Stereo vs. Home Theater

[Diogenes]

I am looking for some advice regarding the use of an integrated amp in place of a home theater receiver. I don't plan on using more then 2 speakers plus a sub(s) for my system and am curious as to what I will be losing by not using a proper receiver. Is it an error to use the analog outs from sources to connect to my amplification device instead of hdmi? And is there a method to switch hdmi to analog audio, as the integrated amp (Cambrdge Audio Azur) I have been looking at has no option for hdmi in, and I imagine in the future few devices will have analog out? Or, do 2.1 home theater receivers exist, and would they perhaps be a better compromise with video & audio switching? Anyway, in advance, I appreciate your advice.

 

[XEagleDriver]

Good ?s

I am looking for some advice regarding the use of an integrated amp in place of a home theater receiver. I don't plan on using more then 2 speakers plus a sub(s) for my system and am curious as to . . .

1) What I will be losing by not using a proper receiver.
2) Is it an error to use the analog outs from sources to connect to my amplification device instead of hdmi?
3) Is there a method to switch hdmi to analog audio, as the integrated amp (Cambrdge Audio Azur) I have been looking at has no option for hdmi in, and I imagine in the future few devices will have analog out?
4) Do 2.1 home theater receivers exist, and would they perhaps be a better compromise with video & audio switching?

Anyway, in advance, I appreciate your advice.

Diogenes,

1) You will forgo the following:
a) AM/FM/XM/HD radio reception, or a subset there of, but you can add an external radio tuner.
b) Potentially base management depending on the integrated amp you choose.
- There are integrated amps with bass management if you want it.
c) Surround sound for movies or SACDs/DVD-A.
d) The ability to have a center channel tie movie dialogue to near the screen.
However, phantom center performance in a 2.1 set-up is generally very good.

2) No, not for a 2.1 set-up.
- By doing so, you will be using the DAC in the source device.
- If the source device DAC is not up to snuff (unlikely), you do have the option to add an external DAC.

3) Yes, with a HDMI to analog converter like:
this
or
this.
- I am not as convinced as you that few future devices will have analog outs. I expect legacy composite and/or s-video will likely fade away since they do not support HD video signals, but analog audio outs will probably stick around due to their simplicity and almost universal adoption in other devices.

4) Most major manufacturers do have 2.1 STEREO receivers (as opposed to Home Theater)
- Some such as this HK3490 have a particularly rich feature set and powerful amp section.
- A stereo receiver will probably have better video switching capabilities, since integrated amps generally do not have this feature.

Cheers,
XEagleDriver