Importance of HDMI in AVRs

[Philly T]

This issue is driving me nuts! Please, can some one finally put this HDMI discussion to bed? At this moment, is HDMI connectivity important in an AVR? Especially since most of 'em only have switching capabilities and no processing and/or (up)converting capabilities. Is it worth the extra money?

Put in other words...if you were to buy a new AVR right now, would it have HDMI or not?

Thanks in advance!

 

[GlocksRock]

For me, yes it was a must. Since I have a lot of devices to connect to my receiver, and I only have 3 component inputs, and all of my devices use component or HDMI, I needed the extra inputs. Plus, since my receiver upconverts everything onto HDMI, I only need to run one wire to my tv, and this also eliminates the need for me to switch inputs on my tv when alternating between component and HDMI devices. Having HDMI also allows me to receive Dolby TrueHD and DTS lossless formats via multichannel PCM.

 

[avaserfi]

HDMI need isnt something that is necessary, right now, but will "future proof" your receiver for a short while. It really depends on what you will be connecting to your AVR. I have a upconverting dvd player and use a HDMI cable, I also love the fact that I only need one cable running to my TV, keeps the mess down.

What are you planning on hook up to your AVR and what are your goals for your system? That will help you decide if you need it, no one can answer for you.

 

[markw]

That kinda depends.

I'm of the school that routes all video sources directly to the monitor and uses that for video selection. Along with that, I also route the primitive red/white analog outputs from the sources to thecorrosponding input on the TV.

Also, I run the "better" audio (digital coax, toslink) directly to the receiver and use that for audio selection/switching.

This allows me to select a source via the TV, watch the source on the TV, have rudimentary audio through it's internal speakers and not even turn on the receiver. I don't need a cooking show, the grandkids purple dinodsaur/Bob the Builder videos, or the daily news in 5.1 surround. Those little speakers are fine for that.

But, when I want the big sound, I turn the volume down on the TV, turn on the Denon, select the source, and blast away. All is right with the world.

Heck, many times I have the kids sitting (duct-taped together) watching a video and I'll be sitting in the LazyBoy listening to a CD with my headphones on. Who says I'm not a good Grandpa?

So, if you intend to route everything through the receiver, then HDMI becomes important. As it is, for myself, I don't find it really necessary at this time.

 

[corysmith01]

What he said.

I'm the same way. I don't run everything through my receiver for the same reasons. Don't need to see the 11 pm news in surround. I just have found it inconvenient to have to turn my receiver on every single time I want to watch tv. So, I run coaxial audio out from my cable box to my receiver. When I want processing, for a movie on HBO for example, it's there.

So, for me personally, HDMI on a receiver is not really a concern. I have 1 HDMI and 2 component on my tv. DVD player runs to HDMI, HD Cable goes to one of the component inputs and Xbox 360 goes to the other.

 

[solomr2]

With the many different devices that need to be connected, the HDMI switching capability of the receiver is very handy, and it certainly reduces the number of cables you need to have.

My planned setup (as soon as I finish it) is to have my HD-DVD player and Sony PS3 connect to my AVR over HDMI and HDMI from AVR to TV. Then I would like to connect my Comcast DVR/Cable box directly to my TV over HDMI2, and also use the audio out optical to the AVR. Hopefully, this will let me watch cable TV without pumping it through my surround, but still have the option to watc a movie broadcast over cable through the surround setup if desired.

I'm also going to experiment with pumping the sound from Cable box over to zone 3 in another room so I can have the option of watching TV in another room, but listening to the audio over better quality speakers. My wife has no say over what I do in my office/media room, but in the family room she won't let me install a surround system or nice speakers. But I convinced her to let me install zone 3 speakers in the ceiling so we can listen to music when we have guests. So, we'll see how that goes.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I cant justify the price just for the convenience.

 

[aec]

The real issue w/HDMI in the newer AVRs revolves around True Dolby HD and DTS from HD-DVDs or Blu Ray machines. To get "HD" audio sound you must be hooked into your receiver (or prepro) via HDMI and it must pass through the audio signal as well as the video signal. Very few top end AVRs or Pre/Pros currently do that. You still get DD/DTS but not the upgraded sound versions included on the HD/Blu Ray DVDs.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Can you even tell that the HD sound is upgraded? DD and DTS is pretty darn good.

 

[no. 5]

The real issue w/HDMI in the newer AVRs revolves around True Dolby HD and DTS from HD-DVDs or Blu Ray machines. To get "HD" audio sound you must be hooked into your receiver (or prepro) via HDMI and it must pass through the audio signal as well as the video signal. Very few top end AVRs or Pre/Pros currently do that. You still get DD/DTS but not the upgraded sound versions included on the HD/Blu Ray DVDs.

To be able to hear the lossless codex’s on a HD DVD or Blu-ray disc (DD+, Dolby True HD, DTS-HD), you need either HDMI (of any version, I think ), or a six channel analogue input, and I can only think of one receiver that doesn’t grab the audio stream from the HDMI input, and I can’t think of any receivers made in the last two years that don’t have a six channel input.

 

[GlocksRock]

to get the new Dolby True HD and DTS lossless, you need HDMI 1.1 and up, or you must use the analog outputs on your player, connected to the analong inputs on your av receiver, since there are currently no receivers that I'm aware of that have the ability to decode these new formats.

 

[no. 5]

Yeah, I don't think there will ever be receivers (at least in the near future) that will be able to decode these new formats; because as MACCA350 pointed out in another thread:

the players won't output the RAW bitstream in the same way as DVD players do. Any HD-DVD disc that is mastered as 'advanced content' and any Blu-ray mastered as 'profile v1.1' or higher will not allow the player to output the raw data because different audio streams need to be mixed within the player and the resulting mix output as uncompressed multichannel PCM over either/or HDMI(any version) and Analogue. Discs mastered in this way are becoming the norm to allow for new advanced features.

 

[GlocksRock]

Yeah, I don't think there will ever be receivers (at least in the near future) that will be able to decode these new formats; because as MACCA350 pointed out in another thread:

It looks like the new Onkyo TX-SR605 will be able to decode Dolby TrueHD

 

[no. 5]

It looks like the new Onkyo TX-SR605 will be able to decode Dolby TrueHD

Perhaps the future is closer then I once anticipated.

But that does require that the RAW bitstream to be sent from the player, but if you have a disc that allows that, then the 605 is the way to go.

 

[blekenbleu]

Perhaps the future is closer then I once anticipated.

But that does require that the RAW bitstream to be sent from the player, but if you have a disc that allows that, then the 605 is the way to go.

Surround SACD and DVD-Audio sound better, in my experience, passed
digitally to a receiver/processor which can manage bass, room correction,
etc. and avoid redundant or inferior D/A and A/D conversions.
Proprietary and firewire links also accomplish this,
perhaps better than somewhat primitive HDMI multi-channel PCM,
but SACD's and DVD-A's from my Oppo 970 to AVR via HDMI sound very nice.
I use direct video connections from sources to my display
and depend on a Harmony remote to coordinate audio switching with video.

 

[tase2]

With the many different devices that need to be connected, the HDMI switching capability of the receiver is very handy, and it certainly reduces the number of cables you need to have.

My planned setup (as soon as I finish it) is to have my HD-DVD player and Sony PS3 connect to my AVR over HDMI and HDMI from AVR to TV. Then I would like to connect my Comcast DVR/Cable box directly to my TV over HDMI2, and also use the audio out optical to the AVR. Hopefully, this will let me watch cable TV without pumping it through my surround, but still have the option to watc a movie broadcast over cable through the surround setup if desired.

I'm also going to experiment with pumping the sound from Cable box over to zone 3 in another room so I can have the option of watching TV in another room, but listening to the audio over better quality speakers. My wife has no say over what I do in my office/media room, but in the family room she won't let me install a surround system or nice speakers. But I convinced her to let me install zone 3 speakers in the ceiling so we can listen to music when we have guests. So, we'll see how that goes.

Please let us know how you make out with that.

I assume your TV has more than 1 HDMI in?
I am trying to accomplish the same except my TV ONLY has 1 HDMI in.

 

[Cygnus]

To be able to hear the lossless codex’s on a HD DVD or Blu-ray disc (DD+, Dolby True HD, DTS-HD), you need either HDMI (of any version, I think ), or a six channel analogue input, and I can only think of one receiver that doesn’t grab the audio stream from the HDMI input, and I can’t think of any receivers made in the last two years that don’t have a six channel input.

All though they will eventually move DVD-A and SCDA to HDMI right?

 

[solomr2]

Please let us know how you make out with that.

I assume your TV has more than 1 HDMI in?
I am trying to accomplish the same except my TV ONLY has 1 HDMI in.

My TV has dual HDMI inputs.

If you only have one HDMI input, then you would likely want to run everything through your AVR, or maybe use one of the other digital inputs on your TV.

I think the Motorola Comcast DVR has HDMI, Optical, Coax and component outputs, so one option would be to run HDMI to the AVR and then use Optical to the TV. Then you can select whether you want straight TV, or TV through your AVR system.

 

[tase2]

Thanks

I think that would work, except that I would have to keep the AVR powered on for video.

 

[solomr2]

Another possible option is to use an external HDMI switch, they're not too expensive.