hotwrc Posted March 6, 2007 Share Posted March 6, 2007 Hi all, I've been looking around for a receiver, but not sure if I should get one with HDMI. I have a 1080p panel, so I think it would make sense to get a receiver that has HDMI. However, in my shopping around, most people have suggested I use HDMI from the DVD/Blu-Ray player directly to the TV & use the optical link for the audio via the receiver, thus not requiring HDMI on the receiver. So what is better? a) HDMI to TV for vision & optical cable for audio to receiver; or HDMI via receiver only Obviously the second option would mean a more expensive receiver, but I'm not fussed about that. What I want to know is what works best & why. Opinions please.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gutty Posted March 6, 2007 Share Posted March 6, 2007 Hi all,I've been looking around for a receiver, but not sure if I should get one with HDMI. I have a 1080p panel, so I think it would make sense to get a receiver that has HDMI. However, in my shopping around, most people have suggested I use HDMI from the DVD/Blu-Ray player directly to the TV & use the optical link for the audio via the receiver, thus not requiring HDMI on the receiver. So what is better? a) HDMI to TV for vision & optical cable for audio to receiver; or HDMI via receiver only Obviously the second option would mean a more expensive receiver, but I'm not fussed about that. What I want to know is what works best & why. Opinions please.... Ideally the less connections etc the better. So HDMI direct to display could be best visually. Other things to think about though. Many, like myself, have more than one source they need to get picture to the screen for, and in my case the screen didn't have enough inputs. So an upconverting HDMI reciever was the easy answer. All into the reciever, one HDMI cable to the screen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewW Posted March 6, 2007 Share Posted March 6, 2007 when using HD DVD/Blu Ray, you will only get the uncompressed audio tracks through an HDMI interface. Using optical will give you DTS audio only. Do a search, (and have a look at the pinned threads in the HD DVD/Blu Ray forum) there are heaps of threads on this. Andrew. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chesty Posted March 6, 2007 Share Posted March 6, 2007 when using HD DVD/Blu Ray, you will only get the uncompressed audio tracks through an HDMI interface.Using optical will give you DTS audio only. Do a search, (and have a look at the pinned threads in the HD DVD/Blu Ray forum) there are heaps of threads on this. Andrew. Agreed, you will only get 2 channel PCM using optical to the receiver. to get 5.1 PCM you will need an HDMI enabled receiver. Of course you can still get DD and DTS 5.1 through optical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hotwrc Posted March 6, 2007 Author Share Posted March 6, 2007 Thanks. I check into the Blu-ray/HD DVD threads. However, it sounds like I should get a receiver with HDMI. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewW Posted March 6, 2007 Share Posted March 6, 2007 Thanks. I check into the Blu-ray/HD DVD threads. However, it sounds like I should get a receiver with HDMI. If you can afford it, it would seem the sensible way to go. Andrew. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kamma Posted March 6, 2007 Share Posted March 6, 2007 hdmi receiver Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maton Posted March 6, 2007 Share Posted March 6, 2007 receiver will pass the signal thru anwyay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cody Posted March 6, 2007 Share Posted March 6, 2007 However, in my shopping around, most people have suggested I use HDMI from the DVD/Blu-Ray player directly to the TV & use the optical link for the audio via the receiver, thus not requiring HDMI on the receiver. whoever said that has absoluetely no idea. if you were going to run HDMI direct to the display, you would need to then use 5.1 analogue to the receiver to get the full (audio) benefits of the BR player. as has been mentioned, a HDMI equipped AVR is the way to go - just make sure it can decode the audio and pass 1080p video, as many of the cheaper or older ones cant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hotwrc Posted March 7, 2007 Author Share Posted March 7, 2007 whoever said that has absoluetely no idea.if you were going to run HDMI direct to the display, you would need to then use 5.1 analogue to the receiver to get the full (audio) benefits of the BR player. as has been mentioned, a HDMI equipped AVR is the way to go - just make sure it can decode the audio and pass 1080p video, as many of the cheaper or older ones cant. I won't name names, suffice to say 2 hifi stores in Sydney have said for me to do that. Just goes to show that not much is known about HDMI. I'll probably purchase the Pioneer VSXAX2ASS receiver, which I believe will do the trick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cody Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 I won't name names, suffice to say 2 hifi stores in Sydney have said for me to do that. Just goes to show that not much is known about HDMI.I'll probably purchase the Pioneer VSXAX2ASS receiver, which I believe will do the trick. if your getting the pioneer, make sure it has the latest firmware or get the firmware updated before setting it all up etc, as its a pain to do later! re hifi stores and HDMI / HDDVD/BR - my observation is that quite a few of them need to pull their head out of their own arses go and learn about this technology and how it works, rather than just feeding customers the same old advice which is now out of date....(eg, always run video straight to the display, component and coax is always better, HDMI is evil and to be avoided etc etc etc) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hotwrc Posted March 9, 2007 Author Share Posted March 9, 2007 if your getting the pioneer, make sure it has the latest firmware or get the firmware updated before setting it all up etc, as its a pain to do later! Thanks for the heads up. Does anyone know what is the latest firmware version??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mewetwo Posted March 9, 2007 Share Posted March 9, 2007 Does anyone know what is ocurring in regards to the some reported incompatibility issues with HDMI between different brands? Also is the wait to the new standard 1.3 worth waiting for? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavincato Posted March 10, 2007 Share Posted March 10, 2007 HDMI is a digital connection, so i don't see why the signal should degrade going via the receiver first - or am I wrong? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sold Posted March 10, 2007 Share Posted March 10, 2007 HDMI is a digital connection, so i don't see why the signal should degrade going via the receiver first - or am I wrong? As long as the receiver doesn't do any processing on it then you should be right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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