Stereo Receiver with features and simplicity

[markw]

Now, if I did route all audio through a stereo receiver/ integrated, and all the video to my TV (a bit old, not that smart or with enough ports) through an external switch, how would I control the video switching remotely?

As I said, you may need to compromise a bit. You CAN get relatively simple two channel audio amps with remote control and I'm pretty sure that they make remote controlled HDMI swichboxes, but switching the TV and audio sources may be a two step process. They DO make remote controls that can be programmed to do multiple units that may or may not work here but, at best, it may be a two step process.

Or, you could simply accept the fact that a true AVR, with all that entails, just might be your best solution. You're trying to force a square peg into a round hole.

 

[TLS Guy]

Now, if I did route all audio through a stereo receiver/ integrated, and all the video to my TV (a bit old, not that smart or with enough ports) through an external switch, how would I control the video switching remotely?

If you do go this route, I would strongly recommend that you get a smart TV, with lots of HDMI inputs and streaming ability with Wi-Fi. That way you will not need a switch with a separate remote.

If you want your current TV get an AVR and suck up the 400 page plus manual.

A lot of this comes about because manufacturers will not cooperate. It would be easily possible to give everybody the facilities they want and a manual 20 pages or less and all be controlled from your smart phone and no need for remotes.

 

[markw]

If you do go this route, I would strongly recommend that you get a smart TV, with lots of HDMI inputs and streaming ability with Wi-Fi. That way you will not need a switch with a separate remote.

To add to this, make sure it has some facility for audio outputs. Red/white analog that's controlled by the TV volume would be ideal but they are rare nowadays. ...or even a headphone jack would suffice in a pinch. Ideal? No, but again, you're working outside the box.

Digitial outs are also a possibility and there are amps with digital inputs, or even separate DACS. In this event, you will need to control the volume from the amp, not the TV. That's possibly two remotes.

 

[TLS Guy]

To add to this, make sure it has some facility for audio outputs. Red/white analog that's controlled by the TV volume would be ideal but they are rare nowadays. ...or even a headphone jack would suffice in a pinch. Ideal? No, but again, you're working outside the box.

Digitial outs are also a possibility and there are amps with digital inputs, or even separate DACS. In this event, you will need to control the volume from the amp, not the TV. That's possibly two remotes.

There are no analog outs on TVs now. So he will need this DAC which has a volume control to match levels. It is USB powered from the TV. It works form the optical digital out.

Now some TVs can be set to have the output fixed or controlled by the volume control from the TV and the TV speakers disabled. I fear most do not allow this and there would be no remote for the volume on an older receiver.

On my vintage rig, I have to get out of my chair to change the volume.

There is no doubt the most handy solution is an AVR, but if he is dead set against it there are other options.

 

[Seth=L]

Interesting, but complicated. I'm only home during the weekends because of my job and commute. If my wife had to tinker with these things (or, let me not be patronizing - if I had to) constantly, it would be a non-starter.

To break it down, I'm equating what you're saying to this possibly simpler version (is it correct?):

Connect video sources to TV with plenty of HDMI ports. Use that as a video switcher (don't know if this accomplishes all the required decoding, etc). Connect all audios to an integrated amp or stereo audio receiver. Isn't this enough? One thing that is not clear to me is how phase is matched between the video path and audio path in something like this.

My apologies as I have not read the entire thread at the time of this posting. Why does the receiver need to have HDMI inputs at all? If your goal is to simplify this whole thing why not get yourself an integrated amplifier or standard analog stereo receiver and use the television's audio output? All your Video sources shouldn't overwhelm your televisions inputs (most tvs these days have at least 3 HDMI inputs). If a DAC is needed for your optical source you can simply get an external spdif - analog adapter. These basic "DACs" are available on Amazon for cheap and are very simply to hook up & conceal, and are interaction free once installed.

In my case I have an XBOX ONE and PS3 (my blu ray/netflix machine) connected to my television via HDMI. I used the audio output from the television to go to my integrated amplifier and all I have to ever do is turn the amp on and adjust the volume. I also have a CD player, so occasionally I have to switch inputs. Now the amplifier doesn't have a subwoofer output so I just use the preouts. The subwoofer has it's own crossover and I have no trouble blending it with my mains. It's a 2.0 system with a subwoofer.

I don't know if this has ever been addressed in modern AVRs, but too my knowledge true 2.1 doesn't occur. In my experience with countless AVRs over the years is despite a multichannel bitstreams being present when a receiver is being used with just two mains speakers and a subwoofer the soundtrack is downmixed to 2.0 and a dedicated LFE signal is no longer present. In order to maintain the LFE channel one must either have the system set up to run a center channel and/or surround speakers.

No sense in driving yourself trying to find a magic AVR that does what you want, if you really want to simplify, do what old school 2 channel enthusiast do, go as simple as possible.

 

[Seth=L]

LOL, I see now after I posted that the thread more or less went that direction.

My setup:

TV: Samsung UN46EH8500 (has optical and 1/8" analog stereo output)
Sources: XBOX ONE (HDMI), PS3 (HDMI), ONKYO DCX-390 CD CHANGER (ANALOG)
Amplification: TEAC A1-D Integrated Amplifier
Speakers: Infinity IL10 bookshelf monitors
Subwoofer: Paradigm PS-1000V1 10" 250 watts

Simple, used every day, never gives me any problems. I big relief compared to the home theater I had setup before it.

 

[JMJVK]

too my knowledge true 2.1 doesn't occur. In my experience with countless AVRs over the years is despite a multichannel bitstreams being present when a receiver is being used with just two mains speakers and a subwoofer the soundtrack is downmixed to 2.0 and a dedicated LFE signal is no longer present. In order to maintain the LFE channel one must either have the system set up to run a center channel and/or surround speakers.

I think some older Harman Kardon units can pull it off. I will be testing this on my AVR 144 this week. It has a display which shows whether a channel is fed by a discreet feed or is if it is emulated.

I bought the 144 for 50$ on Kijiji for multi-channel SACD playback in the bedroom. If it does work for "real, discreet 2.1", it could offer you quite the inexpensive fix. I'll let you know what happens when I'm done testing.

 

[TLS Guy]

I think Seth might be correct about two channel being 2.0 and no LFE. I have never used my Marantz 8003 with only 2 speakers selected in the set up menu.

However when I bought a Marantz 7701 for this rig, I initially set it up two channel and selected the sub. This unit did not produce any sub output in two channel. To get the sub to work I had to add a center. Marantz said it was a software bug they have never corrected.

You don't see that there are subs because the mains contain subs. There are 5 drivers in each speaker, with two drivers in each speaker forming band pass coupled cavity subs.

It performs fine as a 3.1. It only performs 2.0 if only two speakers are selected in the set up menu.

 

[AbyssalLoris]

If you do go this route, I would strongly recommend that you get a smart TV, with lots of HDMI inputs and streaming ability with Wi-Fi. That way you will not need a switch with a separate remote.

If you want your current TV get an AVR and suck up the 400 page plus manual.

A lot of this comes about because manufacturers will not cooperate. It would be easily possible to give everybody the facilities they want and a manual 20 pages or less and all be controlled from your smart phone and no need for remotes.

Hmm... The reason I don't want to go smart TV, etc is because I'm perfectly happy with my TV. I'm not a big video quality enthusiast. Only thing not satisfactory is number of HDMI ports, which can be cheaply achieved by external switch (~ $50, compared to replacing a TV!).

All I would need is the ability to integrate the switch's remote functionality into a universal remote (which is what I use for one-button control of everything).

To clarify, my present setup is something like this:

Inputs:
DVD/CD player
Cheap local/web media streaming box (WD)
Desktop computer built into HTPC-type box (holdover from earlier that I still like to have for max flexibility)
May add other stuff like a console

AVR: Yamaha x.1
DVD & media streamer connected to this by HDMI for A/V
Computer connected to this by TOSlink for audio

Outputs:
TV with 2 HDMI inputs: 1 receives HDMI out from AVR; other receives HDMI out from computer, through a DVI-HDMI adapter mounted on the video card output
Speakers driven by AVR directly for all audio: Monitor Audio Silvers

Both the computer and the media streamer are connected to a locally placed router by Ethernet wire. The router is also connected to a locally placed NAS box by Ethernet.

Everything is one-button controlled by programming into a Logitech universal remote.

 

[markw]

Well, apparently the combined brain trust of this forum has not met your expectations. Perhaps it's time you consulted a professional in your area. Hopefully their results will be more to your satisfaction.

 

[Seth=L]

Hmm... The reason I don't want to go smart TV, etc is because I'm perfectly happy with my TV. I'm not a big video quality enthusiast. Only thing not satisfactory is number of HDMI ports, which can be cheaply achieved by external switch (~ $50, compared to replacing a TV!).

All I would need is the ability to integrate the switch's remote functionality into a universal remote (which is what I use for one-button control of everything).

To clarify, my present setup is something like this:

Inputs:
DVD/CD player
Cheap local/web media streaming box (WD)
Desktop computer built into HTPC-type box (holdover from earlier that I still like to have for max flexibility)
May add other stuff like a console

AVR: Yamaha x.1
DVD & media streamer connected to this by HDMI for A/V
Computer connected to this by TOSlink for audio

Outputs:
TV with 2 HDMI inputs: 1 receives HDMI out from AVR; other receives HDMI out from computer, through a DVI-HDMI adapter mounted on the video card output
Speakers driven by AVR directly for all audio: Monitor Audio Silvers

Both the computer and the media streamer are connected to a locally placed router by Ethernet wire. The router is also connected to a locally placed NAS box by Ethernet.

Everything is one-button controlled by programming into a Logitech universal remote.

I guess just replace the AVR with the wonky HDMI ports with a new one that meets all requirements sans your channel preference and redundant inputs.

 

[KEW]

I agree with Markw's earlier post about getting rid of any heavy HDMI cords that are stressing the contacts. You might even find that your old AVR is serviceable with new cords.
Generally, they are called "slim" cables. Here is one I am happy with:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004NNRR74/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Might also consider a simple DVD/TV like this as an emergency backup:
http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?search_query=TV/DVD Combo&adid=22222222220111765367&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=b&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=20035758622&wl4=&veh=sem

May not want to spend the money, but it is worth it if it keeps the wife from going Psycho!
I don't know how old your kid is, but there will come a time when watching (insert cheesy Disney movie name here) again becomes its own special form of hell!