Help connecting HDMI TV to HDMI reciever, without running new HDMI.

[jbarbee2359]

I have a Pioneer VSX-1022 A/V receiver and a newer model LG LED TV. The TV only has HDMI and Digital audio outs. The receiver has multiple ins and outs of different formats. I have a central closet where wiring has already been done around 2005. Unfortunately, this wiring and input box does not include HDMI near the TV, but only includes several RCA jacks, S-video jack, and a Cat5 Jack. The input panel in the closet mirrors the one near the TV. Tearing down walls to run new cable is not an option per my wife, and there is no way to run cable outside/under the house. All wires that already run through the wall are tacked down and will not pull through, I can only change the endpieces.

Right now I am using a wireless HDMI reciever/transmitter, but this only allows one way transmission from the receiver to the TV (which is required to see the receiver interface) and does not allow the TV to send signals back to the receiver to use the in wall speakers (which are wired to the receiver). My goal is to have signals being sent and received by both the TV and the A/V receiver.I've heard of using HDMI to Cat5 extenders but I am open to any other options. Thanks for reading, and thanks in advance for your suggestions.

 

[BMXTRIX]

Why would the TV send audio back to the receiver?

You should send everything through the receiver then to the TV so that you are always using the in-wall speakers.

Source->Receiver->TV

This is the only way to preserve the highest quality audio output from the system.

For HDMI, you should be using a HD-Base-T transmitter system.

For only $180.90 each when QTY 50+ purchased - HDMI® Extender Using Cat5e or CAT6 Cable - Extend Upto 328ft

HD-Base-T does not support audio return channel (ARC) and I'm not sure if any solution outside a standard HDMI cable does.

But, at the end of the day, you should always be using your good speakers, and to do that, you run all your sources into your A/V receiver, then onto the display. HDMI into the receiver, HD-Base-T from the receiver to the TV.

 

[Adam]

Why would the TV send audio back to the receiver?

Mine does because I use the TV tuner for OTA broadcasts.

 

[avengineer]

So, I saw your post when it was fresh, been asking around, and it took a bit of time to get replies. Manufacturers I deal with have lots of great HDMI over Cat5 solutions. None of them deal with audio return channel. The reason I got was they are going for full implementation of HDMI (whatever that means if you leave off ARC), and I guess you have to give something up to get ARC. I didn't dig in deeper for a better understanding, sorry, but it seems a valid explanation.

If you google "audio return channel over cat5" and drill down a bit, you'll find a couple of solutions. It's possible to do, there are compromises, but it's all probably better than trying to fish a new cable. At least, worth a try.

If it helps at some point, take a look for "flat HDMI cable", and see the offerings there. I don't know if you could fit a relatively thin, flat cable in somewhere, under a carpet edge, behind a base board, or something, to solve your issue. I don't think it's cheaper, another way to go possibly.

Many TVs have optical out for digital audio. Optical cables are often very thin, and might also more easily hidden, and certainly cheaper. I've done this for folks with older TVs pre-ARC, and it works fine, and it's 5.1 capable.

One other possibility is a back-haul of audio only via a wireless audio link like this:
Audioengine W3 - Audioengineusa.com

The compromise there is, it's only two channel, not 5.1 digital. But sort of affordable, and the audio quality is quite good. Run TV audio out to the transmitter, the transmitter out to an analog AVR input.

All the best!