A highly modular digital pre/pro would be cool. Moderate in price, optimized performance for digital sources, expandable, with the ability to connect legacy analog sources. I really only need 2 HDMI inputs (one using a DVI-to-HDMI cable), a digital audio input, and two composite+stereo inputs on my receiver. And for output, I only need one HDMI video output (using an HDMI-to-DVI) and 5.1 speaker + sub outputs. Or perhaps just all pre-outs for audio and I'll get a separate amp. I could perhaps use some down-mixed analog stereo audio outputs, too, in the event that I ever want to use the speakers in my TV.
Now that many of the signals (or at least the ones I care most about) are digital, this seems quite possible. Need another HDMI input? Buy one, plug it in, set it up.
I can think of 3 ways to add modules (as choices during design -- pick one):
A) plug-in cards like a PCI card in a computer -- but I don't want to open the case, and the number of physical slots is limited
B) PC Cards, like you have on a laptop computer -- better, but you are still physically limited to a certain number of slots
C) daisy-chain (perhaps hubless like SCSI, or with hubs like USB) -- this would offer the most flexibility, as there are no physical slots to pay for or limit expansion
You would still want to be able to connect some analog devices, and I am not certain what the best way to deal with that is. Here are some ideas:
A) Perhaps you add a module (box) that contains all the stuff to convert to digital. But this would seem to be wasteful in that you'd end buying the deinterlacing/upconversion/fancyAD circuitry 3 times if you have 3 analog sources (but maybe this is necessary anyway if support for many zones is also a goal). And it also forces a perhaps unwelcome AD conversion if the source will be converted back to analog for/in the amplifier (would using class D amps make this a non-issue? or maybe not a big deal if the sources you want to optimize are all digital anyway).
B) Do some conversion in the module to get the information into a digital form so that you can get it into the main unit, but the more advanced processing circuits would reside in the main unit, avoiding duplication of potentially expensive circuitry. The issue about adding an AD conversion is still an issue here, but I personally don't care that much since the sources I really care about are digital. It might be a compromise that the target audience isn't going to mind. I just use my analog inputs for watching old VCR tapes, or connecting a video game device (that I haven't actually played in years).
C) Have a way to connect some analog devices, much like a normal receiver, but have less of them. And make them assignable. So, I could connect my VCR using Composite1 and Stereo1, and my playstation with Composite2 and Stereo2. Well, that's all I have now, but I recently had an HD cable box that I would have liked to connect on Component1 and DigitalOptical1. Perhaps combine this approach with A or B to add flexibility (at the price of an extra AD conversion and having to buy the module).
With all these modules all over the place, there are probably some issues with power supply and power distribution management. I don't know if that issues is better or worse than sending analog content signals all over the place, however.
More thoughts:
1) Digital pre-outs? Pair the pre/pro with a unit that does both DA conversion and ampliication. Might need an add-on DA module for the sub.
2) Much like the recent offerings from Denon and Yamaha, all video would be upconverted to HDMI (so you would not have to change inputs on your TV) and there would be a GUI for setup and control. But for music, it should still be possible to play a CD without turning on the TV.
3) It would be cool to be able to have displays and IR receivers in other zones to choose sources, change volume, etc.
4) Hell, do the whole thing over ethernet so I have one uber-system in my house where all sources and output devices can be used with each other as desired. Okay, maybe this goes too far -- I need a new receiver now.
And speaking of needing a new receiver now, these are the things that are driving my desire to replace my current receiver:
1. need more HDMI inputs (TV only has one, now I have two HDMI sources)
2. bass management -- I just got a sub and want to use it during 2-channel music, my 5-year old receiver doesn't do that
3. auto room EQ feature -- I just played some frequency sweeps in my new room and either my hearing is wack or the response in my room with my system is far from flat (probably both)
-Max
