HDMI question

[Paisaab]

I am a little confused as to where to put this question, but basically here it is:

I understand that HDMI carries both video and audio signal. So, if there is a HDMI out from the cable box or DVD player, the other end of the cable goes to....the display, right? But we dont want to play audio thru the TV speakers, so how is the sound routed to the receiver? Is it going to be via a splitter or something or is the audio info in the HDMI cable wasted, with a separate audio out (coax/optical) from the source to the receiver?

One option is to use one of the newer receivers (Yamaha RX-V2600) to switch/upconvert both audio and video via HDHI in, but the max upconversion is only upto 720p/1080i, and the newer displays can do 1080p.....is the video signal further upconverted at the display? I guess it depends on whether or not the TV containes a scaler (I guess they should?).....

any thoughts? anyone have this problem yet?

Thanks

P

 

[Mort Corey]

You are correct on all counts. HDMI, at present, it not quite ready for prime time, though I'm sure it will be the standard in the not too distant future.....until another interface arrives Same with 1080p displays.

Mort

 

[soundsfine]

It sounds to me like you understand things pretty well.

It would be nice to have HDMI switching in a receiver. If not, the HDMI to the television is only for the video and the audio needs to get to the receiver some other way.

Upscaling can be done by the receiver, DVD player, TV, or even a seperate scaler box. You can choose which one does the best job for your display.

And yes, I think just about everyone moving to HD has these problems.

 

[LikeABanshee]

Most new displays have either an optical or coaxial audio out to route the digital audio back to your receiver.

 

[BMXTRIX]

One option is to use one of the newer receivers (Yamaha RX-V2600) to switch/upconvert both audio and video via HDHI in, but the max upconversion is only upto 720p/1080i, and the newer displays can do 1080p.....is the video signal further upconverted at the display? I guess it depends on whether or not the TV containes a scaler (I guess they should?).....

It should be noted that most displays (including 1080p) do not accept a 1080p signal and that 1080p is not a ATSC recognized standard. My feeling is that for the next 20 years or so 1080i may be the best we see from broadcasters. Only HD disc technologies and computers really offer something above and beyond 1080i/720p.

If you have a 1080p display then it displays 1080p. It can't display 1080i or 480i. It can ACCEPT 480i and 1080i - but the display itself must convert it to 1080p (or lower) to be displayed. Traditionally it doesn't convert it to something lower than 1080p, but a few displays allow for native sizing. So, 720p would show up using 720 lines instead of the full 1080. A DLP, LCD, and plasma display is a progressive display technology. It always displays in progressive format and must convert any non-progressive signals into progressive signals to be compatible with the display you have.

Anyway, in a few years we are much more likely to see HDMI inputs and outputs appear standard on sub $1K receivers as long as HDMI sticks around for the next few years and stays popular or more importantly, gains popularity. Full 7.1 audio w/HD video over a single cable? Yeah, I could see how that would be attractive to some people.

 

[djoxygen]

Is it going to be via a splitter or something or is the audio info in the HDMI cable wasted, with a separate audio out (coax/optical) from the source to the receiver?

In theory, we'll eventually have HDMI audio processing in receivers and pre-/pro- devices, but for now our only option is HDMI switching (or direct to display) and separate coax or optical for the surround sound.

The biggest obstacle here has more to do with politics than technology. Notice how, despite the fact that pro audio devices can cram 24 channels and more of uncompressed and/or hi-definition (24/96) audio down FireWire cables, but we are stuck with encoded, compressed multi-channel audio in our home theaters? HDMI is built to handle audio more like pro devices, but because the content owners don't trust us to not pipe it off into our computers and post it on the 'net, that part of the HDMI bandwidth is sitting there bored and picking its nose.