time the room changes.
The distance measurement delays each speaker’s sound so all of it reaches the listening position in sync, while the level measurement balances volume between speakers. If your receiver has configurable speaker outputs, assign the terminals before calibrating so the test tones hit the right speakers.
Sony’s STR-DH77 bundles language, speaker terminal assignment, and Auto Calibration into one Easy Setup pass. Other brands may split those across menus, so check the manual that came with your unit.
If the TV shows no signal or the sound stays silent after setup, the fix is almost always the Input/Source button — step the TV back to the HDMI port connected to the receiver. If you’re buying rather than setting up, our tested roundup of the best 11-channel receivers shows how current flagships handle inputs and calibration.
FAQs
Why is there no sound after connecting my receiver?
The TV is almost always watching the wrong input. Press the Input/Source button until the TV shows the HDMI port connected to the receiver, and confirm the receiver’s input matches the device playing. If both match and sound is still missing, check that the receiver isn’t muted and that Auto Calibration assigned speakers correctly.
How often should I run Auto Calibration?
Re-run it whenever your room changes: speakers moved, furniture rearranged, a subwoofer relocated, or new speakers added. The receiver’s test tones measure distance and level, and the settings are stored until the next run. On the STR-DH77, open HOME > Easy Setup to start it again.
Is one HDMI cable from the receiver to the TV enough?
Yes. A single HDMI cable from the receiver’s HDMI OUT to any TV HDMI input carries picture and sound for every source connected to the receiver. You switch inputs on the receiver or its remote rather than on the TV. Sony’s guidance adds that the TV must be switched to the receiver’s input for setup screens to appear.
References & Sources
- Sony. “Setting up the receiver using Easy Setup.” Official STR-DH77 guidance for first-time setup, TV input switching, and Auto Calibration.