VSX-33? Help with setup for HDMI out 1&2

[ThaDraGun]

First of all I have a Pioneer VSX-1325-K, not VSX-33. From what I've read it's a clone so hopefully people with the VSX-33 can help.

- My receiver is in the basement.

- I have a TV on the main floor with surround sound speakers connected to the receiver and the TV is connected to HDMI 1 OUT.

- I have a TV in the basement WITHOUT any extra speakers connected to HDMI 2 OUT.

----
Now I have a couple problems.

I cannot hear any sound on the tv in the basement because there are no surround sound speakers downstairs. How do I set this receiver up to play sound out the TVs?

Right now both TVs have to be on at the same time for the picture to work.
If the TV upstairs is off, there will be nothing displayed in the basement. And vise-versa. How can I set it up so its always being displayed on both TVs, and I just turn on the one I want to watch from?

From reading another thread on here from what I understand only one source can be displayed on the HDMI outs at a time. So I can't play PS3 downstairs and watch a DVD upstairs at the same time.. correct?

 

[TLS Guy]

First of all I have a Pioneer VSX-1325-K, not VSX-33. From what I've read it's a clone so hopefully people with the VSX-33 can help.

- My receiver is in the basement.

- I have a TV on the main floor with surround sound speakers connected to the receiver and the TV is connected to HDMI 1 OUT.

- I have a TV in the basement WITHOUT any extra speakers connected to HDMI 2 OUT.

----
Now I have a couple problems.

I cannot hear any sound on the tv in the basement because there are no surround sound speakers downstairs. How do I set this receiver up to play sound out the TVs?

Right now both TVs have to be on at the same time for the picture to work.
If the TV upstairs is off, there will be nothing displayed in the basement. And vise-versa. How can I set it up so its always being displayed on both TVs, and I just turn on the one I want to watch from?

From reading another thread on here from what I understand only one source can be displayed on the HDMI outs at a time. So I can't play PS3 downstairs and watch a DVD upstairs at the same time.. correct?

Correct, you can only play one source at a time.

You will have to have both TV's on for DRM reasons. It must get a handshake from both TVs if they are connected or there is no assurance that you are not a pirate and stealing content. HDMI is a two way communication via HDCP codes.

Now you have a problem with audio, as both HDMI outputs are identical, so you can have audio at the HDMI outputs or not. To have audio go through your receiver to connected speakers, HDMI out has to be set to off. The get audio from a connected TV it has to be set to on.

HDMI is not going to do what you want. You might want to consider using component video connections and analog audio out for the basement TV if it has analog audio ins.

 

[ThaDraGun]

damn, if I had known all the limitations I wouldnt have bought this receiver. Futureshop guy of course leaves out all the details.

Whats the point of having a receiver with two HDMI outputs. I can get past the fact that the same thing has to be on both TVs, but say you put a dvd on, your not going to watch it on both tvs at the same time. If I'm downstairs I'll watch it downstairs, if Im upstairs I'll watch it upstairs. I cant leave both my tvs on all the time, and its pain to run downstairs to turn the tv on everytime I want to watch something upstairs and a waste of electricity. Maybe its practical for a Bar or restaurant, but not for an average home.

And again unless its a restaurant or something your not going to have two tvs in the same room close enough that you can hear the surround sound speakers. One TV is going to be in one room, and the other in a different room. Even if the Tvs were in the same room, they would have to be side by side or the placement of the speakers wouldnt even be right either. This receiver just doesnt make sense to me. lol

What if I hooked it up to another receiver. I do have a 2nd receiver, Its going to be hooked up just for video games. It would be connected to the basement tv as well through HDMI, and surround sound speakers will be connected to it.

So VSX-33 (VSX-1325) HDMI 2 out to the other receiver (HDMI in). Then HDMI out from that receiver to the TV. It goes through the speakers that are connected to that reciever. Would that work? Sorry this is getting confusing and I dont know how HDCP codes work.

I also noticed that I get errors when listening to my ipod and the tv isnt on. It still works, but I cant see the track/artist on the display because the error message. I guess that must be a copy protection feature as well, but I should be able to listen to music correctly without a tv on.

I just moved so I couldnt set it up completely when I first got it.. now Im wishing I didnt buy this so long ago so I could return it. Sheeesh.

 

[TLS Guy]

damn, if I had known all the limitations I wouldnt have bought this receiver. Futureshop guy of course leaves out all the details.

Whats the point of having a receiver with two HDMI outputs. I can get past the fact that the same thing has to be on both TVs, but say you put a dvd on, your not going to watch it on both tvs at the same time. If I'm downstairs I'll watch it downstairs, if Im upstairs I'll watch it upstairs. I cant leave both my tvs on all the time, and its pain to run downstairs to turn the tv on everytime I want to watch something upstairs and a waste of electricity. Maybe its practical for a Bar or restaurant, but not for an average home.

And again unless its a restaurant or something your not going to have two tvs in the same room close enough that you can hear the surround sound speakers. One TV is going to be in one room, and the other in a different room. Even if the Tvs were in the same room, they would have to be side by side or the placement of the speakers wouldnt even be right either. This receiver just doesnt make sense to me. lol

What if I hooked it up to another receiver. I do have a 2nd receiver, Its going to be hooked up just for video games. It would be connected to the basement tv as well through HDMI, and surround sound speakers will be connected to it.

So VSX-33 (VSX-1325) HDMI 2 out to the other receiver (HDMI in). Then HDMI out from that receiver to the TV. It goes through the speakers that are connected to that reciever. Would that work? Sorry this is getting confusing and I dont know how HDCP codes work.

I also noticed that I get errors when listening to my ipod and the tv isnt on. It still works, but I cant see the track/artist on the display because the error message. I guess that must be a copy protection feature as well, but I should be able to listen to music correctly without a tv on.

I just moved so I couldnt set it up completely when I first got it.. now Im wishing I didnt buy this so long ago so I could return it. Sheeesh.

This is not a problem just with your Pioneer receiver but all of them.

Pioneer do not make the rules. This outfit does, controlled by the Hollywood studios.

Your plan might work, but I suspect it will not, and this is the reason.

A device like a BD or DVD player connected to a receiver, makes continued repeated handshakes through the HDCP codes. This is called repeater architecture.

Now a TV is an end device and only required to make an initial HDCP handshake.

Now I can not be certain, but I would bet that a receiver HDMI output for TV connection does not have repeater architecture. The input of the other receiver you intend to use, has to have repeater architecture or it is illegal.

Now I bet that your second receiver will look for repeater handshakes from the master receiver, but won't get them, so your display will show an error message.

You are falling foul of Digital Rights Management.

I think you have two options.

Get two separate systems for upstairs and downstairs, or use analog connections and not HDMI.

 

[ThaDraGun]

Thanks for the replies.
I understand its not Pioneer. I wish I knew before because there is really no point in having 2HDMI out. Thats the only reason I bought this receiver and paid the extra $$. Oh well. lesson learned.

What about HDMI splitters? do they work through receivers, or only directly to tv?
I am going to have two separate systems up and downstairs. Its just I have way too many things to hook up and there are some components I need on both tvs. As well the other receiver only has 2 HDMI in.
I have brand new LED tvs. I would rather not use analog connections except for my wii. HD all the way.

 

[TLS Guy]

Thanks for the replies.
I understand its not Pioneer. I wish I knew before because there is really no point in having 2HDMI out. Thats the only reason I bought this receiver and paid the extra $$. Oh well. lesson learned.

What about HDMI splitters? do they work through receivers, or only directly to tv?
I am going to have two separate systems up and downstairs. Its just I have way too many things to hook up and there are some components I need on both tvs. As well the other receiver only has 2 HDMI in.
I have brand new LED tvs. I would rather not use analog connections except for my wii. HD all the way.

That won't help you. You already have an HDMI splitter, that is what the two HDMI outputs on your receiver are. They are connected to a splitter in your receiver.

If you get any splitter, if a connection is made to an output, then it will have to have a handshake from the connected device. It will not get that handshake from a TV that is switched off. So it will be no different from what you have. You see, it is illegal for an HDMI output to have a live signal without a device connected to it giving the correct HDCP handshakes.

An HDMI switcher would work, but you would not be able to watch both TVs at the same time. It would go to one or the other. Also your basement TV will need speakers, as otherwise you will have to go to the menu all the time to switch the HDMI audio out on and off.

The HDCP rules really preclude your application, that is why I'm suggesting analog. Component video is an HD connection. However only HDMI will pass the new loss less audio codecs.

One other thing you might consider is remote transponders, so you can switch the TVs on and off from a remote location. However that does not solve the energy problem of having a TV on that is not being watched.

In the end I think you will find it simpler to have two systems. That is what I do.

 

[scr0da]

See my Thread

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=75430